How to take care of your skin in winter. Dermatologist's advice

@ BeltaPlus How to take care of your skin in winter? How to protect your face from frost, and lips and hands from the wind? Is soap harmful and why peeling? We've collected actionable tips and advice from dermatologists online about protecting your skin in the winter. Facial skin careFace creams The functions of face creams (nourishing, moisturizing or protective) depend on the ratio of water and oils in their composition.

In winter, you need a cream that creates a protective barrier. Indeed, in the cold period, the skin becomes drier and more sensitive to external stimuli. A reliable assistant is cold cream. He is fat and thick. This consistency allows it to prevent the evaporation of moisture from the skin, protecting it from wind and frost.

The cream used in summer to moisturize the skin is not suitable for low temperatures. A higher percentage of water than oil will not provide adequate protection.

To create a proper protective shell on the skin, thicker winter creams should be applied no later than 20 minutes before going outside. If you lubricate your face just before going out, then the benefits of the cream are leveled: the skin will not have time to absorb active protective substances and the product simply will not work.
Dermatologists do not separate skin care for men and women. Skin has no gender. Any type of skin (dry, oily, combination) needs moisturizing. Therefore, care tips are common for both women and men. However, the selection of skin care cosmetics should be individual. For example, age cream does not need to be changed to winter. You can just add cold cream.
Scrubs and peelings Both peeling and scrub are ways to remove the surface layer of the skin. Peeling products include a certain percentage of acid that dissolves the surface layer of the skin. And scrubbing products provide mechanical exfoliation of the skin with the help of microparticles. That is, peeling is a chemical method, and scrub is a physical one.

In winter, attention should be paid to acid peels, which are usually not used during periods of intense solar radiation.

People who have excessively oily skin should not exclude scrub from their winter skin care range, as they need to remove surface epithelium and dead cells more often (but not more than once or twice a week). In winter, choose products with a delicate structure without abrasive particles so as not to scratch the skin.

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Face masksFace masks are a good addition to home or professional care. Regardless of the time of year, they should be used once a week in combination, for example, with a scrub or peeling. The only caveat is that in summer for problem skin you need a mask with a drying effect, and in winter - more oily, protective.
It is also recommended to use dermatocosmetic masks, which are sold in pharmacies. Each line has special products for different skin types and ages.

As for homemade masks, give them up today. For example, coffee only scratches the skin, and honey can cause allergies. Remember, food products are designed to be eaten, not applied to the skin.
Sunscreen Use sunscreen during long winter walks and ski holidays. Necessarily! Snow and ice surfaces actively reflect the sun's rays, so exposed skin can not only tan, but also burn.

To protect yourself, use sunscreen with an SPF of 30-50 (but no lower than 30).
Hygienic lipstick or balm Before going out, be sure to use hygienic lipstick, both for adults and children. The composition should contain components for moisturizing: glycerin, vitamins A, E and petroleum jelly. As well as oils: coconut, sea buckthorn and argan.
Herbal decoctions and soap for washing It must be remembered that decoctions of herbs (for example, chamomile or nettle) dry the skin, so it is not recommended to use them in winter.

However, you should not wash your face with tap water either. Especially if the skin is sensitive, dry and irritated. It is recommended to use micellar, boiled or filtered spring water. That is, any, but not from the tap.
Do not use regular soap for washing. Its purpose is to wash away fats and bacteria from the surface layer. It has no benefit for the skin of the face, which is more sensitive than the skin of the hands. Use special cleansers (these are also available in the form of soap in the lines of medical cosmetics).
ShavingShortly before shaving, men should apply a moisturizer to their skin. It will soothe the skin and soften the stubble. Instead of an aftershave lotion that contains ALCOHOL and dries the skin, it is better to use a balm with a thick texture for barrier protection of the skin. In winter, shaving can be postponed to the evening so that the skin is less irritated in the morning.
Decorative cosmeticsIn sub-zero weather, it is better to use oil-based cosmetics: cream blush, liquid eyeliner and eye shadow. Dry makeup can further dry out the skin. Apply moisturizer first, then make-up. So that there is no feeling of dryness.

The final make-up powder does not perform a barrier function, it has a decorative effect. Use it minimally, especially when cold dermatitis occurs. An important base for makeup, that is, a moisturizer.
Foot skin care In winter, when the heating is turned on in the apartment, there is a lack of humidity. Therefore, dry skin may be due to dry air. Make sure that the humidity is at least 50%, and the temperature in the room is within 20 degrees.

After showering or bathing, apply a moisturizer to your feet for a few minutes. It will help prevent dryness and flaking.

If the temperature is low, then do not neglect pantyhose. After all, a local decrease in temperature on the skin can lead to inflammation of the hair follicles due to the addition of bacterial flora against the background of dry skin. On dry and irritated skin, do not wear synthetics, that is, nylon tights. Choose cotton.
Hand CareHand CreamsTo protect against the effects of cold or repair inflamed or irritated skin, choose a moisturizer specifically designed for hands. Dermatocosmetic creams provide a “glove effect” that protects against external factors. This cream can be applied after each hand wash.

For the winter, it is not necessary to buy a separate cream. You can use the same as in the summer, increasing the frequency of application from 1-2 times a day to 4-6.
Gloves Don't forget to wear gloves. This is a necessary protection against cold reactions of the skin when exposed to low temperatures and wind.


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General recommendationsDress for the season Wrap your neck with a scarf, wear gloves and a hat - it is important to protect exposed skin from exposure to frosty air. However, pay attention to the composition of clothing materials: choose natural ones (wool, cotton, linen).
Drinking regimenDrink regular non-carbonated water throughout the day (at the rate of 30 ml per kg of weight). Lack of water in the body will cause your skin to suffer more from dryness and sensitivity to frost. Moreover, in the long term, it can lead to the formation of wrinkles.
Diet In summer, we have a fairly wide selection of fruits and vegetables. Do not limit your body in vitamins in winter. Add foods high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, as well as vitamins A and E, to your diet, because they provide the barrier function of the skin. Eat pumpkin, fish, carrots, seeds and vegetable oils. This is important for the superficial protective layer of the skin.
Shower and bath Even if you are cold, try not to take too hot a shower or bath (this expands the superficial pores and overdries the skin). The optimum water temperature is no more than 30-33 degrees. Keep yourself warm with warm food, drink and clothing.

Do not rub the body after water procedures with a hard towel, but gently pat the skin so as not to damage the protective layer. As a result, the skin will become more sensitive to dry indoor air and frost.
Smoking and alcohol Smoking disrupts the vascular blood supply to the skin, resulting in its overdrying and exhaustion.

It is widely believed that alcohol warms in the cold season. Yes, you drink alcohol and feel warm, but the blood vessels dilate, respectively, there is a loss of temperature.

If you catch a cold or are sick, you should not use alcohol or vodka for rubbing - this violates the surface protection - the fatty film. So the skin becomes more sensitive to external influences. And there is no cure for a cold!

The CORONAVIRUS pandemic has clearly shown us how the skin reacts to alcohols in antiseptics. Dryness, peeling, cracks - the result of the use of alcohol. Moreover, violation of the skin barrier increases the absorption of alcohols into the body, which harms not only the skin, but the body as a whole.

Be healthy!


| Prepared by Anastasia ZLOTNKOVA, BELTA+
| Photo: open Internet sources.


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