The winter is about to begin…. Don’t forget about your skin.

“Oh the weather outside is frightful” as the popular holiday song reminds us, but there is no reason why your face needs to be.   Winter climates mean we must pay a bit more attention to our skin, if we want it to be youthful for many seasons to come and avoid the risk of permanent injury.

The rosy red cheeks we get after coming in from the cold can cause dryness tightness, flaking, cracking and inflammation of the skin called eczema.  And although the warmth from the heat or fireplace when you get inside feels great, that too is drying to the skin. If left unattended, this will lead to premature aging and potentially irreversible damage to the skin.

Here are some simple tips to keep the skin kissable, once the mistletoe is no longer around.

  1. Find a skin care specialist to help you choose the products that are right for you. All skin and skin care products are not the same. Many have little or no value, and some can actually cause injury to the skin. Our office is committed to the science of skin care programs to address the specific needs of various skin types, areas, and pigmentation. And our products will not break the bank in the process.
  2. Moisturize your skin because once the damage is done, it’s done! While you may have found a moisturizer for your skin that works in the summer, the winter is more demanding. Depending upon skin type, many lotions labeled “night creams” may be more protective to the skin and help retain moisture, in part because moisturizer is oil-based.
  3. Sunblock is not just for summer. Winter sports and snow glare make sunblock important.  Remember the rule of 30’s – SPF 30 and apply 30 minutes before you go out.  Photo-damage leads to permanent skin changes including wrinkles, deep pigment changes and skin cancer.
  4. Don’t forget about your hands. Because the skin is thinner on the hands, it is much more difficult to keep them moisturized in the winter.
  5. Avoid wet socks and gloves.  They can irritate the skin and cause cracking, drying and infection.
  6. Adding a humidifier at home can help to bring healing moisture into the air and prevent drying, cracking and ulceration of the skin.
  7. Don’t forget about your feet. Use an exfoliant to get dead skin off the feet so moisturizers will work better. And consider using a petroleum product for greater moisturizing.
  8. Avoid alcohol-based toners, cleaners and astringents, which strip protective oils from your skin. Consider cleansing milk, deep foaming cleaners or deep hydrating products we have in our office. We also carry Epionce products and often combine them to restore youthful healthy skin.

While winter is “the most wonderful time of the year” to many, it does require some preparation.  Follow these simple winter tips or call or visit our office. We’ll give you what you need to look your best. Then, “let it snow let it snow let it snow.”