Caring for skin and hair when the weather is cold, and the snow and wind blow, can be a challenge. This is especially true for those of us with preexisting dryness, mature skin or skin conditions such as eczema and. rosacea. At Atlantic Skin Care we offer a range of skin care products and treatments that can help you embrace winter instead of dreading it.
The three key pillars of winter skin care include :
PROTECTION:
Many people are surprised to learn that sun protection is needed year-round. The intensity of the sun reflecting off snow and ice, often combined with exposure to high altitudes when skiing, can be as damaging to our skin as the summer sun on the beach. By choosing a mineral-based sunscreen with SPF 30 or more, you can also reduce the damaging effects of cold wind and blowing snow.
HYDRATION:
Dermatologists recommend using an unscented oil, either in the bath water or on damp skin after showering. A moisturizing bar soap or liquid cream soap is best. Avoid long baths and showers, limit baths and showers to once per day, and keep the water warm, not hot.
Apply a hydrating moisturizer to the face and body every morning and night. The best time is just after a bath or shower: gently towel dry and then use a water-holding cream or lotion, ideally one that contains Hyaluronic Acid and/or urea. In addition, ceramides, a component of some moisturizing creams and lotions, work to restore the skin barrier, which can be damaged by weathering and age. This serves to hold moisture in the skin. Gentle exfoliation, no more often than twice weekly, can further enhance the penetration of your moisturizer.
Go to www.dermatology.ca for a list of the Canadian Dermatology Association’s recommended skin care products.
TREATMENT:
The focus of office-based skin treatments during the winter months may be twofold:
- Enhance the effects of your home winter skin care regime with a single intensely moisturizing SkinVive treatment ( our newest “injectable moisturizer”,) possibly combined with monthly exfoliating chemical peels
- Take advantage of procedures that you are inclined to avoid during the summer, such as IPL or picolaser rejuvenation and laser hair removal.
Your hair can also suffer from the effects of exposure to harsh outdoor temperatures and dry indoor heating, leaving you with dull, dry hair and/or hair breakage. Dr Jeff Donovan, a Vancouver-based Dermatologist and renowned hair loss specialist, has the following recommendations to keep your hair healthy through the winter:
- Hold back on heavy duty styling by reducing the use of hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons. Allow your hair to partially dry before styling.
- Apply a weekly leave-in conditioner or mask, and/or consider a nightly moisturizing serum
- Try to reduce the frequency of shampooing, and always follow with a conditioner
- Choose hats and ear warmers with silk or satin liners to prevent hair breakage due to friction.
