'Tis the Season of Dry Skin: Tips to Keep You Flake Free
We all know the feeling - dry, rough skin that won't stop itching. Boy, the winter months can be harsh on your skin. But it takes more then just a coat, a hat and some gloves to protect your skin from the cold. It takes a few simple steps to alleviate the dryness.
Here are five tips to help keep your skin healthy during the cold season.
* Use a humidifier. Humid- ifying your house has two benefits. First, it makes the air feel warmer. And second, it adds moisture into the air - and your skin.
* Avoid long, hot showers. As nice as they may feel, they strip skin of its natural moisturizing lipids, leaving you feeling even more dry. Instead, take short, warm showers and pat your skin dry with a towel.
* Apply a moisturizer. You should lubricate your skin at least twice a day. After taking a shower, apply moisturizer immediately after patting yourself dry. This will trap moisture in your skin before it escapes.
* Drink water. The drier your skin gets, the more water it needs. Drink a minimum of eight to 10 8-ounce glasses of water a day and reduce caffeine consumption.
* Use sun protection. One of the most common mistakes people make in the winter is not wearing sunscreen. Although the effects of the sun are less intense in the winter, your skin is still exposed to harmful ultraviolet light. You can even get sunburned. Use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor of 15 or higher.
To further protect you from the sun in the winter or any time of year, there's an antioxidant that may reduce damage to the skin cells caused by UV rays and inflammation from sunburns.
Made from French maritime pine bark, scientists have found that Pycnogenol helps protect skin from photo-aging and extends the skin's resistance to sunburn. Studies show that when taking this antioxidant, it takes about twice as much UV-irradiation before skin reddens. Though Pycnogenol does not act as a sunscreen, it helps the skin cope with damage caused by exposure to UV light.
Pycnogenol also acts as a collagen stabilizer, helping to maintain the skin's elasticity. It improves microcirculation of tiny skin capillaries, supporting better oxygen and nutrient supply to the skin and, ultimately, better hydration.
From shoveling your walkway to trying not to slip on ice, there are a lot of things to worry about when the weather gets cold. Don't let dry, damaged skin be another worry.
Author: Richard Lewis
Author Bio:
Learn more about Pycnogenol at www.pycnogenol.com. - NU
