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Cold-Weather Skin Care
Suffering chapped lips and dry skin? Here are some tips for battling the winter elements.
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Winter. A good time to cuddle by the fire, take up skiing or throw snowballs with some friends. But what about the havoc wreaked on your skin by the moisture-sapping weather and indoor heating? Here are some tips for keeping your face, hands and legs healthy throughout the winter, from Mount Kisco, New York-based dermatologist, David E. Bank, co-author of Beautiful Skin: Every Woman's Guide to Looking Her Best at Any Age.
Chapped Lips
Cause: Because lips lack oil glands, they tend to dry out and chap easily. When it's cold outside, the dry air evaporates, and it pulls moisture from the area around your mouth. Licking your lips just makes the problem worse.
Healing Tip: Keep lips covered by chap stick, Vaseline or an emollient lipstick when outside.
Broken Capillaries
Cause: Extreme temperature changes (going from heated indoors to icy cold outdoors) weakens supporting collagen, causing the capillaries on your face to dilate and swell. This is when they become visible as broken blood vessels.
Healing Tips:
- Wear a scarf or other face-covering when outside.
- A drop of Visine on broken blood vessels constricts them.
- Avoid sun, heat, spicy food and alcohol, which will make the capillaries dilate more.
Chapped Hands
Cause: The cold saps moisture out of your hands, and extremes in temperature also chap and dehydrate them.
Healing Tips:
- Use less drying facial cleansers, such as Cetaphil, Neutrogena, Purpose, Basis.
- Avoid immersing your hands in water.
- Wear gloves when outdoors.
Grey Elbows
Cause: Pushing or friction on the skin causes it to get thickened, scaly and rough.
Healing Tips:
- Don't rest elbows on tables or counters.
- Use alpha hydroxy products or products that contain lactic acid to exfoliate and moisturize dry skin.
- Wear soft clothing (rather than scratchy wool or knits).
Seasons Change
Come winter, your regular cleansing and moisturizing routine needs a boost. For the most protected skin, check your regular routine at the door and do the following, suggests Elaine Brumberg, author of Ageless: What Every Woman Needs to Know to Look and Feel Great (Harper Collins, 1997):
Skin Saver: Apply moisturizer right after a shower or bath, when your skin is still slightly damp. This way the water will be sealed onto the skin.
Thicker Works Quicker: If breakouts aren't a problem, use a cream moisturizer for your body that contains lanolin or petrolatum to help prevent evaporation. You can also go for the creamier brand of your regular face moisturizer.
Fill `Er Up: Drink lots of water during the day (six to eight glasses), to keep your skin hydrated.
Shower Power: Taking warm or tepid showers instead of hot ones is one of the best ways to keep from dehydrating your skin.
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