“Winterize” Your Skin
Not only does a guys skin ages more slowly than a woman’s (Good News), but a recent study showed that women’s skin loses collagen at a faster rate than a man’s as well. A man’s skin is also a fraction of an inch thicker than a women’s. Given the rigors of shaving this is just as well. But this does not mean that you can ignore your skin. Especially during the winter months when the skin is exposed to dry, cold outdoor air and dry, indoor heated air. Add to this the heavy, bulky clothes worn during winter and the skin begins to generate less of its own natural moisturizers, all which can lead to flakiness and itching. AND dry skin looks more wrinkled making you look older to boot.
Your skin is the largest organ of the body and it’s not there just to make you look good. It protects you against heat, light, injury and infection. It regulates body temperature and stores water, fat and vitamin D. Most people are surprised to learn that the skin is among the most vital components of immunity. However, the most important function of skin is to prevent us from drying out. We are approximately 65 percent water and we are able to survive and function in dry environments because the skin forms a permeability barrier that prevents the loss of water.
It’s the lack of water, not grease or oil, that causes dry skin.
The top layer of the skin, the epidermis contains oil glands that produces lipids (fatty substances). These lipids help keep the skin from losing moisture and make it soft and supple. But the moisture in the skin constantly evaporates, and washing the skin strips away these lipids, further drying the skin. (Remember, this is basically what moisturizers are: oils or oil-like ingredients that when put on the skin, hold the moisture in.)
In humid conditions, the skin can replenish itself by soaking up moisture from the air. But when the humidity drops below 60% as it does in many places in the winter, your skin loses another opportunity to moisturize itself. Couple that with the low humidity of indoor heating, as well as hot showers and baths, and the skin is bound to become dry and irritated, feel itchy and flaky. While dry skin doesn’t wrinkle any faster than oily skin, dry skin does look more wrinkled because moist skin is plumper than dehydrated skin. Most of us will experience dry skin later in life. About 85% of older people develop winter itch due to dry, overheated indoor air. The loss of sweat and oil glands as we age can also worsen dry skin. Anything that further dries the skin (such as overuse of soaps, antiperspirants, perfumes, or hot baths,) will make the problem worse.
Without proper care, dry skin can become a chronic problem. Preventing dry skin is as important as treating it. Once it’s dry, it’s more subject to getting even drier. That’s because dry skin is rough and irregular and has more surface area to lose moisture from than healthy, compact skin. Also, because the skin is a crucial barrier against infection, once the skin becomes dry or cracked, infection can sneak in more easily.
So the BOTTOM LINE: Take Care of Your Skin Every Day. Especially During the winter months when dry skin can make you feel and look miserable.
What you can do! 4 Tips for Winterizing Your Skin
- Soak and Seal. Right after you shower is the best time to “lock in” moisture into the skin, Use the heaviest lotion you’re comfortable with. The greasier it is, the better. The better job it will do at trapping moisture. Use a lighter formula if you are prone to acne, on the parts of the body that you tend to break out.Yes you still need sunscreen, even in winter. Clouds do not necessarily be counted on to filter out the sun’s harmful rays.
- Daylight, even dim, obscure daylight causes skin damage which means it slowly becomes less and less able to hold moisture or feel smooth. Sun-damaged skin has minimal ability to function in a normal, healthy manner. A Moisturizer MUST : To prevent dry skin and wrinkles, use a double-duty moisturizer that rated at least SPF 15 and includes one of the following ingredients for broad spectrum protection (Parsol 1789, Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide).
- Limit your bath or shower time to 10 to 15 minutes, only once per day. Wash with comfortably warm (not hot) water, using a mild cleanser and not soap ( which can be very drying to the skin). Avoid long showers or soaking in a hot bath, especially with bubble bath soap.
- Use a humidifier to raise the humidity level. during the winter months. A humidifier can add moisture to the air.
Once you begin to take care of your skin properly, the flakiness and itch of dry skin should improve within one or two weeks. Winter doesn’t have to be torture for your skin!