Dr Anup Dhir suggests ways to help your skin look and feel better during winters
During winters, your skin becomes dry and flaky, it keeps becoming more itchy and irritated as the temperature drops. The most general winter skin grievances I hear from my patients is dry skin or Xerosis cutis. When the dryness becomes acute, it can spread into patches called eczema. Here is the list of things you should start doing to look radiant during winters:
Moisturise your skin: Right after a shower when your skin is damp, use a face and body lotion. This is the ideal time as essential moisture is locked in. I suggest applying lotion twice daily or as often as needed.
Hydrate your skin: Drink lots and lots of water and your skin will soon have a healthy glow. Even herbal tea works wonders when it’s really chilly.
Exfoliate your skin: Use a good body scrub and facial exfoliation which will help remove dead skin cells from your body. It is suggested that you do this once a week. This will surely make you feel fresh and your skin will be free from old dry cells.
Use a humidifier: Put the moisture back in the air by using humidifier, which can be purchased from a local drug store. This additional moisture can help your skin stay supple and soft.
Glove up:Simple as it sounds, this tip works wonders in retaining the moisture of your hands. Use such a pair that won’t irritate your skin. Wearing them even for an hour or so can soften your skin.
Oil bath: Oil is quite essential as it penetrates the deep layers of your skin and restores its natural barriers. Add a few drops of essential oils like almond or jojoba to your bathing water to nourish your skin.
lip care: lips don’t produce sebum and they become dry very quickly. Try to look for an oil-based product instead of a wax-based one as it will help heal chapped lips.
No blow dry: The hot air from your blow dryer dries off your scalp and might irritate your skin too. Go for the tousled look or wavy style and give your blow dryer a break this season.
Cleanse your skin: Cleansing is the most effective way of removing dust, dirt and the dead layer from your skin. It is also meant for cleaning make-up. Cleansing helps remove the extra element on the skin and to open the pores. Regular cleansing keeps your face fresh and clean.
Sunscreen: Regular use of sunscreen decreases the risk for skin cancer and keep the skin feel smoother, healthier and younger-looking over time. It is very important to buy a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 for daily use and one with SPF 30 to 50 if you’ll be outdoors.
Flaxseed oil: It is known to cleanse the body from within and is also used topically to get a smooth and clear complexion. This is the season when you experience dry and itchy skin. Due to its high inflammatory index, flaxseed oil helps minimise skin irritation, redness and inflammation of any sort. Take a drop of flaxseed oil on your finger and apply it with the tip of your finger on the affected area and blend it in.
Eye cream: The skin around the eye is very thin and harsh weather can be extra tough on this area. Adding an eye cream to your daily routine will help in reducing fine lines and wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles. It is also important to not overlook an SPF product in winters. Even though it is cold, UV rays from the sun can continue to cause damage. Regardless of the weather, an SPF product should be applied every day.
Sunglasses: Wearing sunglasses or large frames will protect the eyes, eyelids and the sensitive skin around your eyes, which are common sites for skin burns and sun-induced aging.
The writer is senior consultant, cosmetic surgeon, Apollo Hospital