Weather change always brings with itself a hoard of problems. It takes a while for the body to acclimatize to the changing routine and life. The most profound impact perhaps is on the skin, as it is exposed to the environment the most. With changing weather also comes change in the lifestyle modifications that also take a toll on skin.
Whereas, with summers, complaints are more about skin breakouts and sunburns, winters are all about dry skin and chapped lips.
What is the winter skin?
Due to the dry winter air, our skin loses out on the moisture that keeps it plump and soft. When the vital moisture gets evaporated off of the skin, it becomes dry and crackled. Dry skin is also more prone to breaking as well.
People suffering from skin conditions like eczema also experience a flare up during winters, as dryness causes this skin problems to aggravate. They then have to visit a dermatologist in Lahore as the inflammation causes a lot of itching, pain and discomfort.
Moreover, in winters, many people forget to hydrate well. Hot summers serve as a constant reminder for hydration, but in winters, lack of thirst often makes people forget that they have to drink water.
Similarly, to keep warm, people drink up coffees and teas which are loaded with caffeine. As it promotes water loss, the body gets dehydrated and thus skin also gets parched. Dry skin not only itches a lot, but also looks very unappealing.
Furthermore, winters call for hot showers and baths. Since they feel super good, a lot of the people end up overindulging in them. However, these hot showers, albeit soothing, are not good for the skin. It promotes water loss from the skin surface. Enter; dry and flaky skin.
Befriend a good moisturizer:
In order to heal your skin, you need to give it the requisite moisture. An excellent moisturizer for winters is the one which is oil based. It packs a more solid punch against the dehydrated skin. It also helps to form an oil barrier on the skin that also prevents moisture loss from the skin.
Moreover, save the lotions for the summer. In winters, go for creams as they are thicker and more moisturizing. Ideal are those which contain hyaluronic acid and ceramides, as these ingredients not only heal, but prevent future episodes as well.
Also, try periodically moisturizing your skin as this frequent dosage will help to keep the skin super soft and dewy.
Drink up!
Your skin reflects the state of your body and if your body lacks hydration, your skin will show too. Hence, the quickest way to fix of the winter skin is drinking enough water.
Moreover, when your body is sufficiently hydrated, it also performs better as well.
Long Hot showers ought to go
No matter how good the gushing hot water in the shower, or the long, hot, soothing bath feels like, they are not at all good for the skin. Hot water destroys the protective layer on the skin. Once that is gone, the loss of moisture from the skin increases.
Therefore, try showering with warm water instead of the hot water. Rather than long luxuries baths, take quick showers. Also, once you are done, pat dry yourself rather than vigorously rubbing with away at the skin.
Cleansers should be mild
Harsh cleansers strip off the oil from the skin. Consequently, the skin turns dry and itchy. Hence, go for the mild cleansing. Moreover, do not overdo the face wash. Use it once a day only, as otherwise the skin will get super dry.
Similarly, for the body, rather than strong soaps, use the mild ones. Also, immediately afterwards, on still damp skin, apply body oil so the moisture is sealed inside of the skin.
Easy on the exfoliator
Dry skin is very fragile and thus needs to be treated with care. The harsh physical and chemical exfoliators are hence not a good choice for it. Not only does it lead to physically damaging the skin, but also causes even more moisture loss from the skin.
So, move to milder exfoliators like the lactic acid-based ones. Abrasive exfoliators are already not so good for the facial skin and thus are especially bad for the fragile dry skin. Also, rather than rubbing at the towel, dab at the skin to pat-dry it.
Use a humidifier
Using a humidifier helps to make the air around us less dry. When there is more moisture in the air, the loss from the skin also is decreased.
Finally, talk to an expert
Your skin type, condition, health; so many factors influence your skin. Generic measures are good and there is no harm in trying them, but if they are not fruitful, visit an expert like the best dermatologist in Karachi who can guide you in dealing with the dry skin.
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