Here are a few essential tips to maintain healthy skin and hair, this winter
- Use moisturising creamy face washes and body washes that hydrate and don’t strip the skin of essential oils.
- Moisturise with a body emollient containing ceramides and or paraffin that forms a barrier on the skin and prevents evaporation and retains water. This is especially true if you have dry scaly skin or are prone to developing eczema and psoriasis.
- Excessive scrubbing and exfoliant are not required in winter. Exfoliate once a week. Follow with a moisturiser.
- Always use a sunblock even in the winter. Choose a sunblock with SPF 30 or more that is non comedogenic and gives a broad spectrum of coverage against UVA and UVB rays.
- Exfoliate chapped lips with toothbrush or sugar granules and follow with a lip balm.
- Take care of dry cuticles by filing nails regularly, getting exposed cuticles clipped and trimmed with manicures and pedicures and keep them supple and hydrated by using a cuticle oil and massaging into the base of the nail
- Hands, feet, elbows and knees are areas that need extra care and once can use emollients or body butters over them to keep them soft and to prevent calluse
- Winter is the best tome for skin treatments such as peels and lasers as you can seek protection and relief to a certain extent from the sun
- Workout regularly even in winter to keep yourself looking radiant and healthy. And as they say, hot summer bodies are made in winter.
- Wash hair a little less often than you do in other seasons especially if you have dry, itchy, flaky scalp
- Do regular deep conditioning and oil conditioning treatments for your hair and scalp to hydrate
- Use a leave in conditioner or a hair moisturizer if you feel your hair is too dry
- Protect with a hair band, scarf, headband, clip etc when exposed to strong winds which can strip away natural oils from the hair and can make it dry
- Use heat styling less often in winter. Let air dry or use a heat protection spray
The author is a dermatologist at Lejeune Medspa
Also Read :- Beat the heat: Address your skin and hair woes with these smart tips