Fall Winter Skin Care: How Prevent Skin Peeling Cracking?
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With arrival of year's cold months many face unpleasant skin condition changes – becomes drier starts peel even crack. These problems caused by sharp temperature fluctuations cold wind dry indoor air. How effectively care for skin maintain its comfort fall winter period – with professional recommendations shares Health and Beauty Center Adoria dermatologist Guna Grūbe.
In this Article You'll Learn:
- Main causes: how temperature changes low air humidity weaken skin's natural protective barrier;
- Correct care: how correctly adapt your daily care routine effectively protect moisturize skin in winter months;
- Professional help: what cases daily skin care insufficient how dermatologist can help solve chronic skin problems.
Why in Cold Months Skin Becomes Dry Sensitive?
Skin human's largest organ performing vitally important protective function. Its upper layer – epidermis – covered by hydrolipid layer consisting of water fats (lipids). This barrier protects body from external environment impact simultaneously prevents excessive moisture loss. But in cold season skin's natural protective barrier function weakened caused by various unfavorable external environment factors including:
- low air humidity: both outdoors indoors air in cold season drier result skin faster loses its natural moisture level;
- cold wind: cold gusty wind not only accelerates moisture loss but also directly damages skin's protective barrier potentially causing microcracks formation redness increased sensitivity;
- sharp temperature fluctuations: sharp temperature contrast between cold outdoor air warm indoors creates stress on skin's upper blood vessels. Disturbs microcirculation skin's natural adaptation mechanisms complicating ability maintain stable moisture balance.
Result skin's hydrolipid layer damaged appears unpleasant tightness sensation skin can start peel in severe cases – even crack causing discomfort pain. Crucial understand such weakened skin barrier no longer able fully perform its main protective function. Becomes much more susceptible to external irritants allergens bacteria potentially triggering inflammation processes exacerbating existing skin diseases e.g., atopic dermatitis psoriasis.
Daily Skin Care Basic Principles in Cold Season
As seasonal climatic changes directly affect skin condition needs logically also daily skin care routine need adapt effectively compensate cold season-caused impact help skin restore its protective barrier.
During this period main principle proactive approach – goal timely prevent skin damage maintain comfort not just fight already visible consequences e.g., dryness peeling. Means conscious transition to products with more nourishing composition able both soothe skin strengthen its lipid layer.
Gentle Skin Cleansing
Correct skin cleansing first one of most important steps towards healthy skin cold season need pay special attention. Preference given to cleansing products with gentle composition not containing alcohol alkaline soaps as these components destroy skin's natural hydrolipid layer promote dehydration. Instead recommended choose cleansing milks cream emulsions oil-based products not only gently cleanse dirt but also help preserve skin's microbiome balance.
Important also washing technique itself. Hot water similar to aggressive ingredients intensifies skin dryness thus preference given to lukewarm water. After washing skin not need rub with towel as can promote irritation. Instead skin recommended gently pat dry with light gentle motions.
Moisturizing for Skin Protective Barrier Strengthening
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Immediately after skin cleansing while still slightly damp important apply moisturizing product. Thus product able attract water on skin surface deliver it to deeper skin layers providing much more effective longer-lasting moisturizing. In cold season light lotions fluids recommended replace with thicker consistency more nourishing creams.
To effectively restore skin's protective barrier ensure deep moisturizing worth look for proven effective ingredients in product composition e.g.:
- ceramides: these lipids (fats) one of skin's upper layer main natural components. Can compare to "cement" holding together skin cells – "bricks". But cold other unfavorable conditions cause ceramide deficiency in skin therefore adding to skin care products helps restore strengthen skin's protective barrier;
- hyaluronic acid: hyaluronic acid molecule able attract water up to 1000 times exceeding its own weight thus providing intensive deep skin moisturizing. Result skin becomes visibly firmer denser fine dryness-caused wrinkles smoothed looks fresher radiant;
- glycerin: one of oldest most proven skin moisturizers. Works by attracting moisture both from environment deeper skin layers delivering to skin's upper layer – epidermis. Glycerin effectively helps maintain skin's moisture level improve its natural protective abilities;
- shea butter other natural oils: such products as shea butter cocoa butter avocado oil excellent emollients (softeners) occlusive agents. Rich in valuable fatty acids vitamins nourish soothe skin. At same time form on skin surface thin protective film mechanically blocking moisture evaporation providing long-lasting comfort sensation protection against external environment irritants.
