Very dry skin in winter - what to do?
Unfortunately, we cannot influence many factors such as cold or wind. But we can limit contact with water, be sure to wear gloves outside or use special softening cosmetics. Here are some tips to help with very dry skin during the cold season:
- do not overuse showers and baths several times a day;
- Avoid very hot or chlorinated water, it dries out the top layer of skin;
- normalize your diet; a lack of nutrients and vitamins will also affect the condition of your skin;
- drink more fluids, ideally plain water;
- use emollients and moisturizers for the body.
Dry body skin
Causes of dry skin
There may be a hereditary predisposition to moisture deficiency in the skin, but other factors are often at work, namely: disruptions in the functioning of the hormonal system, unfavorable indoor air composition due to the operation of the heating system in winter and air conditioning in summer, the habit of taking hot water procedures that neutralize protective fat film.
Improper drinking regime is harmful to health, since insufficient supply of purified water causes general dehydration, which certainly affects the body. Some people's skin is particularly sensitive to unfavorable climates or reacts strongly to unsuitable diets. People who smoke have skin in an extremely deplorable state, which becomes more and more noticeable over the years; in this case, all procedures will not give the desired result and can only be helped by a complete cessation of nicotine addiction. Sometimes dryness appears after tanning in a natural environment or solarium.
A side effect of pathologies such as psoriasis, keratosis, ichthyosis, atopic dermatitis, eczema, diabetes mellitus and keratosis is insufficient production of substances responsible for regulating water balance - ceramides. You should be careful when choosing detergents, since the vast majority of soaps cause dry skin. Perhaps the abuse of scrubs has a negative effect, it is harmful, as is a complete refusal to cleanse. Any disruptions in metabolism, lack or excess of vitamins important for the skin, antibiotic therapy and the stress that many of us are familiar with - all these factors, together or individually, can cause dry skin on the body.
Dry skin types
Problematic skin types require different care.
In one case, when hypersensitivity is supplemented by periodic itching, natural elasticity, dullness, smoothness and a minimum of wrinkles are present - protection from ultraviolet activity and basic systematic care are required. In another case, with a noticeable loss of tone, significant thinning of certain areas (usually the nasolabial area and areas around the eyes), rapid formation of wrinkles, it is not advisable to use any cosmetic products, since results can only be achieved by deep exposure to professional preparations and procedures. Dry body skin in winter: requires enhanced care and a comprehensive approach to hydration
Line Bepanten Derma
This line of 5 products became the first series in Russia, each product of which contains provitamin B5 and is intended for the care of dry and very dry skin. Thanks to provitamin B5, Bepanten Derma products correct not only external manifestations, but also provide a lasting effect of restoration and healing of the skin.
Provitamin B5 is known for its medicinal properties. It penetrates into the deep layers of the skin and is actively involved in its metabolic processes, simultaneously acting not only from the outside, but also from the inside.
The Bepanten Derma line includes five of the most necessary products.
Moisturizing body lotion - contains vitamin E and physiological lipids in high concentration. The lotion intensively soothes and moisturizes dry, sensitive, irritation-prone skin. Cost: 658 rubles .
Nourishing body lotion significantly increases the skin's moisture level, making it smooth, soft and elastic, and promotes natural skin restoration even in cases of significant dryness. Cost: 698 rubles .
Restoring hand balm - salvation for chapped hands in winter. It is designed to naturally restore the skin barrier, as well as protect the skin of the hands from external aggressive influences, such as frequent contact with water and detergents, cold or wind. Cost: 436 rubles .
Regenerating foot cream helps to achieve a lasting effect of softening very dry skin on the feet and protecting it from excessive keratinization. This is ensured by the components included in the cream with proven moisturizing activity - provitamin B5, urea (5%), physiological lipids, glycerin, as well as meadowfoam oil, squalene, allantoin, vitamin E. Cost: 459 rubles .
I've been using it happily for 2 weeks now. The skin on the heels stopped peeling and bursting and became softer and more well-groomed. I will definitely continue to use it.
