When winter hits, our bodies change. Our lips get chapped, our skin dries out and our moods may vary – just like the weather! We usually don’t get as much exercise as we did in the warmer weather, and the contrast between the extreme cold outdoors and the constant dry air indoors can mean bad news for our skin, respiratory and circulatory systems.
Dr. Tom Soble offered some suggestions for practices that can help us feel healthier in the winter, physically and mentally, check them out!
- For chapped lips, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and use a humidifier at home – or in your dorm room – if possible. Applying a lip balm with sunscreen, beeswax or petroleum jelly to your lips every time you go outside can help your lips stay smmoth. Try to avoid licking your lips, though, because this can crack your skin.
- *For dried skin and hands, it’s important to replace essential oils that treat and preserve the skin. Wear gloves when you go outdoors, and try to keep hands as dry as possible. Applying glycerin-based moisturizer when you wake up is a good routine, and whenever your hands feel dry throughout the day, this same practice can be really useful!
*Note Also, avoid soaps that further dry out your skin. Replace them fragrance-free soaps, whether bar or liquid, for cleansing and moisturizing.
- Exfoliate. To get the most out of your moisturizer, exfoliate. Clearing away dead skin cells lets a moisturizer better penetrate dry skin. Exfoliate gently with a moisturizer that contains lactic acid or salicylic acid, and if your skin is really dry or irritated, ask your doctor before starting a new skin care product or regimen. Don’t forget feet and heels, too, which tend to get dry and chapped in the winter.
- *Adjust showers. Long, hot showers can actually draw water from our skin. It’s sad news, but lukewarm water is a better choice. If possible, shampoo every other day instead of daily. Shampoos and excess shampooing can strip hair of moisture. You should also apply extra conditioner to keep your hair hydrated, shiny and soft.
*Warning Don’t over-style with the blow dryer or flat iron – it can dry out skin and cause irritation. When the weather gets bad, protect your hair from the elements by wearing a hat.
- Wear sunscreen when outdoors. Snow reflects sunlight. In fact, it bounces 80 percent of the sun’s rays back to us. Even if you’re not exercising or recreating outdoors, you still need the protection of a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more. Apply daily, and reapply at least every two hours if you’re outside.
- *Dress for the weather. It sounds like obvious advice, but look around you when you’re outdoors, and you might notice many people dressed improperly for the cold. Frostnip – a mild form of frostbite – tends to affect the earlobes, cheeks, nose, fingers, and toes. Signs of frostnip include pale skin, numbness, or tingling in the affected area. Avoid frostnip by dressing warmly – including hat, ear muffs, and gloves. The best treatment is to re-warm the affected areas; although frostnip is uncomfortable, it doesn’t cause any damage to skin.
*Pay attention Frostbite, however, is far more serious and can cause lasting damage. Deeper tissues freeze, causing skin to become hard, pale, and cold. It may ache but lack sensitivity to touch. As the area thaws, it becomes red and painful. Hands, feet, nose and ears are most vulnerable, but any body part can be affected. Treat frostbite by getting to a warm place, wrapping affected areas in sterile dressings (separate fingers and toes) and going to an emergency department immediately. Don’t rewarm affected areas if there’s a chance they could freeze again.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated! Also, be aware of liquids like coffee and alcohol that do not hydrate. These liquids can cause you to lose more fluid from your body or, in the case of alcohol, lower your body temperature. Dehydration also weakens our immune system, making our bodies less effective in fighting off colds, flu and other infections.
- Get plenty of rest. When we sleep, our body recovers, refreshes and recharges. Sleep is crucial for our body to replenish and boost our immune system to fight off infections and keep us healthy. When we are run down, sleep deprived, and/or stressed, our immune defenses are down and our body is more susceptible to illness.
- Eat properly and healthfully. Eating a balanced diet is a key to staying healthy. Getting essential nutrients by eating fruits and vegetables and limiting unhealthy fats will keep our immune systems strong and healthy. Avoid sugary treats, and try winter vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, and turnips. Add essential fatty acid boost with omega-3-rich foods like flax, walnuts, and safflower oil, as well as cold-water fish such as tuna, herring, halibut, salmon, sardines, and mackerel.
- Continue exercising. No matter the weather, walking, at the very least, is important to cardiac and respiratory health and to help us maintain a healthier weight. Walk indoors, go to a gym, mall or fitness center, or dress properly for the weather and walk, hike, cross-country or downhill ski, ice skate . . . it doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you remain active!