Why is Winter Bad for your Skin (and what can you do about it)?

Let's think about skin for a moment. What is it for?
In simple terms skin:

• Acts as a barier, keeping on the inside what is meant to be inside you, and keeping everyting else out.
• With its multiple layers, include fine hair folicles, it plays a role in keeping us warm in cold weather.
• With its sweat glands, it plays a role in keeping us cool in hot weather.
• It has to be very flexible to accomodate the various movements of the body and the flexing of the muscles beneath it.
• Its colour, texture and appearance characterises our appearance, especially our faces. This allows us to recognise one another, and it plays an important role in making us attractive to others. Of course we all know that true and enduring beauty is within, we all still want to look our best on the outside too.

A key part in the flexibility and healthy complexion of skin is adequate moisture. The skin contains water and natural oils which enable it to be flexible and firm but yielding.

So what effect does winter have on the skin?

Exposure to ice, snow, freezing temperatures and wind chills the skin and dries it out. In cold weather the body will naturally reduce the flow of blood to the extremities in order to conserve heat, but thereby making our hands, feet and faces feel cold. The skin can tolerate this for a while, but if the situation persists for too long, then the lack of flow of blood to the skin combined with the cold temperatures can lead to skin damage. This begins with a drying out of the skin and can lead to chapping.

And what are we tempted to do after being out in the cold weather?

Yes, take a hot bath, turn up the heating or sit too close to the fire. These too are harmful to the skin. Bathing or showering with excessively hot water washes natural oils out of the skin, exacerbating the drying out effect. Better to use warm, not hot water, and to apply a moisturiser to the skin after bathing/showering. Sitting too close to a fire or heat source may feel good initially, but it can cause more drying out of the skin or even minor burning. Turning up the temperature dial on the heating can also dry out the skin due to the higher temperatures and the lower humidity.

What Can we do to Protect the Skin in Winter?

•  Avoid prolonged exposure to extremly cold weather. Wrap up with clothing, hats, gloves, warm coats, and footwear suitable to the conditions.
• Even in winter, the sun's rays can cause skin damage, especially in snow, so apply sunscreen if going out on the snow or skiing.
• Exfoliate the skin to remove flakes of dry/dead skin and to improve blood circulation to the skin.
• Moisturise the skin daily, and not just the face. Do so after having spent time outdoors or after bathing/showering.
• Avoid agressive soaps and bathing/showing with hot water which can strip the skin of natural oils.
• If spending a lot of time indoors, keep the temperature of the heating system on the cooler side of warm, and if you notice your skin drying out, apply more moisturiser and consider using a humidifier to make the air more comfortable and less drying on the skin.
• Drink plenty of water: 2 litres per day.

The above tips are give purely for informational purposes. They may not apply to every individual or to you. If you suffer from a skin condition it is best to seek professional medical advice.

Don't Forget the Men

Skincare is not just a concern for women. Men also have skin which needs some gentle care. Facial skin is especially subject to daily stresses and strains from shaving, dryness, sun exposure, not to mention to effects which aging has on the skin. So what can a man do?

There are products for men which have a cooling, moisturising and rejuvinating effect on the skin. Take, for example, Shiseido Facial Contour Refiner. It promotes firmer, smoother and more young-looking skin when used regularly.