At our Newark dermatology clinic, dry skin is a common complaint during the winter months. The cold air outdoors and warm air indoors can wreak havoc on your skin, leaving it dry and dull. Luckily, there are some simple things you can do to ensure your skin stays moisturized and healthy throughout the winter. Let’s take a look at some of the best ways to keep your skin looking its best this season.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! A good moisturizer is essential to keeping your skin hydrated and healthy during the winter months. When searching for a brand, choose one specially formulated for dry skin. These are developed with more hydrating agents than those for oily or normal skin types. Our dermatologist DE suggests it includes ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, shea butter, and antioxidants. These will help lock in moisture and fight off free radicals that cause damage to the skin.
If you have exceptionally dry skin, consider using an ointment or cream rather than a lotion. Thicker, paste-like, and perfect for extra dry skin, these creams can help provide more intensive hydration. Sometimes severely dry skin is a sign of something more serious. If our experts at our Newark dermatology clinic spot something that looks more extensive, we can create a care plan to address it.
Your skin cells have a lifetime of about 28-40 days. That means that every month or so, the skin on the top of your skin becomes dull, dry, and flaky, while new skin rises to the surface. If you’re dealing with dry, flaky, skin, you’re dealing with dead skin. Gentle exfoliation helps to remove these dead cells from the surface of your skin so that new ones can emerge from underneath. However, our Newark dermatology professionals urge you to be careful. Exfoliation, particularly manual exfoliation, can sometimes do more harm than good. Exfoliating too often or too harshly can cause irritation and even micro tears in the epidermis. Try using a mild scrub once a week to slough off dead cells gently. If you wear makeup, you’ll also notice exfoliating helps provide a smoother surface to work with.
Another great way to keep skin hydrated in winter is by investing in a humidifier. Even if you already live in a humid climate, if you’re using heat in your home, chances are the air is lacking moisture. Humidifiers bring moisture back into the air, counteracting the drying effects of cold weather. As an added bonus, it also helps reduce static electricity buildup caused by dry air which can cause frizzy hair. If you’re concerned about cost, there are plenty of great tried and tested budget humidifiers. However, if you do want to splurge, skincare is the category to do it in. Makeup can help with blemishes, it can never undo years of skin damage!
Our bodies are made up of 68% water. In order for our body, including our skin, to function at its best, it needs water. Keeping your body hydrated from the inside out keeps your skin cells plump with moisture, which can help you look more alert and help reduce wrinkles. Our dermatologist DE suggests 8-10 glasses of water per day—or even more if you’re physically active—to ensure your body has enough water throughout the day. One of the ways to make sure you’re getting enough water is to pick up a gallon water bottle with a straw. Many of these come with measuring marks and motivational phrases at each checkpoint to keep you motivated throughout the day.
Taking care of dry skin in winter is essential for keeping your body healthy and comfortable during the colder months. By following these tips on how to stay hydrated during wintertime, you can keep your skin looking great all season long! Feel like you could use a Newark Dermatology expert’s opinion on your skin? Whether you’re looking for something specific or you’d just like to learn how to optimize your skin routine, our professionals are here to help! To learn more about our practice or schedule your skin consultation, visit our website today.
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