Winter has come and though Pinays have naturally gifted hydrated skins all year round, the harsh, dry winds of winter takes its toll on all types of skin, even ours.
As the temperature drops, so does our bodies’ water reserves – depleting the moisture levels in our skin. This leads to our skin drying up which may leave to winter rash. Usual symptoms can be extremely dry or dehydrated skin in winter. Leaving our skin dry prevents it from releasing the natural oils that protects our skin from infection caused by bacteria.
Aside from winter rash can trigger dermatitis, rosacea and sometimes psoriasis, it also causes our skin to flake and make fine lines on our faces more pronounced. If this is not treated early, it may leave permanent marks on our skin – especially our faces.
So before anything regrettable happens, here are some recommendations that we’ve compiled to save you from the damaging winter rash:
HYDRATE. If the standard requirement is to drink 8 glasses of water every day, in winter, drink more and often. This replenishes the water that we lose from the extreme cold coupled with cranked up heaters in our houses.
CLEANSE WITH A MOISTURIZING SOAP. Less lather (non-foaming) tells us that there’s less detergent therefore less sulfur that can hurt your skin. It may also help to get a soap that has no fragrance, parabens, and synthetic dyes to lessen the possibility of allergies happening. Check your products Safety Data Sheet (SDS) found at the back of the bottle or box to make sure. Remember that exposure to the cold, dry air in winter can weaken the skin and make it more sensitive than usual.
TONE. After taking a bath or washing your face. This activates your skin’s acid mantle to prevent bacteria from entering the skin’s open pores after bathing and bring the skin to its natural ph balance (5.5 – 7).
MOISTURIZE. Find a moisturizer or hydrating complex that matches your skin type. If you want to go more natural, you can use coconut oil or compounds with lanolin and lauric acids that can improve the skin’s barrier functions and promote healing. Safflower oil contains large amounts of linoleic acid which has anti-inflammatory effects, making it ideal for soothing irritated skin. Avocado oil contains vitamins C, D and E making it an excellent nourishing oil for dry or damaged skin. Though olive oil is a known antioxidant and traditionally celebrated for its moisturizing qualities, it can also be too heavy for some skin types causing it to be more acneic.
WEAR SUNSCREEN. The sun’s rays can be aggravated by the dry winter air causing the skin to be more prone to sunburn. Even on cloudy days, though 20% is of the sun’s rays gets filtered by the clouds, there’s still 80% that can burn your skin.
WEAR A LIP BALM. The lips are very sensitive to dryness especially in winter. The cold, dry air also causes the lips to peel and get wind burns which can be really painful. Applying to proper wind balm or moisturizing crème helps the lips cope with the harsh weather.
USE A HUMIDIFIER. They emit water vapor or steam to increase moisture levels in the air. It offsets the dryness caused by heating systems than can be cranked up due to the low temperatures of winter. It keeps you from drying up and It also helps you get better sleep while avoiding catching colds or the flu.
Always good to remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a gallon of cure. Keeping healthy this winter season is very important and it starts with our skin. So don’t forget – HYDRATE. CLEANSE. TONE. MOISTURIZE.