How to Deal With Dry, Itchy, and Dehydrated Skin During the Winter
It is difficult to keep your skin moisturized and supple during the winter. Unfortunately, the summertime glow has faded which leaves your skin feeling dull, tight and dry and sometimes flaky.
The desire to take hot showers or sit in a hot sauna is tempting but can even dehydrate your skin even worse.
As we age, we need to maintain hydration, elasticity and a natural moisture balance. There are many methods to achieving this goal which also includes a healthy, well-balanced diet.
Your first priority is to maintain your overall health but in addition, is that you should maintain the largest organ which is your skin.
Three types of lubricates to moisturize your skin effectively.
Each one of these lubrications delivers hydration and softens skin. It also seals in moisture and aids in water retention to the skin.
One thing you may want to consider adding to your winter routine is including a two-step process for plump, well-nourished skin.
Step 1: Add a serum which is also known as a humectant.
You should stay away from Vitamin C Serums which can be very drying to the skin especially during the winter.
Step 2:
We should concentrate on retaining as much elasticity as we can. Unfortunately, we will eventually lose elasticity since this is normal during the aging process. Genetics may help in some cases, however, we cannot completely stop the aging process.
It is important to start good habits when we are young to delay the signs of aging. It's best practice not to fight the aging process and it's better to age gracefully and use wisdom and knowledge to preserve our assets.
Just a few action steps for better skincare.
DON’T: Avoid sitting in the sun for long periods of time.
DO: Use sunscreen protection daily between 15 to 50 SPF. There are also foundations that include SPF protection. Any sunscreen over 50 SPF does not protect you from harmful UVA or UVB rays.
DON’T: Do not smoke which causes a person to age quickly and it also increases wrinkles and dehydrates the skin. Tobacco restricts natural blood flow.
DON’T: Do not drink alcohol. It is one sure way to age the body and your organs over a period of time. It also dehydrates the organs and cells.
Tailor and monitor your alcohol intake if you prefer to drink occasionally.
DO: Drink water daily. Drink at least eight cups of water every day.
Water is the best moisturizer for the skin as it is distributed throughout the body and replenishes your cells and organs. Your body is made up of 98% water.
Hydration: What to Look For?
It can be overwhelming and very confusing when searching for the right products for the condition of your skin. Some products can make your skin feel even drier. It can also cause inflammation, redness or increase itching and irritation.
There are two natural humectants that aid in healing the skin. Aloe Vera and honey are anti-inflammatory agents that hydrate and seal in moisture. It also helps relieve minor rashes and sunburn. It’s best to use 100% organic aloe Vera. You can buy the actual Aloe Vera leaf and scrape the gel-like substance inside of the leaf and apply directly to the skin.
You can also add these ingredients to your diet which will cleanse toxins out of the body.
Acids: Which Ones are the Best?
There are a few acids found in products that will also help or hinder the progress of dry, parched skin. Let’s find out which ones will heal the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid is used to hydrate and maintain moisture levels.
Alpha hydroxy acid is a chemical that exfoliates and encourages cell renewal
Lactic Acid, Mandelic Acid, and Glycolic Acid are found in fruits such as papayas and apples but they can also be found in apple cider and vinegar.
Ceramides relieve itchy, irritated skin. You can find this ingredient in colloidal oatmeal, shea butter, and cocoa butter. Many skincare brands are including this key ingredient in their products.
Glycerin is easily absorbed in the skin and is also water-soluble. It is a great source of hydration for the skin.
Propylene Glycol helps the skin to hold moisture into the deep layers of the skin.
Polyethylene Glycol is a petroleum-based compound that softens the skin.
If you dealing with dry skin, there are some key ingredients that you need to stay away from. These ingredients are very stripping and absorb the natural oils which are drying to the skin and lead to inflammation.
Kaolin Clays and Charcoal are used in facial masks.
Tea Tree and witch hazel are extremely drying to the skin and is normally used as a natural astringent, however, it is not recommended to use on the skin due to the harsh reactions that may occur.
Tips to Maintain Natural Oils in Your Skin
To enhance and treat dry skin, you may want to try including jojoba oil or almond oil to your regimen. It is best to use at night as it may be too oily to wear under cosmetics.
Eye Care Treatments
Do not neglect your eye area. Find an eye cream or eye treatment that repairs dark circles, wrinkles or puffiness. It’s also important to keep the eye area well moisturized which is a very delicate area.
Never tug or pull the skin when taking off makeup. The skin around the eyes is very thin and sensitive so a lightweight cream works best and also be sure to massage gently under and over the eyelids.
Lip Care
It's pretty hard to neglect the lips as it is often dry and chapped especially during the winter.
You may be tempted to lick your lips to eliminate dryness but saliva actually drys out your lips even faster.
Try using a sugar scrub made for the lips or a lip mask. There are a variety of lip treatments and lip balms to help seal in moisture. Vaseline is an oldie but goodie for quick touchups.
One Last Note
Do not sleep with makeup. It not only clogs the pores but ages the skin over a period of time.
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