It can be hard to say goodbye to the beautiful summer sunshine and think about getting your winter coats from the back of the wardrobe when the seasons change. But in the same way that you start to wrap up your body for the cold, you should also be thinking about rapping up your skin in comfort and repair ready for the harsh changes in environment.
What skin concerns could you be facing during the winter months?
As the mercury begins to drop down to scarf, gloves, and open fire territory, adding a few extra layers to your wardrobe isn’t the only change you need to consider. Cooler temperatures mean reduced humidity and increased dryness in the air, which can greatly affect your skin’s moisture levels and cause dehydration.
Decreased barrier function at lower temperatures accelerates penetration of irritants like pollution; add to this harsh winds causing enhanced evaporation of moisture from the skin and you’ve got yourself some redness, itching and potential flaking of surface layers.
And of course your first line of defence against the cold is to ramp up the heating, blasting hot air and water at every possible opportunity. Walking in from the cold to direct blowing heat throughout your home is a huge contrast in temperature for your skin to deal with, and it’s a dry heat which will remove what little moisture there is left in the winter-dry air.
This, as well as sudden fluctuations in temperature like extra hot water in the shower and we’re back to those same symptoms you’ll see from the cold air outside – redness, itching and flaking.
So, where do you start with skincare as we enter the cold?
No need to panic! A few small tweaks are all it takes to get your skin prepared and able to maintain that summer glow all year round.
