Winter can be a very challenging season for people with sensitive skin. Unfortunately, colder temperatures and lower humidity levels just make it more difficult for skin to retain its moisture. So people with sensitive and especially dry skin need to be very careful during the winter months.
If you suffer from sensitive skin that only gets worse during the cold winter weather, don’t let it get you down. It may take a little effort on your part, but there are things you can do to alleviate the dryness. Below is a list of the most common tips offered by dermatologists and skincare experts.
1. Use Plenty of Natural Moisturizer
Moisturizing the skin is an important part of keeping it hydrated. Moisturizer creates a barrier that holds in moisture, making it one of the best weapons against dry skin during the winter. But there is a catch: moisturizing products made with chemicals may actually do more harm than good. For maximum benefit, it is much better to use all-natural products based in botanicals.
Chemical moisturizers can defeat the purpose of moisturizing just through the chemicals they contain. Those chemicals can damage the skin even as you are attempting to keep the moisture in. The advantage of a product like Poethique’s deep cleansing facial milk is that it contains no harsh chemicals. Its natural ingredient creates that same moisture-enhancing barrier.
2. Avoid Extremely Hot Showers
There is a tendency to take extremely hot showers in the winter just to counteract the cold temperatures outside. While this may feel incredibly good, it is damaging to the skin. Extremely hot water breaks down the natural oil the skin produces, known commonly as sebum. Extremely hot showers actually dry out the skin.
This idea may seem foreign to you. After all, how is it possible that standing under a shower head while water is raining down on you dry out the skin? Yet it does. So, a better alternative is to take warm showers instead. You will still enjoy the comfortable warm water without washing away all the sebum your skin needs to stay lubricated.
3. Avoid Aggressive Exfoliation
The point of exfoliation is to remove dead skin cells and debris so that underlying skin can flourish. Aggressive exfoliation is never good, but it is especially unhelpful for people with sensitive skin who are doing battle with winter weather. Excessive exfoliation can irritate the skin to the point of making it susceptible to further damage.
Let’s say you aggressively exfoliate before going to bed at night. Even after using a moisturizer, your skin may still be inflamed in the morning. Heading off to work could expose your face to a cold, bitter wind that could exacerbate the inflammation caused by exfoliating. In addition, the drier air of winter will steal any bit of moisture in the skin.
It is better to use a gentle exfoliating product followed by Poethique’s deep cleansing facial milk. The result will be a cleaner, brighter face free of inflammation.
4. A Final Word about Dry Skin
It can be tough dealing with dry skin during the winter. But what if you have another condition above and beyond dry skin? Conditions like atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, and eczema are all aggravated by low humidity and cold temperatures. Poethique says that the best advice is to try all-natural skincare products (especially moisturizers) first, and then move on to prescription products if absolutely necessary.
Do you have dry and sensitive skin? If so, take good care of yourself this winter. Spring will be here before you know it.
