Maintaining Healthy Skin in Windy Places

With fall here and winter approaching, protecting your skin from windburn is very important. 'Windburn' is a skin condition where the wind removes the top layer of oil from the skin. This lack of oil causes excessive dryness of the skin, leading to redness and soreness as well as an itchy feeling in some cases.

1. If you shower or wash your face, wait at least a half hour before going out into the weather so it has a chance to dry. If you face is still damp, the wind will have an extra drying effect.

2. Make sure you are not taking medication that increases the suns effects on your skin.

3. When going out into windy, cold conditions wear protective clothing if possible such as a hat, gloves, warm scarf or face mask. A hat with a wide brim gives more protection. Remember the higher up you are in altitude, the closer you are to the sun so you burn more quickly. Keep in mind the wind chill factor as well.

4. Stay away from other skin irritants such as people who are smoking and extreme heat or cold which make wind damage feel worse. These elements also leach moisture from your skin, leaving it more susceptible to wrinkles and burns.

5. Use a rich daytime moisturizer and night cream to replenish moisture lost from your skin after being out in the elements.

6. Don't forget to apply moisturizer to your hands, nails, arms, and legs. The whole body is affected in cold and windy conditions.

7. Use sun blockers to avoid burns on your face and nose. Burns can lead to skin cancer later on in life. Sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher not only protects against sun damage but also against wind damage by acting as a shield against irritants. Fair skinned, blond haired people should use an even higher sun block formula. I burn in 20 minutes so I use SPF 45 on my face. I also have to be careful when out in the elements for I am more sensitive and more easily affected by the cold and heat. For harsh conditions including wind, reapply sun block every 2 hours.

9. Your lips are even more sensitive than the rest of the face to windburn. Use protective lip balms that contain both UV protection and a moisturizer to keep the lip areas moist and protected. Some have aloe in them as well.

10. In sub-zero temperatures you need to use products specifically indicated for sub zero temperatures. Most skin care products are not intended to protect you against harsh weather conditions. These products contain a higher percentage of water and may freeze on the skin, breaking the tiny capillaries.

11. Drink water to help hydrate the body and skin tissues. Drinking soda, coffee or juice does not decrease the need to drink plain, pure water. Drinking 8 glasses of water per day helps your skin and your whole system to be healthier. Remember that alcohol dehydrates the body so be aware of that factor when skiing or playing hard.

Take care of your skin while you are young. You will look much younger as you age and will be less prone to skin cancer and wrinkles. You will appreciate all the care you took later on in life.