Restoring lip balm helps restore dry, chapped lips, leaving them soft and smooth. In addition, it provides protection from adverse external influences such as cold, wind, dry air. The combination of nutrients (provitamin B5, vitamin E and beeswax) triggers the natural restoration of lip skin. In addition, Bepanten Derma balm easily penetrates the skin, making it an ideal base for makeup. Cost: 198 rubles .
A good balm without fragrance or fragrance. Suitable for children to use. I gave it to my daughter (6 years old) so that the delicate skin of her lips would not become chapped in the cold.
The Bepanthen Derma line of products from Bayer can be purchased in pharmacies in Russia.
You can choose a cream for dry skin in winter in another equally interesting line. So recently a new brand Aveeno appeared in Russia, although the company itself has existed since 1945. Aveeno has three lines in total.
Winter skin care: choosing the right cream
If you are used to using moisturizer, then you will have to forget about it until spring. Its alternative should be a nourishing cream with a fatty consistency, enriched with vitamins and nutrients.
Winter skin care: choosing the right cream
Despite the fact that there are many creams on the cosmetic market labeled “for winter,” you need to choose the right option with special care. This necessity lies in the fact that not all creams may be suitable for your skin type. And some items are not intended for daily use, but are suitable for special occasions, for example, when you have to stay in the cold for a long time.
The main rule when choosing a nourishing cream is that it must match your skin type and your age.
Remember that a cream that is intended for young skin will not cope with age-related problems, and an anti-aging cream is categorically not acceptable for use by young people, as it can only aggravate the situation.
Therefore, before purchasing an advertised product, you need to read its instructions, which are located on the back of the box.
The composition of the cream is also important. Oily and problem skin requires certain ingredients that have drying properties. Dry skin, on the contrary, requires hydration.
Skin care in winter should be regular. Therefore, it is recommended to get two jars of cream: day and night. Each of them solves specific problems.
So, skin care in winter using day cream is to protect it from harmful environmental factors, such as frost and constant temperature changes. The night version is responsible for regeneration processes in the epidermis.
AVEENO® DERMA Comfort line
This line of products consisting of nourishing body lotion ( 807 rubles ) and bath and shower oil ( 461 rubles ) restores the necessary level of moisture to irritated and very dry skin. Formulas with micronized colloidal oatmeal have been clinically tested to soften and soothe skin while hydrating to protect and maintain hydration. With the help of the AVEENO® DERMA Comfort line you can get rid of itching caused by dry skin.
How to protect your skin during such a cold winter period?
The most important advice is to choose a good drug. Creams should have nutritional and moisturizing properties. Thanks to them, the loss of vitamins and moisture will be replenished. Many drugs contain hyaluronic acid and plant extracts. All these components help retain moisture inside.
The best time to nourish your skin is before bed. At this time, the skin relaxes and is not affected by low temperatures. It is best to purchase a night cream. They are thick and contain a lot of vitamins, oils, amino acids and minerals. All components contribute to cell restoration.
Another useful tip is to use a cream with UV protection even in winter. Even when it's cold, spectrum A rays have a detrimental effect on the skin. Of course, there will be no burn, but the skin will age much earlier than expected. Creams with UV protection will help well during the daytime. If a woman’s skin is prone to pigmentation, then the cream should be chosen thirty plus.
You should not apply cream just before a walk. This procedure must be done at least thirty minutes before leaving the premises. During these minutes the cream will be absorbed. In cold weather, this is very important, since the cream contains water at low temperatures, it can freeze on the skin, which leads to frostbite and increased dryness.
Women need to visit a beauty salon. All salon procedures are aimed at preserving youthful skin. Laser biorevitation will help restore moisture loss for a long time.
Laser biorevitalization with hyaluronic acid.
It’s also worth thinking about how to shower and bathe properly. After frosty air and a long walk, you can’t immediately get into a hot bath. Such a sharp change in temperature puts the skin in a stressful situation. At first the water should be a little warm and only when the skin gets used to it can you increase the water temperature.
