During the winter months, our skin tends to become dry because of the extreme cold temperature and dry air. If you are searching for information on how to keep your skin moisturized and healthy even during wintertime, you came to the right place. Here at Sea Active Skincare, we will be sharing with you an article that explains thirteen tips to consider when protecting the skin in cold weather. If you think this article will be useful for you, we encourage you to keep reading below to find out.
Dry skin is more common during wintertime than in summertime; because the change in humidity levels and the cold temperature can affect and irritate the skin. Because of the environmental factors, the skin’s moisture can easily evaporate faster. Your hands and face are the most exposed body parts so they are mostly affected by the winter weather.
Extremely cold weather and dry air is not only the problem. There are other factors that make it hard to maintain healthy skin.
Continuous use of heater indoors
Because of the cold weather, we tend to use heaters indoors regularly to keep us warm. When the indoor temperature is warm, our skin tends to become extremely dry.
Regular use of hot showers and baths
During the wintertime, hot showers and baths can be extremely tempting because of the cold weather. However, as much as it relaxes your body, it can also remove the protective oils in your skin, which can cause further drying of your skin.
Regular hand-washing
Hand washing is a part of practicing good hygiene to prevent the spread of germs, and it can keep your hands clean. However, it can also cause the drying of the skin. Using of hand-sanitizers and alcohol can also cause the same problem.
Poor diet
Most of the holidays occur from November until January, which can make you eat a lot of unhealthy food and also increase the unhealthy fats to build up in your body. This can also affect the elasticity and smoothness of your skin.
Frequent licking of lips
The cold air and strong wind can cause the chapping of your lips. You always tend to lick them frequently to keep them wet but as soon as the moisture dries up it can even worsen the drying of your lips.
What are the different symptoms of dry winter skin? When the skin is so dry you can also experience the following symptoms.
- Cracks
- Flaking
- Itching
- Redness
- Rough patches
- Stinging
What are the tips to consider when protecting the skin in cold weather?
Use fragrance-free cleansers
When showering or taking a bath, using regular bar soap can worsen the dryness of your skin. It can remove the natural oils in your skin which works as a protective barrier and can also affect the microbiome of your skin. Individuals who suffer from dry skin can use body wash with labels “dye-free” or “recommended for sensitive skin”. These types of products have fewer ingredients that can cause the drying of the skin and they also contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, oatmeal, oils, and Shea butter. You can also opt for fragrance-free skincare products.
Check out our selection of organic cleansers here.
Use a humidifier
A humidifier can be used during winter to improve the humidity of the indoor air. The air outdoors is colder and drier so you can use a humidifier to restore the moisture in the air. Humidifiers are effective in keeping your skin hydrated and preventing it from drying. You can use a humidifier in your office and home to improve the humidity levels of the indoor air.
Thermostat temperatures must be cool and comfortable
Most of the time, you may be tempted to turn up the heat to keep warm and fight the extremely cold weather outside. High temperatures can cause the air in your home to become drier. You can just opt for a cooler but tolerable temperature so you can avoid your skin from drying, and these typically range from 68-75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Use organic skincare products
Most skin care products contain alcohol and other ingredients that make the pH of the skin alkaline, which can cause the skin to become dry. You must use skincare products that are created using natural and organic products. Avoid products that cause peeling, exfoliates, and other cleaning products that can be harsh to your skin during winter. Using natural and organic skincare products can help moisturize and revitalize the skin. If you have dry and itchy skin, it can worsen your problem even more.
Use sunscreen, even during dark and gloomy winter days
Snow can reflect the sun rays which can multiply your UV exposure. UV rays can cause sunburn and premature skin aging which is evident through the presence of leathery skin, liver spots, and wrinkles. Even though the sun is not as harsh during wintertime, you must always remember to apply sunscreen. Even during dark and gloomy winter days, the sun’s harmful UV rays can still penetrate the clouds and even cause damage to your skin.
You must use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher with water resistance and contains moisturizing ingredients that have glycerin or lanolin.
Keep the skin moisturized
After washing you, don’t forget to moisturize. You can use an oil-based or ointment moisturizer. These ointments are useful in preventing moisture from evaporating from your skin. You can use an ointment moisturizer after showering or washing your face, body, and hands.
Dry your body after washing; you must avoid rubbing it with your towel so that you can retain more moisture in your skin to prevent it from drying. After you have dried your skin after taking a bath, you can apply a thick moisturizer or ointment-based moisturizer to seal the water into your skin.
Moisturizers contain different ingredients, and one of them is emollients, which make the skin smooth. Some examples are linoleic, linolenic, and lauric acids. They are responsible for filling up the spaces between your skin cells where there is moisture loss.
Humectants are also found in moisturizers and are responsible for attracting moisture to the skin. Some examples of humectants are ceramides, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and sorbitol.
Other ingredients that can be found in moisturizers such as lanolin, mineral oil, and silicone can seal the moisture in the skin. They are also responsible for creating a protective barrier on the skin to prevent any damage caused by the different environmental factors.
Check out this moisturizer product by Sea Active Skincare.
Use gloves, mittens, and scarves
When going out during winter, you must keep yourself protected from the extreme cold temperature. You must use a scarf, warm gloves, or mittens to keep your face and hands from drying as they are the most exposed body parts. The skin of your hands is thinner than the rest of your body, so it is more prone to cracking. If the hands are dry and cracked, you must apply moisturizer to lock in the moisture. You can use thin cotton gloves to prevent irritation and itching on your skin as wearing wool mittens can be itchy for your skin.
Decrease bath and shower time
When taking a shower or a bath, you must lessen it to around ten minutes or less. You can use baking soda and add it to the bathtub as it is effective in dealing with itchy dry skin. You can use warm water instead of steaming hot water as hot temperatures can cause the skin to become dry.
Eat healthy foods and stay hydrated
You must eat healthy foods and remember to drink plenty of fluids. You can keep your skin moisturized by drinking at least 8 glasses of water daily. Individuals who drink more water can improve their skin’s hydration and moisture content. You must also avoid consuming foods rich in sugars and processed foods because they can affect your skin. You must eat whole foods such as fish, fruits, and vegetables that have vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that will make the body and skin healthy.
Avoid tanning during winter
Tanning can damage the skin and even increase the risk of skin cancer. You can use self-tanners with extra moisturizer as most self-tanner products can cause the skin to become too dry.
Take Vitamin D supplements
Sun exposure decreases during wintertime so it can decrease your natural vitamin D production. You must take vitamin supplements to ensure that you get the daily recommended amount of vitamin D. Vitamin D is known to prevent premature skin aging and it can also help with dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis.
Consult a skin specialist or dermatologist
You can consult a dermatologist or skincare specialist to help you with your dry and itchy skin. They can help analyze your skin type and give you advice that will help improve your skincare routine and they can also recommend the best skincare products that you can use to keep your skin from drying during winter.
If you want to maintain healthy and moisturized skin, you must use skincare products made from organic, natural products and rare seaweeds by Sea Active Skincare. You can check out our skincare guide here.
If you need help with dry skin, you can check out our products recommended for dry skin here. If you have any questions or inquiries regarding our products please fill up this contact form here.
Are you looking for a company that offers skincare products made from natural and organic ingredients? You must check out SEA ACTIVE SKINCARE. We only use natural ingredients and rare seaweed types to create our skincare products. If you are interested to purchase our products please contact us. You can call us at (858) 676-9727 or send an email at customercare@seaactiveskincare.com. What are you waiting for? Contact us today if you want to know more information about our company and the products that we are currently offering.
