Do you get winter dry skin?
Winters in the north of the regions are quite brutal. We got at least three winter storms, and a couple inches of snow came down already. Dry winter air leeches moisture, leaving your skin as dry and cracked as flaky salt and your sinuses are as parched as the summer of the Sahara desert. Here are a few tips for putting the moisture back into your home, and your body:
- Moisturize Immediately After Washing
American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends applying moisturizer within few minutes after you finish drying off after a shower or bath, and washing your face or hands. Ointments and creams are more effective by trapping existing moisture in your skin and are less irritating than lotions. Look for cream or ointment that contains olive oil, jojoba oil or Shea butter. One tip for everyone is to carry a non-greasy hand cream with you, and apply it after each time you wash your hands.
Also put on lip balm or petroleum jelly to protect yourself against chapped lips.
Before going outdoors, make sure to apply moisturizing sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Protect yourself even further by wearing a hat, glove and sunglasses.
- Stay Hydrated
It’s always a good idea to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water each day. If you don’t like water, tea and juice are also pretty good to rehydrate.
Use a humidifier. Cold air in winter holds less moisture, and when it is heated indoors, the air becomes even drier. Quite a lot of the houses have forced air heating system, and it makes the air even dryer. The goal here is to have a comfortable home humidity level between 30% and 50%. Do not overdo it, or you could develop another problem – mold, fungi, dust mites, and other tiny critters. Keep the humidifier clean so that it doesn’t spread dust and germs into your whole house.
- Shorten Your Showers or Baths
While it feels great to stay longer in the shower on a chilly day, but the heat and steam can really dry out your skin. Use warm rather than hot water, wash with a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser, and get out as soon as you are clean, or limit your time within 15 minutes.
- Insulate Your Home
In the winter, the cold air that seeps into your home from the outside has a lower humidity. To balance the low humidity in the room, the moisture would evaporate from your body, leaving your skin, nose, and throat parched. Properly seal any air leaks in doors, windows, attics, and crawl spaces with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping. It would not only keep the moisture inside your house, it would save money on your monthly heating bill too.
Take care of yourself and moisturize all the time during this winter season.