If you've ever experienced the freezing winter air, you've probably realized that while you can keep yourself warm by simply wearing layers of clothing and turning on the heater, taking care of your skin's health isn't easy. Dry and freezing air can cause dry and cracked skin, especially on areas of the body that are directly exposed to air, such as your hands. Fortunately, with a few sensible precautions and home remedies available, you can keep your most sensitive skin healthy and soft with ease.
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Method 1 of 3: Protecting Your Skin from Cold Weather
Step 1. Cover the whole body
The skin is very susceptible to damage due to winter weather. The dry, freezing outdoor air (or, worse, the hot, dry air from your home heater) absorbs natural fluids from your skin, making it dry and crack like a smoldering desert surface. One of the best methods to prevent this from happening is to “prevent the air from touching your skin”. If possible, wear long sleeves, long pants, and other body covering accessories to protect your skin.
Gloves are the right choice; Since your hands are frequently exposed throughout the day, giving them as much protection as possible can go a long way in protecting the skin. Try wearing a pair of gloves at the beginning of the day before you head to work or start your daily activities. Do not remove your gloves except for typing, writing, or other activities that require you to take them off
Step 2. Use a moisturizer
Lotions and “moisturizing” ingredients work by delivering fluids directly to the skin and retaining these fluids with a layer of oil or grease. This is why some heavy balms, such as vaseline, can also work well as moisturizers, but provide an uncomfortable “fat” sensation. If your skin experiences dryness in winter, try applying lotion on the surface to keep it moisturized. This will moisturize your dry skin while protecting it from damage for at least an hour or two.
- If your skin is already irritated, try using an unscented lotion or balm. Some cosmetic ingredients can cause inflammation or rash when used on irritated skin (especially if you are allergic to these types of cosmetic ingredients).
- There are a few types of lotion that won't protect your skin's moisture; however, most of the rest will be able to provide a moisturizing effect. What you need to know is that thicker "creams" and "balsams" will provide a better moisturizing effect than lighter, thinner lotions.
Step 3. Use lip balm
While you may find that the skin on your hands and face doesn't appear to be damaged at all in winter, it's possible that the more sensitive skin on your lips may experience dryness, cracking, or flaking. To prevent this, try using a lip balm (or alternative ingredients like ChapStick, lip gloss, etc.), which work on the same principles as lotions and balms for your skin. If necessary, you can even apply the highest-quality thick skin balm (such as vaseline or products containing wasp wax or shea butter) to your lips for the same result, even if you may feel uncomfortable.
Don't believe the myths claiming that lip balm contains addictive ingredients or ground glass; The myth has been proven wrong
Step 4. Keep it dry
Ironically, if you get wet when you're outside in cold weather, your skin will become dry and irritated after a while. Wet clothing (especially gloves and socks) can cause irritation when it rubs against the skin, making it cracked, painful, and prone to deeper irritation. Therefore, avoid wearing wet clothes for too long in cold weather. You better change your clothes for a while to maintain the health of your skin.
If you are outside in cold weather for a long time (for example, if you are climbing a mountain), try to maintain a rhythm of activity so that your body does not sweat too much. Sweating can cause not only chapped and irritated skin, but also frostbite and hypothermia in extreme conditions as it becomes difficult for your body to keep warm
Step 5. Don't forget to wear sunscreen on a cold, sunny day
Many people assume that because winter is so cold, they don't need sunscreen. In fact, skin is especially vulnerable to sun damage in winter. During this period, planet Earth is closer to the sun than in summer. The ozone layer (which absorbs some of the sun's harmful UV rays) also tends to be at its thinnest in winter. Also, snow and ice can reflect up to 85% of the sun's rays, so the light can reach your skin from above and below. Therefore, it is very important to wear sunscreen in winter if you intend to spend a long time outdoors on a sunny day.
Remember that sunscreen is very important especially in high altitude areas. The higher up you are, the more exposed you are to ultraviolet light from the sun. Don't forget this in preparation for your winter ski trip
Method 2 of 3: Treating Damaged Skin
Step 1. Treat dry skin with a light cream or lotion
If the dry winter air (or dry air from the heating system) has caused your skin to become dry or cracked, it's important to take good care of it until it heals naturally. Moisturizing is the first step you can take to prevent further damage. Apply a moisturizing lotion, balm, or cream to the irritated area at least once daily until your skin appears to be starting to heal. Once your skin has started to heal, reduce your use of moisturizer and start using another method of protection (although moisturizing may still be necessary during the winter period).
Be sure to clean and bandage any cracks or chapped skin as you would normally treat a scratched or injured skin. Although the chances are low, cracks in the skin can become infected if exposed to bacteria, causing further pain and irritation. Therefore, it is very important to take basic precautions
Step 2. Use a humidifier
As previously implied, one of the places that can be the most dangerous for your skin is your warm and cozy home. The warm air that comes from the heating system tends to be dry and causes dehydration of the skin as can happen outdoors. To avoid this, try installing a humidifier in the places in your house that you frequent the most. This handy tool will evaporate the water and release it into the air, increasing the humidity level in the surrounding area.