What Do if Skin Already Cracked Peeling?
If skin already become pronouncedly dry peels small cracks appeared needed even more intensive care. Such cases can help products with healing regenerative properties e.g., creams with panthenol allantoin zinc oxide.
To free skin surface from dead cell layer hindering valuable substances absorption also in cold season once a week can perform gentle peeling. For gentle exfoliation most suitable choice products with natural fruit enzymes lactic acid (AHA). However need be very careful avoid over-irritating already sensitive skin.
Dermatologist's Role in Solving Chronic Skin Problems
Long-term skin dryness not passing by changing care products can indicate chronic skin diseases e.g., atopic dermatitis psoriasis. Such cases self-treatment can be ineffective even harmful.
- Possibly also you familiar with situation hard understand – whether skin condition just seasonal dryness consequence or strong itch redness already signal for eczema? About how recognize main differences when right time turn to specialist learn our blog article: "Dry Skin or Eczema? How Distinguish Symptoms When Go Doctor?".
Precise Diagnostics First Step
To distinguish usual seasonal dryness from more serious diseases specialist performs thorough skin examination. For more precise diagnostics can be performed dermatoscopy – non-invasive optical examination method allowing analyze skin structures multiple magnification.
This method provides detailed information about epidermis dermis upper layers helping distinguish e.g., usual skin dryness from chronic diseases assess pigmented formation nature. To rule out other causes e.g., vitamin deficiency allergic reactions also causing skin dryness can be ordered specific tests.
- Though dermatoscopy valuable tool for chronic inflammatory diseases diagnostics most widely used exactly for suspicious skin formations moles in-depth check. Learn what skin formations pay special attention why regular checkups important read article: "Moles Skin Formations: When Need Check by Dermatologist?".
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Individual Treatment Plan Development
Based on precise diagnosis dermatologist can further develop individual treatment plan often combining several therapy methods.
- Prescription medications: depending on diagnosis symptom severity degree dermatologist can prescribe topical products – therapeutic ointments creams. Composition can include e.g., corticosteroids for quick inflammation reduction calcineurin inhibitors modern non-steroid alternative vitamin D analogues often used in psoriasis therapy. If local treatment not sufficiently effective severe cases prescribed systemic therapy including medication use in tablet injection form.
- Therapeutic cosmetics: treatment plan important role also correctly selected dermocosmetics. Pharmacy-available skin care products with therapeutic effect composition active substances for specific goals achievement. For skin barrier restoration contain ceramides lipids for deep moisturizing – hyaluronic acid urea also other soothing ingredients.
- Lifestyle corrections: chronic skin diseases therapy important role holistic approach including lifestyle corrections. Dermatologist can help patient understand how daily habits affect skin health providing targeted recommendations. Cover everything from diet adjustment avoid disease-provoking products ending with stress management techniques reducing inflammation-promoting hormone impact. Also discussed appropriate clothing choice preferring natural materials correct washing habits.
- Professional therapeutic procedures: medication therapy daily care can effectively supplemented with professional procedures. Severe dermatoses e.g., psoriasis atopic dermatitis case one of basic methods phototherapy light treatment. In addition to improve skin moisture level soothe it specialist can recommend perform also other procedures e.g., intensive moisturizing course barrier restorative therapy.
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Special Attention to Children's Skin
Children's skin particularly delicate sensitive to external environment irritants therefore in cold weather exposed to greater dehydration risk. If child appears pronounced skin dryness redness itch potentially indicating atopic dermatitis development important timely turn to specialist. Children's dermatologist able determine precise diagnosis recommend safe exactly child's delicate skin suitable care therapeutic products.
Dermatologist Consultation in Riga Health and Beauty Center Adoria
If at home conditions unable improve skin condition book visit at Health and Beauty Center Adoria dermatologists receive professional help. Our specialists perform full diagnostics develop effective therapy plan allowing regain skin comfort healthy appearance regardless of weather conditions.