When cold weather hits, it can have a negative effect on your skin. Your face, as well as the rest of your body, can become dry, flaky and chapped, which can be painful and uncomfortable. In addition to becoming dry, winter weather can also affect your skin’s elasticity and its ability to fight aging. Between the cold wind outside and the drying effects of heaters used indoors, the winter time is literally dehydrating your skin. Moisture in your skin is crucial for your skin health, as well as anti-aging. In addition to making sure you’re keeping your skin moisturized, there are several other things you can do to keep your skin glowing and feeling great this winter.
Taking hot showers or baths and not moisturizing afterward can contribute to your skin cracking. So, turn down the heat a bit in the shower and make sure to moisturize when you get out. Another common issue is in the winter, when people experience dry skin, they tend to want to scrub it off, or exfoliate. If your skin is very dry, exfoliating can cause further irritation and make it look worse. When your skin gets dry in the winter, you have to be gentle with it. Skip any abrasive scrubs and use a mild, gentle cleanser. If you need exfoliation during the winter, if might be best to have it done by a professional aesthetician.
While winter weather might not be ideal for the skin in some ways, it is the perfect time for laser and IPL treatments. Anytime you’re having a laser treatment done, you’ll want to avoid the sun before and after. Since we spend less time in the sun during the winter, it’s usually the best time to plan these treatments. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments are more effective when your tan has faded, so winter is the right time to plan a series of treatments for sun damage or age spots. Hair removal is also better in the winter. IPL hair removal typically takes several treatments, spaced approximately 4-6 weeks apart, so winter allows plenty of time to get rid of that unwanted hair before summer.
To keep the dry skin at bay and keep your skin glowing for all of those holiday events, monthly facials are the way to go. It takes approximately a month for your skin to move through the full cycle of skin cell growth and shedding, so having a monthly peel or HydraFacial will help to slough off that dead skin and allow for better absorption of moisturizers and skin care products.
A few more things to consider to protect your skin this winter are sunscreen and lip balm. Although it’s cold, your skin is still being exposed to harmful UV rays, so be sure to use a moisturizer or foundation that has SPF of 15 or greater. Don’t forget about your lips! Keeping your lips protected with lip balm is key. There are also clinical treatments, like PERK for Lips, that combine an in-office lip treatment (usually done in conjunction with a HydraFacial) and an at-home component that will keep your lips feeling good and looking luscious all winter long.
To keep your skin glowing and feeling great this winter, schedule a free consultation with one of our skin care experts at our new location at 4707 N. Davis Hwy in Pensacola.
