Brace yourself, winter is coming! It's that time of year again, when temperatures drop below zero while face-numbing winds mercilessly nip at your face. If your skin is sensitive, you should pay extra attention in order to prevent damage. People usually try to protect their skin by applying all sorts of creams but it's not enough.
A holistic approach to skincare can do wonders as it shows you how to nourish your skin from the inside out. Proper care will not only protect your skin during the winter but it can also help with some persistent skin conditions such as acne, keratosis or eczema.
Eat Your Way to Perfect Skin
Many skin conditions are either caused or triggered by certain types of food. One of the main bad guys is, as you can guess, processed sugar. Dairy products and gluten are also to blame for various inflammations which lead to acne and other skin conditions. Stay away from these ingredients and you'll notice a significant improvement. Since your immune system is under a lot of strain during cold months, your skin is the first in line to suffer.
Boosting your immune system with antioxidants will in turn make you resistant to flu, colds and other illnesses, as well as make your skin glowing and radiant. Drink a lot of lemon or cucumber-infused water and detox your body in a natural way. Healthy fats found in avocado, almonds, olive oil, coconut oil and salmon are known to be effective in reducing eczema flare-ups. Alcohol and caffeine should be avoided or completely reduced because they're considered diuretics.
Pamper Your Skin
The most important thing to do is moisturize on a regular basis. This makes your skin soft and prevents it from becoming dry or dull. A hot bath really sounds very tempting and cozy especially when it's cold outside, but unfortunately hot water aggravates eczema and psoriasis symptoms. Even though dry brushing doesn't exactly sound like a pleasant spa treatment, it has amazing effects. It thoroughly removes layers of dead skin (reducing cellulite is also among its benefits) so that your skin can be properly hydrated. This procedure is also beneficial for keratosis pilaris - those annoying little rough skin bumps that can be usually found on upper arms or thighs.
Persistent adult acne is a common and frustrating skin condition and severe breakouts usually occur in winter. Apart from regular moisturizing, cleansing and using fruit packs, it's advisable to use products specialised for adult acne and avoid certain types of makeup which can clog pores, as well as fragranced skin products. Your feet tend to become rough in winter, so don't forget to remove calluses regularly and apply thick moisturizer every night. Protect your hands by avoiding soap-based cleansers and make sure to use enough lotion.
Destress Your Mind
Everyday stress accumulates and if you don't take time to relax, your skin reacts. Numerous research studies have shown that there's a strong link between emotional factors and several chronic skin conditions including eczema, acne, psoriasis, rosacea etc. Some people tend to get depressed during winter because days are shorter and vacation is months away. Stress, anxiety and depression can trigger severe bouts of eczema or acne in winter, so it's important to find something that soothes your mind.
Meditation, yoga, physical exercises, reading or even listening to relaxing music might help you lift your spirits. Sometimes, when times are tough, resorting to psychotherapy might be a good idea. Certain bad habits that cause skin problems, such as smoking, drinking or indulging in fast food are just the mind's way of coping with stress and anxiety. Therapy can show you the way to resolve those issues and eliminate behavioral patterns that are equally bad for your mind and skin.
If you want your skin to look good during winter months, make sure you stick to a healthy diet, proper skin treatments and a stress-free lifestyle. Maybe it's easier said than done, but health and beauty do require some effort.
Author BIO: Sophia Smith is Australian based fashion, beauty and lifestyle blogger. She is very passionate about yoga, organic skincare and healthy food choices. Sophia writes mostly in beauty related topics, mainly through blogs and articles. She is regular contributor at High Style Life.