Winter is great. Days of no sweat, cool breeze, those maxi dresses, the boots and blazers and, of course, the late night parties… But sadly, there always has to be a flip side and the flip side of winter is the dryness it brings along with it. But don’t let flaky skin and rough hair be a season spoiler. Make a winter resolution to take care of your skin. Here’s how…

Start in the bath

Soaking in a burning-hot bath sure feels great but the intense heat of a hot shower or bath actually breaks down the lipid barriers in the skin that leads to loss of moisture. Use lukewarm water, reduce bathing time and use milder cream-based soaps.

Shampoo

Less humidity and decreased sweat in winter does not dirty the hair as it does in summer and hence you don’t require daily shampooing. Use a milder shampoo once or twice weekly based on your need and party schedule! Use conditioners after shampooing to give back the hair lustre and to remove the remnants of shampoo.

Moisture

Your normal moisturisers may work just fine in spring and summer. But as weather conditions change, so should your skin care routine. Use oily creams on your body rather than the usual moisturising lotions. If you are comfortable using lotions then use it two-three times a day. Choose moisturisers with shea butter or natural oils.

Certain areas of your body are prone to excessive dryness. Hands, legs and elbows tend to dry more and one should give special attention to these areas while moisturising.

Lips are prone to chapping and one should use lip balms or Vaseline daily to prevent them from drying and chapping.

Feet are also more prone to drying and fissuring. Cracked heals are common in winters. Exfoliate the sole skin once weekly by using pumice stone or brush. Emphasis should be put on moisturising the soles. Special foot creams or creams containing urea, lactic acid and salicylic acids are ideal.

Based on your skin-type, keep your face adequately nourished. It’s also a good idea to perform an occasional upkeep treatment, such as a facial, routinely. If your skin is not very oily or sensitive you can also scrub your face once weekly and apply a moisturising face-pack weekly.

Hair tends to dry out and become rough and fizzy in winters. One can use hair serums and lotions on the hair shaft to keep hair healthy and shiny. Also milder shampoos and conditioners as mentioned earlier can prevent the dryness. People who are more prone to dandruff should use special ketoconazole and zinc pyrithone-based shampoos once or twice weekly to correct this problem.

Sunscreen

Sunscreen isn’t just for summer. Winter sun can also damage your skin. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen to your face and your hands 30 minutes before going out. You can choose an oily sunscreen to fulfill the dual function of moisturising and providing sun protection.

Skin problems

Dry skin is the most common skin disorder in winter. This can be a major problem in elderly people, those with genetically dry skin (icthyosis) or those suffering from diabetes or other systemic diseases like hypothyroidism. Medicated creams are available to help severe dryness. Take medical help if needed.

Eczema loves to have air to heal and during the winter that just does not happen, making eczema only worse. Wool and synthetic clothing worn in winter can also aggravate the problem. But proper precautions can prevent these breakouts.

Those with atopic dermatitis need special care.

Other skin diseases like psoriasis are also more common in winter. Severe cold can also result in chilblains. Take adequate and appropriate medical help when needed.

And more…

Excessive heating of skin by wearing too many clothes can be harmful and can also cause itching and infections. This is especially applicable for children and infants where parents have a tendency to overdress the children. So dress in layers that you can take off when required.

The winter platter is colourful. A variety of vegetables and fruits are available in the market. Fill up your plate with fruits and vegetables: the vitamins and minerals will keep you glowing from within.

Water may not seem as tempting in winter but your skin tends to dry more in winter and thus needs adequate hydration. No amount of moisturiser or cold cream can mask the parched appearance of your skin if it is not hydrated from within. So even if you cannot drink a lot of water at one go, make sure you have adequate fluid in your diet. Keep a bottle handy and keep sipping it throughout the day.

Use milder cleansers for cleaning your skin. Cleansing milk is the best bet or mild non-soap cleansers. Also avoid repeated washing of face. Alcohol-based toners and astringents are out as they can aggravate dryness and irritation.

Dr Sachin Varma is a consultant dermatologist at Apollo Gleneagles hospital, Calcutta