Winter and Skin Care: Smart tips to ensure healthy skin and hair during winter

New Delhi, January 03, 2019:

Winter is here! Though the days are sunny and nights cold, it is the low humidity which makes our skin go dry. It is a nightmare for most of us to deal with dry weather and dry skin. With wide array of products in the market, it is quite confusing to choose one, and to choose the one right for us. Additionally, we may choose the best of products, but may not get the desired effect, if we do not know how to use them in the correct way. We may end up with dry skin and a whole lot of problems related to it.

Moisturisers are the main stay of skin care regimens during the winters.

Moisturisers are formulations which help in maintaining about 10-30% water content of the skin. Moisturisers replace the natural skin oils, cover tiny fissures and provide a protective film on the skin. They help to decrease evaporation of skin moisture thus making the skin soft and smooth thereby improving the overall appearance.

As we age, we lose skin hydration. People on medications for cholesterol and hypothyroid patients develop dry skin which tends to worsen during the winters. Diabetics are more prone for dry itchy skin.Some of the skin diseases like psoriasis, eczema, atopic dermatitis also worsens during the winter. Dandruff worsens too.

With correct information on skin care these issues can be avoided. Here are few tips on how to take care of your skin and hair during the winters.

1. Use two moisturisers, a light one for face and a thicker one for body.
2. Always use moisturiser on wet skin, as most of the moisturisers available will just lock in the moisture and do not provide moisture all by themselves.
3. Reapply moisturiser again in the evening, but after wetting skin and pat drying.
4. Oils can be used for body. The best would be virgin or cold pressed variety. Avoid using oils for face.
5. In skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema or atopic dermatitis moisturisers can help to really calm down itching and irritation.
6. For sensitive skin or conditions like rosacea using a bland, a little thicker, fragrance free moisturiser for face and using mild soaps helps significantly.
7. Do not forget to hydrate lips. Lips are very delicate structures and do not have oil glands. Use a lip balm or white petroleum jelly every four hours during the winters.
8. Though exposure to sun might be warm and welcoming, using a sunscreen while going out in sunlight is wise, as chances of getting sun burnt is high.
9. Dandruff tends to worsen in winters. Hence choose to oil hair strands and spare the scalp, as excessive oiling of the scalp causes dandruff.
10. Fresh hydrated look can give anti-aging effect too! Skin loses hydration as we age. Regular use of moisturisers and sunscreen are in fact the first step in any anti-aging treatments.

Things which can worsen skin and hair during winters

1. Harsh soaps. A harsh soap is one which dries out skin after bath.
2. Failing to moisturize after bath. The habit of applying oil before bath is good, but ensure that moisturiser is applied after bath. Most of the oil is removed during bathing process and even though oil is applied before bath, skin can still go dry.
3. Thick oils over the face. Oil can block pores and can cause breakouts. It is preferable that a light moisturiser is used for face.
4. Exposing skin and hair while travelling. When travelling, cover hair and use a jacket or full sleeve shirt/top, as the wind can rip off skin and hair of their natural oils and leave them damaged.

Hope with these tips you can enjoy the winters as well as glowing healthy skin and hair.

(Author: Dr. Sushmita Dhavan, Dermatologist & Aesthetic surgeon, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore)