Whatever your interests, your health must be taken care of first. This blog covers the state of your skin, which is somewhat influenced by the winter sun, windy surroundings, and lower temperatures. At IPAL Clinic, a trained Surgeon and Board-Certified Dermatologist will provide some excellent advice on how to protect your skin during winter.
TIP #1: Use sunscreen even under cloud cover.
Absolutely always use sunscreen daily if you want to protect your skin during winter, independent of the ambient temperature. You must first comprehend what makes up the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum if you want to know how cloud cover influences sun exposure intensity.
UVA and UVB comprise the two main ranges of the UV spectrum. Shorter in wavelength, the UVB component of the spectrum can only reach the epidermis, the top layer of skin. Sunburns are caused by UVB, which also is a major factor in the development of skin cancer. On very gloomy days, clouds mainly obstruct UVB because of its short wavelength.
By contrast, UVA has a longer wavelength than UVB. This lets it pass into the dermis, the deeper layers of the skin. The UVA range of UV light mostly damages the dermis, also known as the foundation or structural integrity of our skin.
UVA’s destruction of the dermis is what causes photodamage to the skin resulting in fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally helping to cause skin cancer is UVA damage. Longer wavelengths of UVA enable it to travel through thick clouds with little abatement.
Therefore, even if a gloomy day reduces UVB and you are less likely to burn, you still have to protect yourself against the photodamaging UVA radiation that readily passes over cloud cover.
Regardless of the temperature, always wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to protect you from both UVA and UVB radiation.
There are so many products available; choose one you feel comfortable using and wearing all day. Start your morning rubbing it over all the flesh not covered by clothes. Then, when you go to the slopes, bring one. You have to reapply all through the day.
TIP #2: Moisturize!
Generally speaking, winter months are much drier as cold air carries less moisture than warm air. Little moisture there rapidly disappears into the atmosphere. This compromises the capacity of your skin to retain its own moisture.
Our skin, hair, and nails may all suffer from the dryness and severe temperature swings. To offset the drying air, make sure you regularly hydrate with a heavier cream. Apply a thicker balm all day if certain areas appear to be cracking, peeling, itching, and inflamed if you want to protect your skin during winter.
Especially in colder months, hot showers should be avoided. The hot water could upset the keratinocyte and lipid-based water-tight border layer of the skin.
Disturbance of this essential layer results in dry skin vulnerable to eczema outbreaks. After your shower, I advise you to treat your body with moisturizer as it’s a terrific approach to maintain skin hydration.
TIP # 3: Prevent Windburn
Have you found that in the winter your lips and cheeks get red and dry? Known as “windburn,” this phenomena causes red, inflammatory skin that may be uncomfortable in cold, gusty winter weather. It may happen over long stretches of cold outdoor walking or exercise.
Usually occurring when skiing, the very chilly and windy circumstances up in the mountains cause this. The relative humidity falls in the winter, and the cold, dry air blowing past your face dries out the skin, therefore compromising its barrier capacity. The end effect is itchy, flaky, dry skin.
Using a physical barrier and pre-moisturizing with a heavier cream can help you guard yourself against windburn. This is partially the reason you see so many people strolling on the street in the winter sporting scarves to cover their faces on chilly, windy days.
On warmer ski days particularly, I prefer wearing a polyester fishing-style neck gaiter to shield my face from windburn but it is still rather light and breathable. If you use a lotion everyday as your facial moisturizer and find that your skin dries out on chilly days, I advise utilizing a heavier hand cream moisturizer for your face should you be working outdoors that day.
TIP #4: Essentials to Carry With You Through Cold Season
On the slopes, keep your lower face covered with a balaclava or neck gaiter. Since you have to reapply sunscreen many times a day, always bring it. Usually only effective for two hours, sunscreen is best applied often.
Usually carrying a light and easy-to-apply sunscreen cream, skiing lets me reapply without stopping my preferred sport. Since the lips are especially sensitive to the sun, you should also include an SPF lip balm. Lips burn easier than the rest of your skin as they generate relatively little melanin, or pigment.
Another really essential item is a little, sample-sized thick moisturizer. Finally, never overlook the need of shielding your eyes from the sun’s beams. Wear UV protected goggles and sunglasses.
Consult With IPAL Clinic Dermatologists Today
Experience in medical and cosmetic dermatology abound at IPAL Clinic from highly trained Board-Certified Dermatologists, Certified Physician Assistants, and Cosmetic Specialists. Come visit us about any of your skin issues. You may schedule a visit online.