Dry skin and Winter
The skin becomes dry when it loses its moisture content due to lack of the protective oils. And this problem intensifies during the winter, when environmental humidity is low. The cold air pulls moisture away from skin, tightening your skin cells and weakening your protective barrier.
Other common causes of dry skin include:
- overuse of soap and hot water
- exposure to harsh chemicals
- autoimmune skin diseases such as Psoriasis
- aging
How to Restore Dry Winter Skin?
Use warm water for bathing
Hot water rather than helping you feeling better in chilled weather, it actually worsens the dry skin problem by stripping off the protective oils from the skin. Thus, it is better to use warm water and short bathing time in winter.
Use of mild soap and moisturiser
Use of harsh soaps is no way preferable if you have psoriasis or severe dry skin. Rather switch to less aggressive, moisture-rich soaps made for sensitive skin. And apply suitable moisturiser.
Keep yourself hydrated
Drink more water to replace the moisture that the dry air steals away.
Oils are essential
Oils like Almond oil, wheat germ oil, avocado oil etc. help you fight the aging process, wrinkles formation and dry skin.
Rely on herbs rather than chemicals
Herbs such as
- Indigofera tinctoria exfoliates dry skin and contains rich source of flavonoids that are known to protect the skin.
- Wrightia tinctoria contains flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and phenolic compounds known to augment healing properties of skin.
- Cynadon dactylon is known to delay skin ageing.
- Aloe vera contains potent antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties. Treats dry skin and associated itching.
