The skin has begun to feel drier now. In the coming days, you will see intense dryness as cold wind begins to blow. Cold, harsh wind strips moisture and oil off your skin, leaving it dry and wrinkled. Winter is not the friend of your skin.

Many people assume that they can get rid of dry skin by applying moisturiser, but that dry skin care is more than that. There is a one-size-fits-all approach to protect your skin from the attack of cold winters. For instance, the skin care methods for those with acne-prone skin will differ from those with normal skin.

Not all are lucky enough to have normal skin. Suppose you have naturally dry skin or you are suffering from certain medical conditions like eczema. In that case, you will have to consult a dermatologist, as over-the-counter products and basic skin care tips will not be benign.

How to look after your skin in harsh winters

Before you understand why your skin starts irritating you on cold days, you should understand what dry skin is called and why skin becomes drier. Dry skin is the result of water loss from the epidermis, a top layer of your skin, due to the use of harsh soaps, frequent bathing, certain medical conditions and ageing.

The humidity levels are low both outdoors and indoors on wintry days, which means your skin will lose water content sooner rather than later. Thankfully, there are inexpensive tips to help protect your skin from the attack of cold and harsh winds.

Say no to harsh soaps

First off, you should not replace harsh soaps with mild soaps and body wash. You can buy many over-the-counter mild soaps and body wash, but if your skin is intensely dry, you should consult a dermatologist. They will prescribe you the one after examining you.

Soaps are known for stripping oil off your skin. They will cause breaks in your skin cells, leading to excessive dryness. Even though you use mild soaps and body wash, they will also strip some oil off your skin. Therefore, make sure to limit their use to cleaning underarms, groin and skin which is visibly dirty.

Tips:

To protect your skin from losing oil while bathing, you should apply oil before you bathe. This will help retain the moisture. Make sure you do not take hot showers. Lukewarm water is friendlier than warm water. Apply body lotion immediately after taking a bath so it helps absorb and retain the moisture from water droplets into your skin. Keep the shower length short.
Since lukewarm water is milder than hot water, it does not mean you can stay in the shower for a long time. The more you stay in the shower, the drier your skin becomes.

Use thicker lotions or creams

You cannot use body lotions and creams that you use in the summer. Summer moisturisers will not prevent dry skin in the winter, no matter how much and how frequently you put them on. In the winter season, you will need thicker lotions and creams.

A lot of over-the-counter creams you can try. Creams and lotions for intense dry skin are also available. However, talk to your dermatologist if you have a medical condition such as eczema. In case you do not have enough money, you can take out no guarantor loans for very bad credit.

Ointments and creams are more effective in protecting your skin from intense dryness than lotions. Creams are petroleum-based, and in addition, they consist of jojoba oil, grape seed oil, vitamin E and urea. You need to understand the nature and type of your skin while applying creams or lotions.

For instance, you do not need to use lotions that are aimed at people with intense dry skin if you have normal skin.

Tips:

The best time to moisturise your skin is when it is damp. The bathroom environment is humid after the shower, so make sure you apply moisturiser to your skin immediately. It will help penetrate the layer of moisture due to water droplets into your skin, which removes the need of applying moisturiser throughout the day.
The moisturiser is good for your body, but try to apply cream on your face and neck. Make sure you rub your hands against each other and then apply cream because the heat your hands produce through rubbing will help smooth absorption into your skin.
When you wash your face before going to bed, you do not need to apply cream. Then, lotion is fine.
Hands and feet feel intensely dry in winter as they do not have sebaceous glands, so you need to provide them with an extra layer of protection.
You should use urea cream for your hands and feet. Apply cream on your hands and feet before going to bed to protect your palms and soles. You can prevent heel cracks.

Protect your skin from the sun

Many people think that they do not need to apply sunscreen lotions as the sun is not too harsh, but this is a big mistake. The impact of radiation on your skin could be moderate on a cloudy day, but you are still vulnerable to skin damage. You should apply a sunscreen lotion with an SPF 30. This will prevent you from tan. Overexposure to the sun can lead to premature ageing and skin cancer, too.

Consult your dermatologist

The aforementioned ways are the essential skincare tips applicable to all skin types. Whether you have dry, normal, combination or oily skin, you will have to apply moisturiser to bind your skin cells. Unfortunately, some people need extra care because of certain skin conditions. For instance, if you have eczema, you will have to use some medicated lotions and creams that protect your skin from itching on cold days due to dryness.

Consult your dermatologist as soon as you begin to feel slight coolness in the wind. Otherwise, you will end up worsening your symptoms, and it will be difficult to heal them soon. You may also need a dermatologist if your skin does not improve after following the tips mentioned earlier, whether or not you have a skin condition.

The bottom line

Skin is also an organ that needs special attention to stay healthy and fit. It becomes more critical to look after your skin in winter because dry air strips oil and moisture off your skin. You should moisturise your skin.

Try to apply thick or cream-based moisturiser. Even if you have acne-prone skin, you will need to apply moisturiser. Ask your dermatologist for a moisturiser or cream. If you have a medical condition, try to nurture your skin accordingly. Limit the use of a shower, avoid using harsh soaps, humidify your room, do not use a heating system, use sunscreen lotion while going out, and take vitamin D supplements. Clean your skin every day, but using body on your whole body is unnecessary.