Combating Winter Skin Blues- By Dr. Madhuri Agarwal

Winter is here again and so are skin problems. The skin loses its glow, giving way to dryness and a plethora of other problems. As winter approaches, you should brace yourselves up for fighting skin issues, writes Dr. Madhuri Agarwal, Dermatologist & Cosmo Physician, The Skin Clinic, Mumbai.

When you begin to love stepping out on a bright day and soak yourself in the sunlight, it is a signal that winter is round the corner. Tired of scorching summers, one keeps waiting for winters to start. Though much awaited, the season comes with its own issues with almost everybody tightening their belts to fight skin blues.

The skin gets dull, sheen less, flaky and dry due to lack of moisture in the environment. It might not be safe for you to go out in chilly weather that threatens the glow of your face. Also, the inbuilt heaters and artificial room temperature controllers suck out all the water out of the skin. One should start preparing for winter strokes to restore the glow and shine of the skin by following these time-tested measures.

Brief bathing sessions: Prolonged hot and steamy showers relax our shivering body during winters. The excessively heated water softens the body oils that are essential to restore the moisture in the skin. Instead of hot water, you should use lukewarm water and moisture-rich soaps or body wash in order to avoid skin from getting parched. Once you step out of the shower, you will notice dry skin patches, and itchy skin. The hotter the water, the more damage your skin will endure. Bathing durations should be reduced to a necessary time and it’s always important to moisturize after bathing.

Moisturize the dry skin: Moisturizing the skin immediately after bathing benefits the body oils to a greater limit. During winters, you should replace all your routine creams with deep enriching moisturizers to protect your skin from piercing winter breeze. Anti-itchy, oily skin, dry skin, and many other types of body butters and moisturizers are available in the market, and one is advised to choose according to their original skin type. It will soften the cracking skin. With low water level in skin, natural process of exfoliation and hydration doesn’t occur and make skin more prone to inflammatory skin diseases.

Eat healthy to keep skin healthy: The dry skin condition can also be cured by foods and supplements rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids such as fish oil and flaxseed oil. Creating strong immunity structure is necessary to fight skin inflammatory diseases like psoriasis and eczema. One should look to include avocado, grapefruit, carrots, spinach, almond, eggs and fish in diet as they are good source of Vitamins and omega-3 fats.

Skinboosters: People who cannot follow routine measures for good skin health due to their tight-packed lifestyles can opt for skin boosters to replenish moisture content in their skin. Restylane Vital is the perfect option to keep skin elastic and glowy. The modern day dermal filler -- Restylane Vital -- does the wonder in just some minutes and in a very simple way. And the best thing is that the effect does not last a few days. The glow and softness that come with the hydrophilic hyaluronic acid (that promotes water retention and absorption) stays for up to a year. When injected into the upper layers of the skin, Restylane Vital deeply hydrates and nourishes it. Hyaluronic acid gel is implanted into the outer layers of the skin using microinjections and it works naturally to hydrate the skin from within, making the skin soft and radiant.

Don’t miss out on the sunscreen: Many people have the misconceived notion that sunscreen is required in just summers to protect the skin from harmful UV rays that cause tanning, burns and skin itching. But it is equally important to apply sunscreen in winters. It is advised to apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher to all the exposed areas of the body evenly to counter any skin damage.

Keep rough fabric away: Some fabrics are believed to provoke severe skin inflammation. Wool and any other rough cloth shouldn’t come in direct contact with the skin. A soft material is advised underneath and then a jacket or a sweater should be worn. If you choose to wear wool or any itchy cloth, wear cotton liners beneath so that they don’t irritate your skin.

So if you love the winter breeze, enjoy it to the fullest. Don’t be afraid to face the winter chill because it would harm you. Take appropriate measures to keep skin healthy, and get ready for a Winter Shot.

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