Winter has a way of working itself into the skin. Step outside on a brisk winter’s day and you’ll understand how dry air, paired with harsh winds, can leave skin not only parched, but dull, irritated and slower to heal.
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Winter has a way of working itself into the skin. Step outside on a brisk winter’s day and you’ll understand how dry air, paired with harsh winds, can leave skin not only parched, but dull, irritated and slower to heal.
The good news is dry skin is not an inevitable aspect of the winter months; there are a myriad treatments and habits that can manage the underlying causes of itchy, parched skin. Here are a few ways to protect your skin and restore its suppleness this season.
Try A Nourishing Shower Routine
Though it might feel counterintuitive, one way to prevent dry skin during the colder months is to resist the urge to defrost with a hot shower. Scalding water breaks down lipids, which are the skin’s natural moisturizing oils. Those suffering from tight, rough skin should opt for lukewarm water and use a high-emollient body wash, which can help trap water in skin. While in the shower, exfoliate the skin and apply a light botanical oil, such as almond or jojoba oil, to still-damp skin. Once dry, slather on a moisturizer that can be reapplied later in the day or that night. Consider a cream, which tends to be thicker and richer than a lotion. Certain ingredients can be of particular help: Shea butter and vitamin E do a great job of hydrating thirsty skin. Glycerin (glycerol) is a humectant, a molecule that helps draw the moisture in the air to the skin, while hyaluronic acid keeps moisture locked in. Many facial moisturizers and serums contain some of these ingredients, too, if you’re also concerned about a dry complexion.
Wrap Your Feet in Moisture
For cracked heels, which can be exacerbated by snug boots that cause feet to sweat and leave skin even more depleted as the moisture that forms evaporates, consider a metal foot file, pumice stone, or grainy foot scrub to slough off rough skin before it sets in. To keep moisture in, apply a thick cream with emollients after bathing. Dry skin sufferers may also consider wearing “moisturizing socks” to bed. They keep the feet continuously hydrated throughout the night. Treat already cracked heels with a salicylic acid cream at night. Research shows salicylic acid reduces dryness, scaling, and thickening of heel skin, as well as associated pain.
Related: 5 Skin Hydration Tips for Clients This Winter
Keep Your Lips Covered
The other part of your body that’s most irritated during colder months is most likely those chapped lips. Since lips don’t have oil glands, they’re more vulnerable to dryness than other areas. Come winter, everyone should invest in a lip balm with sunscreen, as sun exposure can damage the delicate skin on lips even when its cold. Avoid waxy sticks that don’t penetrate the skin. Instead, use a vitamin E- or oil-based balm that will soak into cracks and keep lips soft and supple.
Consider Your Daily Habits
Some dry skin sources can even affect you year-round. Things like harsh soaps, perfumes, dehydration, diet, certain medications (like for blood pressure or allergies), smoking, pregnancy and even stress and aging, alone or in combination, may also play a part in dry skin. One go-to solution for keeping skin hydrated is to use a humidifier in your home or office, and make sure you’re eating a diet rich in omega-3s, as the fatty acids nourish your skin from the inside out.
Stay Hydrated
Whether it’s with a nutrient-rich diet, hydrating skin care, or simple lifestyle changes, winter skin can be as soft and supple as a dewy dermis at the height of summer. Good habits and the right ingredients are key to combating those winter winds for healthy, soothed skin that will last through spring.
Deirdre Strunk is the vice president of Canyon Ranch Spa, Fitness and Beauty, heading up these divisions across the Canyon Ranch brand. Strunk, a licensed massage therapist, esthetician, yoga instructor and group fitness instructor, has more than 20 years of experience in the industry. In 2015, she was awarded Spa Director of the Year from the Las Vegas Spa Association, and she currently serves as a board member of the Las Vegas Spa Association, and as vice chair on the board for the Nevada State Board of Massage Therapy.
