Colder temperatures lead to dry, itchy and cracked skin. Avoid the following habits for better skin this winter.
Habit #1: Taking Long, Hot Showers
Hot showers worsen dry skin by removing your skin’s natural oils. However, you don’t have to suffer through cold showers for the sake of good skin. Instead, try showering in lukewarm water, which is less drying, and limit your showers to 5 to 10 minutes.
Habit #2: Using Sugar Scrubs
If you have sensitive, dry skin, you may need to set aside any sugar or salt scrubs. Exfoliation is useful to slough off dead skin, but abrasive scrubs can temporarily disrupt the skin barrier and cause skin to lose water.
Habit #3: Overindulging in Sugary Treats
The holidays bring many sweet temptations, but too much sugar raises your insulin levels, which can cause acne. Occasionally enjoying your favorite desserts isn’t harmful. Try swapping sugar for more antioxidant-rich foods and omega-3 fatty acids, which may improve your skin.
Habit #4: Cranking Up the Heat
Cozying up next to the fireplace or turning up the thermostat can dry out your skin. For more hydrated skin, invest in a humidifier to add moisture back into the air.
Habit #5: Forgetting Hand Cream After Handwashing
Handwashing is a priority during cold and flu season and even more so with the spread of the coronavirus. Avoid chapped and bleeding hands by keeping a hand cream in your purse and at sinks around your home. Use after each time you wash your hands.
Sources:
aad.org, aad.org, aad.org, aad.org, aad.org, nia.nih.gov, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov