Evenings curled up on the sofa in the company of a good TV show, hot chocolate, Christmas lights, snow… there are many reasons to enjoy the winter season.
Yet it is not the best time for our skin, because low temperature, freezing air and a dry domestic environment contribute to making our skin more dehydrated and fragile, with a reduction in its hydration levels of 25% more than in the hotest seasons.
Normally covered by a waterproof “film”, the outer layer of our skin, known as the stratum corneum, plays a decisive role in maintaining the natural levels of skin hydration, also acting as a protective “shield” against external aggressive agents.
Furthermore, with low temperatures, the peripheral blood vessels that supply our skin tissue shrink (vasoconstriction), reducing the flow of blood and nourishment to the skin, thus slowing down the activity of the sebaceous glands and thinning the film hydrolipidic and the stratum corneum.
“When the stratum corneum is damaged, the natural barrier of the skin is weakened and unable to retain moisture” says David Leffell, Head of Dermatological Surgery at Yale School of Medicine. Not having enough protective oils and sebum, the skin becomes weaker and splits.
Beyond the mere aesthetic aspect, cold dehydration is often accompanied by annoying symptoms, such as itching, dermatitis, painful cracking, bacterial infection, eczema (scaly skin), redness
Fortunately, there are several “tricks” to better face the cold season and keep the skin healthy and hydrated. Following there are some easy tips to adopt:
Dryness concentrated only in some points?
Apply a little Vaseline to the dehydrated and fragile area before going to bed.
Vaseline is used in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals and is traditionally known for its emollient, soothing and moisturizing properties.
How you shower affects skin hydration level!
After a stressful and very cold day, taking a long shower with boiling water is very relaxing and enjoyable. But, for the skin it can be a traumatizing experience.
The water at high temperatures, can reduce the protective oils of the skin, and it evaporates quicker, water is not able to be absorbed promptly by the skin. For this reason, taking short showers (no more than 10 minutes) and using tepid water is an excellent solution to give you and your skin a relaxing experience.
Moreover, try no to use aggressive soaps and hygiene products that compromise the integrity of the skin barrier, it is prefer products that are fragrance-free, light and with a neutral pH.
Attention! Wool can cause irritation!
Avoid using woolen clothes, especially in sensitive skin.
Wool is often the cause of intolerable annoyances and itching, which can further damage the stratum corneum and compromise its functionality.
Moisturizes, moisturizes and moisturizes again!
In order to always have a shiny and healthy skin it is essential to keep it hydrated, especially in these cold and dry months. There are many solutions to moisturize the skin, such as serums, creams, ointments and oils.
The use of creams and serums is the most popular, simple and fast solution, but it is difficult to choose a really effective cream
Choose creams that have these ingredients with moisturizing properties: lactic acid, retinol, hyaluronic acid, urea, glycerin, honey and natural hydration factor.
In winter, it is always better to use a moisturizing cream with a rich formula, which guarantees high levels of hydration. If the rich texture is not for you, because you have little time then to apply make-up; mix a fast-absorbing moisturizing product with a make-up with moisturizing principles.