Ideally, for this, avoid using a humidifier that works with steam. Moisturizers that have a “cooling mist” can often release aerosol ingredients that cause allergies
Step 3. Use a mild cleaning product
The soaps, shampoos, and other cleaning products you use on yourself during winter can affect the health of your skin. Harder cleaning products, especially those containing alcohol or astringents, can strip your skin of its natural protective oils, making it more prone to dryness. To prevent this, use the mildest cleaning product you can find. Here's a quick guide to choosing the right cleaning product:
- Soaps: use mild, unscented soaps, especially those labeled “moisturizing” or “for sensitive skin.” Moisturizing body washes can be a great alternative to regular bar soaps, which can be too harsh to use in winter.
- Shampoo/hair cleaning product: use a shampoo labeled “moisturizing” or “to restore dry hair”. After that, use the conditioner.
- Facial cleanser: use a mild foaming cleanser, and choose a facial cleanser that is oil-based or has a “moisturizer” label. Avoid alcohol-based cleaners or salicylic acid.
Step 4. Try using natural oils
You don't always have to use a commercially available lotion or balm to treat your dry skin. In some cases, natural home remedies are usually sufficient. However, the problem is that home remedies are usually not verified, or have not been proven to work through real scientific methods. If you plan to treat your dry skin with natural remedies, try using natural ingredients that are safe and mild to use, which can hold moisture in your skin like a regular lotion. Here are some types of natural oils that are claimed to function as skin moisturizers:
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Avocado oil
- Jojoba oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Grapeseed oil
Step 5. For more serious skin problems, consult a dermatologist
For most people, skin irritation in winter is very uncomfortable, but in the end, it is only a temporary problem. However, in some extreme cases, dry skin can be a source of serious and long-term irritation. If the dryness and irritation of your skin doesn't go away within a few weeks, or if they start to seriously affect your productivity and activities, don't hesitate to consult a dermatologist. If you don't know a dermatologist, a GP near you can usually refer you to one of them. In addition to helping with dry and irritated skin, a dermatologist can diagnose other skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis and write prescriptions to treat them.
Be aware that, although the occurrence is rare, itching is severe and can be a sign of liver disease or cancer. So, if you suffer from hives that have affected your daily routine, see a dermatologist as soon as possible to deal with it
Method 3 of 3: Know What to Avoid
Step 1. Avoid skin contact with abrasive clothing
Protecting your skin from the dry winter air is great, but how you protect it can affect how well you can protect your skin. For example, avoid clothing that rubs against your skin in such a way that it causes chapping or irritation. Abraded skin is prone to further dehydration and irritation; therefore, wear well-fitting clothing with comfortable materials to prevent this.
Rough materials such as wool can injure your skin. While wool is great for keeping you warm, it's also easy to rub against your skin, causing it to turn red. If you want to wear wool, wear something else underneath to prevent it from rubbing against your skin. For example, wool gloves can be used if you also wear soft, light cotton gloves underneath
Step 2. Avoid scratching your skin
Although the temptation is great, scratching can make irritated skin worse, so avoid doing it. In addition to making skin irritation worse, scratching can also lead to infection by transferring bacteria from your hands to sensitive spots on the skin. If you really want to scratch your skin (which is still not recommended), your hands should be clean to reduce (but not completely prevent) the risk of infection.
If you experience itching, take an anti-itch cream (such as hydrocortisone) to use regularly to prevent the urge to scratch the skin
Step 3. Don't stay in the shower for too long
Hot water can be very comfortable in the freezing winter months, but you can hurt your skin if you're not careful. Hot water strips the skin of its natural protective oil layer, making it easier to dry, especially if the air around you is also dry. To prevent this, use warm (not too hot) water, and try to limit your shower time to less than 10 minutes. Shorter, cooler showers will go a long way in keeping your skin healthy in winter (as well as helping with flaky skin conditions like dandruff).
Step 4. Reduce the use of alcohol-based perfumes and aftershapes
Just like harsh soaps and cleaning solutions, certain types of perfumes and body fragrances (especially alcohol-based ones) can wash off the skin's natural moisturizing oils. In addition, the chemicals in most fragrances on the market can cause red rashes or other allergic reactions when applied to irritated skin. The solution is to use a lighter and weaker fragrance, and try to limit its use to the parts of the body that smell the strongest, such as the armpits, groin, and legs.
Suggestion
- For dry feet, try using a thick lotion and putting on socks before bed. The socks will react with the lotion to keep your feet moist throughout the night thereby reducing the level of dryness of the skin surface during the day.
- If you shave regularly and notice dry, irritated skin every time you shave, try replacing your blade with a new one. A new knife that is still sharp will cause less irritation than a dull knife, which can pull hair instead of cutting it.
