This cold weather can really get one feeling blue.
Seriously, if you don’t have to be here enduring the cold, don’t stay 🙂 Chapped lips. Chapped hands. Chapped faces. Although Wisconsin has had a seasonably warm winter so far, the dry, chapped nature of our skin still exists. So what can you do about it? Here are six tips for making your winter skin soft and supple.
1. Revamp Your Skin Regimen: The same moisturizer you use during spring and summer months doesn’t offer the necessary protection during winter’s chill and winds. Although in summer our skin tends to be more exposed to the elements, as a whole, we tend to have dryer skin in the winter. This is especially true in our climate with the combination of the cold outdoors and the dry, heated indoors. Whether dry or oily skin, during the winter months, it is best to use a slightly heavier moisturizing product. In the Epionce line, that might mean Renewal Facial Cream instead of Renewal Facial Lotion or one of our regular moisturizers instead of the light ones.
2. Exfoliate: When old skin cells start to pile up on the surface of the skin, it can leave your skin looking dull and dry. Furthermore, the build-up of dead skin cells can result in excess oil and clogged pores, leading to blemishes. Using products such as lytics from Epionce, GlyPro from SkinMedica, or Finishing Touch by Revision can help gently exfoliate the build-up of these cells. A Clarisonic Skin Care System can also aid in better cleansing, exfoliating, and preping the skin for greater moisturizing product absorption.
3. Moisturize: You can also bump up your hydrating routine by adding in some additional products. Hydrating Serum from Revision is an ultra-light, oil free serum that can help keep skin uniformly hydrated, alleviate tightness, and moisturize without feeling sticky. HA5 from SkinMedica supports the skin’s natural ability to replenish its own HA (Hyaluronic Acid – the natural, “water-loving” substance found in the skin). Using products like these can increase skin hydration without feeling heavy or over-moisturized. Adding in a hydrating mask, such as Epionce’s Enriched Firming Mask, once or twice a week is another great way to add an extra boost of hydration to your skin.
4. Use Sunscreen: Sunscreen is a must – and not just in the Summer time! Sunblock should be worn year -round. UVA and UVB rays from the sun are responsible for a huge portion of the signs of skin aging, such as wrinkles, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. And don’t assume just because you already have sun damaged skin that it’s too late for you – A good moisturizer with SPF, such as Multi-Protection Broad Spectrum SPF 50 from Revision, will prevent further damage which you are actually more prone to with more mature, damaged skin.
5. Avoid Very Hot Baths: Using very hot water strips the necessary oils from your skin, so if your skin is dry, you want to maintain as much moisture as possible. Just keep your showers and baths short and opt for lukewarm water instead of hot.
6. Drink Plenty Of Water: Don’t forget that consuming water is good for your skin year-round. When well hydrated, your skin (and everything else) is going to look and feel better. Investing in a humidifier is another great way to keep the air from being too dry and dehydrating your skin.
To learn more about our skin care treatments, schedule a consultation with Dr. Manjoney at Wisconsin Vein Center & MediSpa in Pewaukee, WI. Wisconsin Vein Center & MediSpa serves the greater Milwaukee metro area. Call us at 262-236-5179!
By Tiffany Fisher, Wisconsin Vein Center & MediSpa.
Dr. Deborah Manjoney is a board-certified surgeon and physician with extensive training, including cardiothoracic surgery. She founded the Wisconsin Vein Center & MediSpa in 2002, where she specializes in vein treatments and minimally invasive aesthetic procedures. Dr. Manjoney is nationally recognized, having spoken at conferences, received awards, and contributed to medical publications.