Winter is upon us! However, with it comes certain skin issues such as dryness, flaking, skin barrier disruption, flaring of eczema and psoriasis. Hence it’s crucial to give your skin some extra care and here are a few basic steps that need to be followed during this season. 
1. Dietary changes
Unlike summers, cold weather does not make us crave water. However, it is important to Increase water intake! A hydrated body can do more wonders for skin dryness than anything else. Increased intake of antioxidant-rich foods such as oranges, lemon, pomegranate, berries, amla, grapes, spinach, beetroot, and many others boosts immunity and improves skin’s natural elasticity and radiance, along with collagen synthesis.
2. Fragrance free hydrating Cleansers and body wash
Hydrating cleansers help to remove dirt, excess oil and dust while maintaining moisture. Use them to gently cleanse your face twice a day. It is important to use lukewarm water for baths, avoid hot water as it dries the skin. Avoid scrubs and loofahs while using body washes as they tend to increase dryness as well as pigmentation. Skin requires gentle care all through the year and physical scrubs are not the way to do it.
3. Oil
Oils are excellent hydrating agents. However, it can lead to acne on the face and body and prickly heat rashes. Hence it is best to avoid oil applications, however, it can applied on extremely dry areas such as hands and feet 20-30 minutes BEFORE the bath.
4. Moisturizer
The role of a moisturizer with glycerin, shea butter, hyaluronic acid, and urea in winter skin care is self-explanatory. It is essential to apply moisturizer to DAMPS SKIN within 3-4 minutes of the bath to optimally hydrate the skin. Applying once a day is not enough, at least morning and night, or more frequently if your skin becomes dry easily, particularly in eczema prone people.
5. Hand Cream
We wash hands or use sanitisers more frequently in the post COVID era. This can leave them dry and cracked. To prevent this use a mild hand wash, and alcohol free santisers. A good moisturizing hand cream should be used after ever hand wash, paying attention to the areas between your fingers and on the back of your hands, to lock in moisture and prevent dryness.
6. Lip Balm
Chapped and dry lips can be concerning. Regular application of lip balm containing ingredients like beeswax, and shea butter can keep the dryness at bay. Avoid licking lips to prevent more dryness and irritation.
7. Skin around the eyes
This delicate area requires special attention, since dryness, eczema, dark circles and puffiness are more common during this season. Applying an eye cream or gel containing peptides, hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and caffeine can help reduce inflammation, thus minimising these concerns.
8. Scalp/ hair care
Dandruff increases during winters, since there is a lack of moisture in the air, which makes it dry and theryby flaky. To reduce this, increase hair wash during winters as difficut as this may be during the colder seasons! A regular hair wash with lukewarm water, oiling hair before wash (AVOID oil for more than 10 min on scalp as this increases fungal load), using an appropriate anti dandruff shampoo based on severity, hair conditioner and leave on hair serum after wash, avoiding frequent heat styling, trimming the edges can help maintain scalp and hair health adequately.
9. Sunscreen
The sun might not feel as strong during the colder months, however harmful UV rays can still damage your skin. Hence Sunscreen is mandatory and helps prevent premature ageing, pigmentation and skin cancer. A broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and above is preferable to protect from UVA and UVB rays.
Follow the above steps for better skin this winter.
