Keeping your skin moisturized is a year round job. In the summer we are mainly concerned with avoiding sunburns. Sunburns can range from a mild redness and warmth in the skin to full on blisters or even 2nd and 3rd degree burns. In the winter, our skin can get so dry that it cracks and bleeds. The continually dry air combined with the cold does not bode well for our skin any more than over-exposure to the sun does.
There are many ways that we can maintain the skin’s natural moisture during any season. Keeping our bodies moisturized from the inside out, creams, gels and lotions, and lifestyle changes.
Protecting your skin all year involves:
- Avoiding over-exposure of the skin to the sun – Wearing long sleeves, ball caps, large hats and sunscreen will help prevent sunburns and dryness all year round. Use lighter creams in the summer to allow your skin to sweat. In the winter, a thicker cream will help keep out the dry, cold and maintain moisture. We may think of the summer as the time when the sun’s rays are the most intense, but sun bouncing off of snow can be just as high in UV rays and just as dangerous.
- Wearing waterproof gloves and boots in winter – This is smart because it not only keeps your hands warm, it also maintains the skin’s natural moisture. If you do not have waterproof gloves, be sure to keep spare pairs of socks or gloves with you in case of one pair getting wet. Winter temperatures can dip below freezing, causing frostbite, especially if your clothing gets wet.
- Indoors can be harsh on your skin as well. Furnaces and fireplaces as well as air conditioning in the summer can make your skin dry. Using a humidifier in the winter and making sure to get outside in the summer (or using a humidifier in dry, hot climates) can help keep your skin moist. A cheap way to get moisture into the air on a dry winter’s day is to boil water on the stove, or set a pot, or bowl, of water overtop a heater vent.
- Creams and lotions, especially those made from plants are best to aid you in keeping your skin healthy.
- Avoid taking long baths in very hot water. Doing so can strip your skin of its natural oils.
- Keeping hydrated from the inside is just as important, if not more important, as keeping your skin hydrated from the outside. Drinking plenty of water is very important for healthy skin. Dehydration happens faster than we realize. Alcohol, coffee, and tea dehydrate you and should only be consumed minimally.
Protecting your skin isn’t hard. With a little knowledge and a little preparation your skin will maintain its health all year long.
