Our skin plays an important role in the body, and is by far is the largest organ we have. Not only does our skin protect the body from germs and regulates our body temperature, but it also provides us with sensation. Some of the sensations our skin allows us to feel on a daily basis includes warmth, cold, pressure, itching, and pain. We also have the sensation of dryness, and for many of us, when wintertime comes around our skin can start to flake and feel rough. Let’s be real – dry skin is annoying. It isn’t a pleasant feeling and can even result in making our skin feel irritated and itchy. If you suffer with dry skin in the wintertime, or year round, we have some tips that may help your skin feel more hydrated and moisturized!
Why does skin get dry in the winter?
Humidity plays an important role in our skin. Extremes on either end can cause the skin to react in different ways. In too high humidity, skin can sweat excessively, cause breakouts, and even rashes. When humidity is too low (typically in the wintertime) skin can become dry, flaky, and chapped. As the air in the environment becomes colder in the winter, less moisture becomes present. This is also a time where a lot more of us are opting to stay inside with the heaters on, which can also cause the skin to lose moisture. In most cases, dry skin is usually harmless, but if left untreated and cared for it can lead to eczema. It might require a little more effort and time during the winter, but with the right care techniques you can keep the skin more hydrated even in the winter months.
How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated in Winter
1. Avoid frequent hot showers
Showering is important, and it may seem like the hotter the better, especially in the wintertime. Unfortunately, hot showers can actually dry out our skin even more. Many dermatologists have found that a hot shower can strip the skin of sebum, which is the healthy fats and oils that are necessary for skin health. In order to keep the skin happy, healthy, and hydrated experts recommend showering in lukewarm water. They’ve also recommended cleansing with a mild to gentle body wash or soap in order to avoid stripping the skin barrier. If cold showers are your thing, you’re in luck because it’s actually better for your skin and hair than hot showers. Cold showers can reduce inflammation and increase circulation which results in a healthy glow!
2. Moisturize your skin directly after showering
After hopping out of the shower on a cold winter day, the last thing you might want to do is moisturize your body before getting into comfy clothes, but we’re here to say that is exactly what you need to do! This may come as a surprise but the best time to moisturize your skin is while it is still damp right after showering. The skin is most receptive to moisturizing while it is still damp. If you deal with dry or irritated skin, a strongly fragranced moisturizer might not be your best bet as this may cause irritation. Try opting for a naturally scented and non-greasy moisturizer in order for the body to soak up every ounce of moisturization you can get!
3. Dry brushing and exfoliating skin
One way to help dry and flaky skin is by exfoliating. You may have heard about dry brushing, it has become more popular among many people across the world and it helps to remove rough and dry skin cells from the body. Dry brushing isn’t new, it is actually a technique that has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system of the body which helps to fight off infections. It also unclogs pores, removes dead skin, and boosts circulation in order to get the blood flowing.
4. Take skin supporting supplements!
When it comes to your skin, what you consume is just as important as what you apply to it externally. Certain vitamins and nutrients can actually help the skin to become more healthy, hydrated, and glowing. Three of the best supplements for skin health are Vitamin C, Collagen, and Omega 3 Fish Oil! These vitamins and nutrients have been shown to boost antioxidants, improve skin hydration, and regulate the skin’s oil production among many others!
Depending where you live, wintertime can be rough, but your skin doesn’t have to be! By practicing all of these skin supporting tips on a daily basis you’re quite likely to see results in terms of your skin’s moisture levels. If you do try these tips and your dry skin persists or worsens we recommend contacting a health care professional in case you might need more of an in-depth look into your skin and potential underlying factors.
