By Anne Davis

‘Winter skin’ is that scaly, itchy, dry skin that begins to form the moment the furnace fires up in the fall.  Winter skin is uncomfortable and unhealthy due to the fact that dry, cracked and irritated skin is vulnerable to infection. Winter conditions take a beating on our skin and the moisturizing regime that worked for the summer months will not be sufficient to keep your skin properly hydrated once the humidity levels begin to drop.

This winter keep your skin in better condition during the low-humidity months by following some of these tips:

Drink more water!  This is particularly important in the winter months.  Keeping your body hydrated from within is your first level of attack.

Take flaxseed oil regularly. This is another way to keep your body moisturized from within and will help to keep your skin healthy.

Hate to say it, but avoid bubble baths! Detergents in bubble bath products will dry out your skin much faster.

Avoid hot baths and showers. Hot water is a quick way to dry out and irritate your skin.  While you might miss the comfort of hot baths and showers during those colder months, you can console yourself with lower heating bills and nicer skin!

Use a body scrub during your baths and/or showers. Dry skin is a surface layer of dead skin cells which causes your skin to look worse than it actually is. This layer of dead cells also prevents proper absorption of moisturizers, so remember to moisturize after using a body scrub and kill two birds with one stone.

Don’t use your hair dryer unless it’s absolutely necessary. That hot, dry blast of air will give you a dried out, itchy scalp. If you can’t live without it, be sure to use the cool air setting.

Keep using sunscreen. UV rays can be intense, even in winter. Use a sunscreen that blocks UVA and UVB on any exposed skin.

Be sure your lip balms contain extra moisturizers.

Only use moisturizers containing mineral oil, glycerin or linoleic acid.

Don’t forget your nails and cuticles!  Moisturize them with Vaseline or a good nail balm.

Take off wet clothes and shoes/boots as soon as possible and don’t put them on again until they are completely dry. You will stay warmer as well as prevent the wet fabrics from irritating your skin.

Wear your gloves. Don’t expose your skin to the elements and keep your hands warm.

Have a healthier, happier winter season!

Anne Davis is a writer, blogger, artist and photography buff.  Born in Quebec, she now lives in Kimberley, BC where she is editor of and contributor to the City of Kimberley’s Active Community Guide and webmaster for the City’s websites.

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