As the mercury drops and winter comes, many people just feel it through various ailments. These are all compounded by the lower humidity of the cold dry air. The most common winter skin conditions are dry skin, eczema and cold sores. These conditions are not only itchy and bothersome but may also be sore. The good news is that if you look after your skin the way it deserves, you should be able to avoid or treat them effectively. This article looks at the causes of dry skin, eczema and cold sores in the winter and provides some tips on how to prevent them.
Dry Skin: What Causes It How to Stop it from Happening
One of the most prevalent winter skin conundrums is dry skin. The humidity levels in the air decrease during the colder months and indoor heating systems often further deplete the air of its moisture. This results in matter becoming deficient, skin losing its natural moisture and feeling tight, flaky or coarse to the touch.
Causes of Winter Dry Skin:
·Decreased Humidity: Cold winter weather burns up less moisture, which can leave the skin feeling even more parched.
·Indoor Heating: Home and office central heating systems steal moisture from the air, making dry skin worse.
·Long, hot showers or baths: These feel really good in wintertime- but they can leave your skin without vital oils causing it to become dry.
·Windy Days: Harsh winds can break through the skin’s protective barrier, causing moisture to evaporate.
Options for Prevention and Treatment:Moisturize Regularly: Try a richer, thicker moisturizer that contains ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or glycerin. Apply it right after bathing in order to seal in water that is still on your skin.Avoid Taking hot baths: When washing, take pail-warm water so as not to deprive your skin of natural oils. Keep baths short (5-10 minutes) for less dehydration of your skin.Use Humidifiers: Adding humidifiers around the house or office helps maintain humidity levels in the air and stops your skin from drying out.Wear Gloves and Scarves: Protect yourself against wind and cold air by blanketing any exposed area with something warm, such as gloves or scarf.
Eczema
Flare-ups in Winter Its itching, and red parts with raised patches are tell-tale signs that you’re suffering from eczema. In frigid, dry weather, eczema flare-ups are even more likely, making it a nuisance throughout much of fall and winter. People with eczema have a damaged barrier, which means that their skin is more prone to dryness and any other irritating factor in the environment. Causes of Eczema Flare-Ups in Winter: Dry Air: Low humidity and exposure to indoor heating can worsen the symptoms of eczema.Irritants for the Skin: Winter fabrics such as wool and certain soaps or laundry detergents may be irritating to sensitive skin and provoke flare-ups even more.Cold Temperature: Freezing temperatures mean skin chapping without proper protection from the cold air. This leads to further aggravation. Tips on Prevention and Treatment:
·Choose Skin Care Products with Minimal Irritants: Opt for unscented, hypoallergenic body washes and creams to avoid any skin flare-ups. Make sure you pick something that’s been specially formulated for sensitive skin or eczema.
·Moisturize More Often: Apply a product that’s specifically designed to help manage eczema, or use an ointment on your eczema-prone skin at any time you feel your skin becoming dry. Often ointments work better than creams or lotions when it comes to trapping moisture on your skin.
·Avoid Scratching: As it gets itchier and itchier, eczema can sometimes make you feel like scratching; but this would only damage the skin and might even lead to a flare-up. Instead, try gently patting the area with an anti-itch cream applied liberally on top. Don’t give in!
·Wear easy fabric: Choose clothing made of cotton, which is less likely than other materials to irritate skin that’s prone to eczema. Don’t wear wool right next to your skin.
Colds and Winter Health
Cold sores are small fluid-filled blisters that usually appear on or around the lips. They are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), and can be set off by a number of causes–such as illness, stress and cold, dry weather. During winter, with the cold air outside and dry skin on your body inside combined with some vulnerable immune systems, people are more likely than at any other time of year to have a cold sore break out.
Winter Colds
What causes’Cold Sores in Winter? First, the cold weather can dry out your lips and cause them to crack. Through these fissures the herpes simplex virus (HSV) has a way of coming back.
Weakened Immune System Winter brings with it the flu season and weakened immunity means more people suffer from cold sores.
Nutrition Chapped Lips Constant dryness of the lips will induce tiny cracks in the skin, providing an entry point for the herpes virus.
Prevention and Treatment Tips: Prevent and cure cold sores
Moisturize Your Lips: Using a high-quality lip balm with SPF is essential to protect against both dryness and sun exposure. Choose balms that are soothing to use, such as those made from beeswax, shea butter or petroleum jelly.
Instead of Hand Sores If you have a sore which is actively cold, use an antiviral cream immediately to keep from spreading the disease to other parts of your body or other people around you.
Antiviral Creams: If you feel a cold sore coming on, apply an over-the-counter antiviral cream like acyclovir or docosanol at once in order to lessen both the intensity and duration of the outbreak.
Strengthen the Immune System eating well, keeping hydrated and getting sufficient rest can help maintain a strong immune system and lessen the probability for cold sore outbreaks.
How to Protect Your Skin in Winter
Even though it is the winter, there are a few winter tips that you can use to take care of your skin in the winter:
Hydration: Drink plenty of water-even in the dead of winter. Adequate hydration helps maintain skin moisture and good health all over.
Sunscreen: It is easy to forget about wearing sunblock when it is cold, but UV rays can still damage your skin, particularly if you are out in the snow. Always use a sunscreen with broad-spectrum protection.
Don’t Smoke: Smoking damages the skin’s natural barrier, making it more prone to dryness and irritation. Not smoking in winter can help keep your skin’s health intact.
Gentle Exfoliation: By means of a gentle exfoliant one can erase dead skin cells and facilitate the absorption of moisturizers, but care must be exercised not to overexfoliate, lest that should only lead to yet more dryness or affliction.
Winter can be hard on your skin, but with the appropriate skincare routine you can avoid and heal typically winter skin conditions: dry skin, eczema, and cold sores too. By keeping yourself hydrated, moisturizing on a regular basis, and protecting your skin from severe conditions, you can maintain a healthy glow even in the toughest months of all– January or February. If you are still facing problems in winter skin care, talk it over with your dermatologist. He or she should be able to give you some personalized advice and treatment suggestions.
