Whether you’re hitting the ski slopes, staying indoors where it’s comfortable and warm, or a little bit of both, winter can be harsh on your skin. The dry indoor heat, frigid temperatures, and unrelenting winds make winter a challenging time of year when it comes to keeping our skin hydrated, supple, and healthy.
As summer winds down, you may be seeing the effects that all your fun outdoor activities have had on your skin, even adding to the damage that’s been accumulating over the years. These could include wrinkles, scaly patches, age spots, and cracked skin. Even worse, skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis may also flare up during these cold, dry months.
To help repair and refresh your skin, here are our favorite tips on keeping your skin glowing all winter long.
Stay Hydrated
In winter we prefer hot drinks like tea and hot chocolate, and as a result, tend to drink less water. Our skin needs hydration, best provided from the inside by fresh water throughout the day.
Furthermore, once we close the windows and turn up the heat, our homes tend to become very dry. The best way to combat this is to invest in a humidifier, which restores moisture into the air and back into our skin.
Wash in Lukewarm Water
Although taking showers and baths in hot water may feel good in the winter, switching to lukewarm water helps prevent the stripping away of oils from the skin.
Choose Your Moisturizer Carefully
As the air becomes drier, adjust your skincare routine by incorporating an oil-based moisturizer and not one that is water-based. The oil will create a protective barrier on your skin that holds more moisture than a lotion or cream. Night-time moisturizers are often oil-based.
Protect Exposed Areas
While you’ll be wearing gloves and scarves for protection against cold winds, rain, and snow, don’t forget the sunscreen. Since the sun in winter can be just as damaging as it is in summer, before going outdoors, apply a liberal coating of sunscreen of at least SPF 30 as part of your daily skincare routine.
Restoring Your Skin’s Healthy Glow
Following these tips may not reverse all the sun damage that’s accumulated over the years, but with a little help, you can restore your skin’s healthy glow and without the need for surgery.
Dr. Derrick Gale, a board-certified, multi-disciplinary plastic surgeon, offers several non-surgical clinical skincare treatments to improve a wide variety of skin conditions. These can be fully customized to restore your skin’s youthful glow.
Next Steps to Keeping Your Skin Glowing All Winter Long
Apart from following the above tips in taking care of your skin during winter, this is the best time of the year to treat yourself to one of our chemical peels. With your skin becoming especially sensitive afterward, winter is the perfect season for these treatments. Dr. Gale’s customizable surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments can remove the signs of premature aging, making your smooth and unblemished skin a reality. Erase years of sun damage and look your best by contacting Gale Facial Plastics in Salt Lake City, UT by calling (801) 506-6344 or scheduling a consultation today!