During the sweltering summer we always tend to think that winter is better. However when the air gets cold and dry and cold winds blow across the face we tend to reverse our opinion, and wish for summer. Truth be told winter is as harsh as the summer on the skin, perhaps even more so. Follow the following tips to keep your skin as healthy as possible.
1. Avoid the sun.
There is nothing more enjoyable than to feel the warming rays of the sun on your skin when the weather is cold. However beware. The rays of the sun can cause as much tanning in winter as in the summer. So use a sunscreen while going out, and get a good vitamin D supplement.
2. Avoid cold breezes.
Since two wheelers are the mode of transport for the majority, we tend to expose ourselves to the cold breeze. This accelerates dehydration of the skin as well as stimulates tanning. Wear a helmet with face cover or cover the face with your shawl, muffler or duppatta.
3. Moisturize well and often.
Slather moisturizers such a Venusia Max and Nivea repeatedly. If you get any areas of stubbornly dry or cracking skin try to use a urea containing moisturizer. For cracked heels, use a pumice stone to ex-foliate and apply moisturizer. If the cracking persists you may need a prescription medication containing glycolic or salicylic acid.
4. Avoid soap and use a soap free cleanser.
Soap free cleansers like Cetaphil which do not remove much moisture are better than harsh soaps.
5. Use facial and body scrubs judiciously.
They help the mostuirizers to penetrate the skin better. Use about once a week.
6. Follow a good bath protocol.
Use a pre-bath oil such as good old coconut oil, use lukewarm water, use a gentile soap such as Dove, keep showers short and luke warm, pat dry and use a moisturizer or baby oil while skin is still damp.
7. Use a humidifier.
The typical humidity in hyderabad in winter can go down to 20%, while the optimum is around 50%. Even in late October you can feel the effects in the form of cracked lips and drying of the nose. A cost effective way to increase humidity is to keep house hold plants, soaking towels in water and allow them to dry indoors, and keeping bathroom and kitchen doors open where possible. For a more sophisticated option there are evaporative humidifiers available in the major electronic goods store such as Chroma. However I would suggest buying an ultrasonic humidifier, as it uses less energy and can also be used in dry summers without heating up the air.
8. What about clothes?
Use good quality natural fibers for clothing especially use cotton clothes next to the skin.
9. Drink plenty of water(1.5 to 2 liters in a day) which you may not be drinking because of the cold weather, eat healthy food with lots of vegetables, get your omega threes(plenty of fish are usually available this season)
