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More on Skin: Things to remember
[January 2006] - This time of year, when the temperatures drop, and everyone bundles up,
we sometimes forget that changes in climate can have a profound effect on our skin. More than just chapped lips and wind-burned cheeks,
the various aspects of our living in the Winter can make for some real problems with our skin. And there are some things that most of
us do (or don’t do) without realizing the harm we could be doing to our skin.
Here are some helpful tips for winter skin care, and all year long, to help you keep
your skin looking its very best:
Dry, Chapped Lips
One of the most common problems women (and men) report in winter is chapped and cracked
lips. The skin of the lips is very thin and sensitive and can easily be leeched of moisture by changes in temperature and humidity as
we go from the cold outdoors to the heat of indoors. Therefore, we need to protect them BEFORE they become damaged. Make it a habit to
use a lip balm before going outside. You can apply it as a base coat under your lip color, or alone to protect your lips and give a
soft gloss. The type of balm you choose is up to you, but if you choose a waxy, stick-type balm, be sure to soften it, by rubbing the
tube between your palms for a few moments. This will make the balm apply more smoothly and give better coverage.
If your lips are already cracked or chapped, get them moisturized as quickly as possible.
And it’s important to avoid licking them. Licking the lips will remove any protective balm you’ve applied and the saliva produced by the
mouth evaporates faster than even water (in spite of the fact that it feels thicker) which makes the problem worse.
Dry, Itchy Skin
Another complaint common in the winter is the increase in dryness and itchiness of the
skin. This is caused by the same temperature and humidity changes that result in chapped lips. And again, the solution is protection. A
good protective lotion or moisturizer will help keep your skin hydrated, and will soothe any skin that is already dry and itchy.
Some people miss one of the warning signs of drying skin in winter: before the itch or
dryness sets in, most people experience a feeling of tightness after coming into a heated location from the cold. That tightness means
that the moisture in the surface layers of the skin is being evaporated, and should be your cue to get some moisturizer and protect your
skin before it gets any worse.
Sweating
While this isn’t an issue restricted to just one season, it is often overlooked in the
winter because most people associate sweating heavily with being hot, and summer activities. The truth is, because we spend so much time
in the winter bundled up against the cold to contain and preserve body heat, many people sweat just as much in the winter months as they
do in warmer weather. This is especially true of people who engage in physical activity outdoors during the winter: chopping wood,
shoveling snow, etc.
This perspiration can result in losing as much as 2 liters of water an hour. It is
important to keep yourself properly hydrated especially in winter, as often you don’t realize that you’re losing the water. Keeping
properly hydrated can help combat the dry skin and chapped lips associated with winter as well as helping you stay warmer. Keeping fluid
levels up keeps your blood flowing freely and helps distribute your body heat better.
Remember to take your body weight and divide by 16 to determine the number of 8-ounce
glasses of water you need per day normally. Add 2 glasses to this number on any day where you perform strenuous activity or exercise.
Your body will thank you for it.
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