How To Protect Your Skin Against The Elements

We all know how important it is to protect our skin during the winter months, but looking after our skin during cold weather periods often gets overlooked. Cold weather conditions bring along a whole host of different issues, the worst one being frostbite along with chapped skin and lips.

The main cause of these problems is dehydration. In colder conditions you need to over treat skin to keep it hydrated. There needs to be a shift from lighter skin care products to thicker based creams and lotions to deeply moisturise the skin to act as a barrier against the harsh environment.

If you’re going to hit the slopes snowboarding, skiing or hiking, your skin needs protection from harsh winds as well as winter sun. Both snow and sand reflect the sun so it’s vital to wear moisturiser with an spf of at least 15 or sunscreen. Hands and lips are always forgotten, so apply petroleum jelly such as vaseline to your lips and a thin layer to your hands before wearing gloves to keep them from cracking and stay moisturised.

It’s not just the skin on the face that suffers in the winter, skin all over the body dries out and begins to flake. After a day in the cold skiing, hiking or even just a fierce winters day, it’s tempting to get into a hot bath to warm up and unwind. However scalding baths can irritate your skin causing broken capillaries and redness in the skin. It will also take the natural moisture out of your skin, so it’s best to have a lukewarm bath or shower. In your bath add 10 drops of aromatic essential oil to moisturise skin as you soak. Then once dried apply emollient moisturiser which is geared up for extra dry, rough and chapped skin.

Similarly when you’re back at home, don’t blast up the central heating as it will dry out the air and your skin. A humidifier will in your home will make the air more moist.

The cold weather can lead to a variety of health implications for your feet, The extremities of the body such as toes are more likely to lose heat. Wearing thicker socks and shoes to provide insulation is important but wear socks of a natural material to allow skin to breath. As the feet are hidden by socks and boots they can easily get neglected. Ensure that you maintain a foot care regime. Washing, drying, exfoliating and moisturising is important in preventing athlete’s foot, cracked heels and hard skin build up. Don’t warm your feet up too quickly in hot water as this can cause chilblains. Warm them up slowly by changing socks and wearing slippers.

In the winter especially, add nutritional supplements into your skin health regime such as essential fatty acids like zinc, magnesium and vitamins A and B. Omega 3 found in oily fish and flaxseed oil will help repair and plump out the skin. Although drinking plenty of water is seen as something to do in hot weather, it’s vital in preventing the skin from drying out in cold weather. Drink plenty of water to combat dehydration and avoid fizzy soda and caffeine as these are diuretics.

Mary White is a skincare professional who provides a range of skincare treatments including nanogen products and restylane treatments in West Midlands UK