Winter Skin Care Strategies
As the cold weather approaches, it is the time to consider your skin care strategy for the wintry months ahead. Dry air and cold wind will have a significant effect on the health of your skin, and you should do everything you can to protect your skin from the harsh winter elements. Give some serious consideration to the following information. Be proactive about the health of your skin.

Even though you will be bundled up in winter clothing, you should still consider using a sunscreen of some sort. For daily use, it may be a bit extreme to cover yourself in sunscreen in the winter months. Instead, try to use a moisturizer or makeup with an SPF of 15. If you are going to be out on the slopes, you should be using a sunscreen with an SPF as high as you would use in the summer. The snow on the hills reflects an incredible amount of sunlight. Don’t forget to use a quality lip balm, too.

Try to avoid taking long, hot showers this winter. We all know how wonderful a hot shower can feel on a cold day, but try to resist the urge as best as you can. Hot showers can strip your skin of its natural moisturizers. Instead take a short, warm shower. Try to pat your skin almost dry, and apply a moisturizer while your skin is slightly damp. This is a great strategy to help you avoid dry skin.

Another thing to consider is your home heating system. As your furnace will be in constant use in the colder months, the air in your home can become extremely dry. If you do not have a humidifier built into your heating system, you should invest in a portable humidifier. Using a humidifier can prevent your skin from drying out, and it can help you avoid dry nasal cavities. If you do suffer from a dry or bleeding nose in the winter, apply some petroleum jelly for short-term relief.

In my opinion, the best way to deal with dry skin is to hydrate from the inside out. Drink as much water as you possibly can, regardless of the time of year. Drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water per day will flush countless toxins from your body and will help keep your skin healthy and fresh. By following these suggestions, you can have beautiful skin all year round.

Winter Skin Care
The effect of seasonal weather changes, especially during the winter months, can take a significant toll on your skin. Facial skin ravaged by exposure to the elements can exhibit symptoms of dryness, flaking, itching and even sore, scaly patches. If you take a proactive approach to caring for your skin during these months it will help you avoid the worst impact that winter can have on your skin. The http://www.SkinCareResourceCenter.com explores a multitude of skin care issues in the e-knowledge modules of the Skin Care e-Learning and Resource Center.

Protection! First and foremost, your best defense for winter skin care is protection! Even during the winter months, you absolutely need to continue to apply SPF 15 or greater sunscreen when outside. Even though you might think the sun’s effects are diminished during the winter months, nothing could be farther from the truth. The reflection of the sun off snow and ice can be particularly damaging. Wearing a scarf that can be easily pulled up to protect the cheeks and bottom portion of your face is also a helpful preventative measure to limit the skin’s exposure to the elements.

Although it may seem contradictory, dry skin benefits tremendously from exfoliation to help eliminate the flaking skin cells, to smooth the skin’s surface and promote cell rejuvenation. Whether you choose to use a chemical exfoliant such as an AHA product like glycolic acid or a mechanical means such as a facial scrub, incorporating a means of exfoliation into your routine at least a few times a week can dramatically improve dry skin. And please, don’t use any type of astringents or soap. They will only dry out the skin more. Instead, try using a super rich cleanser such as one with a soy or oatmeal ingredient to give your skin a conditioning treatment as you cleanse.

Maintaining the skin’s moisture content during the winter months is also critical. The skin is typically well hydrated after a warm shower or steaming facial. Immediately seal in the moisture with a skin cream rich in emollients. Moisturizers will keep the skin conditioned while offering protection against the harsh effects of the cold. The drier the skin becomes, the more frequently a moisturizer should be applied.

To treat any of those very dry, scaly patches that might develop, use a petroleum based product on the affected areas before bed. Believe it or not, plain old Vaseline works wonders on stubborn dry, cracked, and flaking skin. But unfortunately most people cringe at the idea of using Vaseline on their face, thinking that it will clog pores and, in general have a negative effect on the skin. In a word- untrue! Vaseline and similar petroleum based products provide a protective, insulating barrier for the skin on those frigid, windy days when applied as a light coat to the face and lips.

Finally, for any irritating patches of skin that persistently plague you despite your best efforts, an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment has significant healing effects on skin which is cracked and sore. For the extremely dry, flaking and itchy spots an OTC hydrocortisone cream can provide both relief from the itching and diminish the dry, flaking symptoms. Please bear in mind that if your condition persists, it will be best to consult with a Physician to find the best remedy for your particular skin condition.