AVEENO® DERMA Intensive line
This line of products is intended for atopic, very dry, irritated and sensitive skin. There are two products in the line - a softening gel ( 556 rubles ) and a softening shower cream ( 619 rubles ).
All Aveeno line products are suitable for frequent and daily use and will provide care for dry skin in winter.
Winter skin care: nourishing masks
Winter skin care: using nourishing masks
Facial skin care in winter does not only involve the use of creams; the skin also needs to be pampered with nourishing masks. They do them twice a week. They will help keep your skin beautiful and elastic. To do this, it is absolutely not necessary to buy expensive drugs. You can make a cool mask from fruits. To do this, you need one banana and mash it until pureed. Add three drops of any essential oil (apricot, grape, macadamia, almond, peach) to it. Apply this mask evenly over the entire face and leave for 25-30 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.
Recipe for a nourishing mask for winter skin care:
Ingredients: plain yogurt (approximately 80-100 grams), flower honey (1 tablespoon), grapefruit zest (1/2 fruit). Mix all ingredients thoroughly and apply to skin. Keep the mask on for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse with water or brewed fresh green tea.
Body cream with shea butter SATIN BODY® “White tea and citrus”
Amazing body butter - my favorite. Incomparable aroma and delicate texture. Easy to apply, quickly absorbed. But it has a drawback - it ends quickly. When used morning and evening it lasted me 1.5 weeks. But it dealt with the peeling perfectly. Restored my dry skin in winter. Cost: 1300 rubles .
I hope my article about dry skin in winter was helpful to you. Write in the comments, have you tried the listed remedies? Share your favorite dry skin saviors.
Why is this happening?
The answer to this question cannot be unambiguous. There are several reasons why the skin dries and itches in winter, and we will look at each of them.
Low air humidity
It is clear that the skin itches and dries out in winter due to too dry air. This refers to excessively dry air both in the apartment and outside the room, that is, on the street, where frost and icy wind reign.
If we are talking about housing, then in such conditions the heating system is to blame: moisture simply evaporates from the atmosphere under the influence of the heat emanating from the radiators. On the street, air humidity is minimal, on the contrary, due to the low temperature and lack of wet precipitation. In this situation, fluid loss occurs from the skin. In addition, frost outside turns moisture in the cells of unprotected skin into ice crystals, turning the top layer into a dry, itchy crust.
Avitaminosis
A common reason why skin becomes dry and itchy in winter is a lack of vitamins. Not only those people who live in regions with harsh winters, but also those living in temperate latitudes suffer from dry and itchy skin in the cold. In this case, the problem has a completely different origin: the source of deterioration in the condition of the body is a deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body. Against the backdrop of an acute shortage of biologically active substances, the skin ceases to cope with the functions assigned to it by nature. Most often, itching and dryness are caused by a lack of vitamins A, E, group B and ascorbic acid. As a result, the skin itches most on the sides and stomach, and dries on the face, arms and legs.
Lack of water in the body
Another very common cause of dry skin in winter is not drinking enough fluids. It's hot in summer, and we don't need to be asked to drink large quantities of water. In winter, we don’t feel thirsty, and therefore we simply forget to drink regular clean water in addition to the prescribed tea and coffee. As a result, the body begins to suffer from dehydration, and the first signs of this condition are dry skin, which no creams can eliminate.
Other reasons why skin flakes and itches in winter
- Use of mineral oils. They are included in many cosmetic products. Frequent use of such beauty products inevitably leads to skin loss of moisture.
- Bathing in hot water. This factor does not cause dryness, but it provokes skin itching, often accompanied by the appearance of red spots.
- Wearing woolen clothes, especially tight ones, as well as wardrobe items made of artificial synthetic fabric. The skin and coarse fibers of the material are in prolonged contact, friction occurs, and then dryness and itching are not far away.
- Allergic reaction. Some people's bodies react painfully to exposure to low temperatures. Gusty cold winds and severe frosts are the worst enemies for such individuals, since they cause their skin, unprotected by clothing, not only to dry out, but also to blush, become inflamed, and itch. This is how cold allergies manifest themselves.
