How to Winter-Proof Your Skin This Year

With cold weather comes dry winter skin. This is true regardless of your age, gender, or where you live. When the temperatures drop and the heat kicks on, it can wreak havoc on a person's skin condition. But with proper care, you can prevent it from happening and keep your skin soft and smooth all winter long. Read on to learn how to winter-proof your skin.

Winter skin survival - Help is here!

There's nothing as comforting as a soak in a warm bubble bath on a cold winter's day. But did you know that exposure to hot water is one of the causes of dry skin? It's true! Even if you fill the tub with softening oils and moisturize your skin after soaking, the hot water will still cause dry, tight, itchy skin.

Here are a few other causes of dry skin that may surprise you:

Hot showers - Along with a hot bath, hot showers will dry out your skin. Avoid spending too much time in the shower or bath, and aim for a 5 minute lukewarm wash time.

Hand washing - If you are an avid hand washer, your hands are likely to be consistently dry, even in the best of weather. During cold weather, the dryness just gets worse. That's because too much washing will decrease skin's natural oils, which are meant to keep skin moisturized and healthy. Using soaps and anti-bacterial gels frequently will also strip the skin of this oil.

Smoking - Smokers are more likely to have dry skin than non-smokers, as the toxins from tobacco deprive the skin of oxygen. If you step outside to smoke in the winter, you're essentially receiving a triple-whammy. Cold air, windy conditions, and smoke contact will really dry out your skin.

Dry heat - As we all know, running the heater dries out the air inside the home. This is one of the main causes of dry skin in the winter. There's no way to avoid running the heat, but you can use a mist humidifier to help add moisture to the air. Not only will your skin feel and look healthier, but your hair will too!

How to winter-proof you skin

Now that you are more aware of the causes of dry winter skin, here's what you can do to protect yourself. First of all, avoid all the activities we've listed above. That, in itself, is a huge way to winter-proof your skin. In addition, the following will help to keep skin soft, smooth, and moisturized.

1. Ditch the soap - Instead of washing with a harsh soap, opt for a moisturizing body wash instead. Many formulas contain ingredients that leave behind a protective barrier to keep moisture locked in even after bathing.

2. Ditch the lotion - The essential ingredients in most lotions are water and preservatives. To prevent dry skin, opt for body creams that are thicker and made with oil instead. Body creams are much better an moisturizing skin and protecting it against harsh outdoor elements.

3. Apply sunscreen - Sunscreen isn't just for summertime! Your skin has sunburn just as easily in the winter as it can in the summer. If you plan on spending an extended time outdoors, apply sunscreen to prevent sunburn.

4. Exfoliate - Use a gentle exfoliating body wash or scrub once a week to remove dead layers of skin.

5. Examine facial cleansers - Many of the facial cleansers and toners we use daily contain high levels of alcohol, which can dry out skin. While they are fine to use other times of the year, they can cause skin to feel uncomfortably tight in the winter. If yours contains alcohol, replace them with an alcohol-free formula.

More from Jennifer Wagner:

Causes and Treatment of Dry Skin

Natural Skin Care Treatments

Common Makeup Expiration Dates

Source:

Personal knowledge