Ahh winter. The fuzzy slippers come out, the temperature drops, the heating goes on.
And our skin pays the price. But it doesn’t have to. It is possible to get through the chilly season without accepting dry skin as part of the winter wardrobe.
Why is winter so bad for our skin?
Winter has a marked effect on the skin. The drop in temperature can dehydrate the skin, the low humidity can irritate it and the winter elements can cause flare-ups for those people with eczema.
What can we do about it?
Well, you could vow to never leave the comfort of your bed again. But that probably won’t work. After all, the kids still need to go to school, attend early morning soccer practice and after-school swimming lessons. And you still need to go to work, clean, cook, shop and adult, even if it’s freezing cold out there. Bah humbug.
Give your skin the best chance with these little changes to your daily routine.
Winter skin woes BE GONE!
Winter is bad enough, without having to deal with dry, irritated, flaking or chapped skin. So before the chills REALLY set in, clue up on a few easy ways to help protect your skin and prevent dryness.
1. Skip the hot showers
No matter how tempted you are, hot showers can damage our skin. Keep showers to two to three minutes and make them lukewarm.
2. Moisturise when your skin’s still wet
Immediately after showering (within a few minutes), while your skin is still damp, liberally apply a good moisturiser. Don’t rub it in, just smear and leave. This will help lock in the moisture sitting on the skin and maximise hydration.
3. Consider using cream over a lotion
Creams are generally thicker, more nourishing and hydrating than lotions, which can really assist your skin in winter. If you’re not so keen on the feel of a cream, look for a non-greasy formula, like Dermal Therapy’s Very Dry Skin Cream. Alternatively, use a lotion during the day but slather skin with cream for bedtime. That way it can work its wonders while you sleep.
4. AVOID soap
It’s drying and can damage the skin’s protective barrier. Instead, opt for a soap and SLS-free wash which will cleanse the skin and leave you feeling fresh and clean without stripping the skin of its natural oils.
Dermal Therapy’s Soap Free Wash is one of our top choices for this as it is formulated for sensitive, itchy and flaking skin and is great for the whole family (suitable for children from two years of age).
5. Consider a humidifier
A humidifier will increase the moisture in the air, making it less dry and less likely to dry out your skin.
6. Up your H20 intake
The best way to hydrate your skin? Water, of course! Even though it’s cold and you’re probably not sweating too much, you still need to drink heaps of water. Try it warm with a bit of lemon if you’re not in the mood for an icy beverage.
You can also up your intake of food with high water content such as celery, cucumber, zucchini, tomatoes, melons, leafy greens, citrus fruits and capsicum.
7. Always carry lip balm
Cracked lips are not only unsightly, but they also can hurt. So to prevent cracked lips we recommend using a repairing lip balm, such as Dermal Therapy Lip Balm, as often as you can throughout the day and especially at night. A big thick layer of it will help hydrate the delicate lip area.
Dermal Therapy Lip Balm comes with some serious rave reviews and contains ingredients that are proven to hydrate and soften severely dry lips. Just saying! Plus, the same great lip balm is now available in a tub format!
I have lip balm in my car, in my bag and by my bedside table, so I always have a tub nearby (and because my daughter loves to steal it and claim it as her own).
8. Steer clear of wool
Wooly sweaters are cute and comfy but they can also aggravate the skin, especially if you suffer from eczema or dermatitis. Instead, opt for cotton clothing.
9. Ditch the itch
Consider adding an anti-itch cream or lotion to your beauty regime which can help to manage dry and itchy skin, soothe those dry spots and calm down any inflamed areas.
Protection for dry hands and feet
Severely dry hands, chilblains and sores. These are just some of the things that go hand-in-hand with winter. But, there are a few things you can do to help keep your poor hands and feet from suffering.
10. Buy some gloves
Not only do they look cute, but they will also keep your hands protected from the harsh cold air, especially during those early morning outings when the frost has some serious bite.
11. Wash in lukewarm water
When washing your hands, stick to lukewarm, rather than hot water. Switch to lukewarm water when washing dishes too and pick up a pair of gloves to avoid stripping the oils away from the skin.
12. Swap to a rich hydrating cream for your hands
Dry hands are the worst. Even if you don’t usually use hand cream, this is a staple for winter! Why? Because cracked, chaffed hands are no fun at all! Make sure you go with a cream for dry skin that contains Vitamin E which is a miracle treatment for very dry skin.
13. Give your soles some lovin’
Make a deal with the husband – weekly foot rubs (with moisturiser!) in exchange for.. well, we’ll let you be creative on what he gets. 😉
What about for very dry skin?
If you do tend to have dry skin then you will probably notice your skin gets even worse during winter and your regular skin products may not cut the mustard. You may also experience intense itching and flaking. Not nice at all!
Dermal Therapy have a Very Dry Skin Cream that’s designed for just this – very dry skin! You can use it just about everywhere on your body – hands, elbows, legs, back and it’s been clinically proven to increase skin’s hydration by 52% in two weeks.
If you do have very dry skin, then it’s definitely worth testing out. All Dermal Therapy products are Australian made and owned and come with great recommendations from other sufferers of dry skin. You can buy them at Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, Coles, and most pharmacies nationwide.
PLUS, if you buy ANY Dermal Therapy product, you can enter for your chance to win a trip for two to New York City! See details below.
Beat winter skin woes and jet off to New York!
Imagine ditching the heaters and heading to the Big Apple (it’s summer there after all)!
Dermal Therapy is giving away a trip for two to New York, valued at up to $15,000! Isn’t that insane?! One lucky Dermal Therapy fan will win but you gotta be in it to win it so click on the link to enter.
The winner will get:
- 2 return economy airfares to New York City valued at up to $5,000 departing from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth or Adelaide. Flight dates and times are subject to availability at time of actual booking.
- 5-star accommodation in New York City valued at up to $7,000
- Travel credit to the value of $3,000 from Ackerfeld & Goldberg Travel Associates
The winner will have up to two years to use the voucher so you have plenty of time to book holiday leave and let Nanna know she’s watching the kids!
To enter:
- Purchase any Dermal Therapy product.
- Fill out the entry form through the link above. You’ll need to answer the question and upload a copy of the receipt of purchase to be in the running to win.
