Do Away with Dry Skin in Winter

Winter is here guys! And so I present you with this article containing simple tips about maintaining dewy and supple skin. Dry skin is a very common skin problem and is often worse during the winter when environmental humidity is low (also known as "winter itch" since it leads to repeated rubbing and scratching). It can occur at all ages and in people with or without other skin problems. Dry skin occurs most commonly on the arms and legs, but can also affect the trunk of the body. The skin feels rough and appears dull and flaky.

It is natural to think that applying water alone to dry skin would help control the problem. However, water alone (especially hot water) can actually worsen the problem of dry skin by removing the normal, protective skin oils. Hot, soapy water depletes the natural skin oils to the greatest degree.

You may be going gloveless this warm winter, but your body still needs a little extra love. Survive the slow slide into spring with these tips for fixing the winter itches, from the inside out.

• ·         Take warm bubble bath and infuse it with essential oil. A few drops of essential oil can keep your skin moisturized for a longer period of time. Your dermis can absorb moisture better if it is damp. The best time to infuse moisture is during and after bath. You can buy essential oils from the beauty store. You might want to use lavender oil or rose oil. Lavender is a natural aromatherapy that can also calm your body and brain. Lavender has antiseptic properties as well. It gets rid of germs and bacteria. Rose oil is also a good choice because of its ability to promote firm and elastic skin. It can even control melanin production so you can avoid pigmentation problems.

• ·         Drink hot chocolate instead of coffee in the morning. Cocoa contains flavanols. These flavanols keep skin moisturized all day long. They infuse moisture to dermis tissues and cells. In addition to that, cocoa also contains antioxidants that can ward off harmful free radicals.

• ·         Instead of distilled water, you might want to drink alkaline water instead for better hydration. Alkaline water is made up of reduced minerals. Because these minerals have reduced particles, they can penetrate cells better. This keeps your skin cells moist and dewy.

• ·         Moisturize right after bathing. After bathing or showering, quickly and gently pat the skin partially dry with a towel (do not rub!). Within three minutes of getting out of the water apply a moisturizer (see discussion of moisturizers below) to seal the water in the skin before it can evaporate. Pat your skin dry and allow your damp skin to absorb your moisturizer. You should also use a moisturizer that can lock moisture inside dermis tissues and slow down the aging process. Don't buy a product with alcohol-based ingredients and parabens. Purchase moisturizers with CynergyTK, Phytessence Wakame and Manuka Honey.

Moisturizers are of the following types:

Ointment moisturizers have the greatest ability to trap moisture in the skin, but they have the greasy consistency and feel of Vaseline Petroleum Jelly. It has a greasy feel and therefore only a small amount should be applied and rubbed well over a large area of skin.

Oil moisturizers are less greasy but still effective.

Cream moisturizers are usually white and disappear when rubbed into the skin without leaving a greasy feel.

Lotion moisturizers are suspensions of oily chemicals in alcohol and water. Popular lotion moisturizers available in the market are Vaseline Intensive Care, Nutraderm Keri, Lubriderm, Curel, and Complex 15, Nivea, U-Lactin, Neutrogena, Nutraplus, Eutra Lite, Moisturel, Complex-15, Lac-Hydrin 5.

• ·         Keep shower water Lukewarm, not hot

• ·         Exfoliate on a weekly basis. Apply extra virgin coconut oil on your freshly cleansed face. Use a warm, wet washcloth to massage the oil into the skin. This works to exfoliate and moisturize. You can also use this method on your body. Add sugar or salt to the oil to make your own scrub.

• ·         Don’t use drying soap. Use soaps containing glycerin or petrolatum.

• ·         To keep feet soft, cover feet in a thick moisturizer, wrap feet in Saran Wrap, then pull on a pair of socks for a couple hours.

• ·         Don’t forget to keep a lip balm near you always so that you can apply it whenever your lips dry up.

• ·         Pace The Peels. If your facial skin is uncomfortably dry, avoid using harsh peels, masks, and alcohol-based toners or astringents, all of which can strip vital oil from your skin. Instead, find a cleansing milk or mild foaming cleanser, a toner with no alcohol, and masks that are "deeply hydrating," rather than clay-based, which tends to draw moisture out of the face. And use them a little less often.