If you’re headed outdoors this winter for skiing, snowshoeing, or winter shopping (a legitimate sport), your skin is likely to take a beating. There’s a reason dermatologists see a spike in patients during the winter: it’s the time of year most likely to aggravate eczema and dry out natural oils on your skin, causing severe dryness and itching. Here are four simple things you can do to make sure your winter skin is glowing and healthy:
Avoid harsh soaps
This is our advice for the rest of the year as well, but it’s especially important during winter. Soaps strip your skin of the good oils it needs to protect itself. We recommend Cetaphil because it’s super gentle and helps skin retain moisture
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
As soon as you hop out of your shower, slather yourself with fragrance-free lotion. We love anything with shea butter, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid. It’s best to apply lotion within 3 minutes of leaving the shower. And keep the water lukewarm instead of hot!
Cover up
The more your skin is protected from the elements, the better. Cover up with scarves, gloves, and hats. These keep your skin warm and humid as much as possible, which is the best way to keep it healthy.
Use hydrocortisone
If you already have eczema, head to the dermatologist for the big guns: prescription hydrocortisone cream. But if you have minor chapping, apply over-the-counter hydrocortisone to prevent it becoming worse. As soon as your skin heals, stop using the hydrocortisone because it can lead to skin thinning. And avoid using it on your face.
