Spring Skin Health: Simple Tips for Glowing Skin
With winter coming to a close, your skin has probably taken a beating from the long months of cold, dry, harsh and windy weather. Moving into spring, the environmental changes about to ensue can wreak havoc on your skin. Not only will you need to nurse your winter skin back to health, you should also be preparing for the springtime climate changes on their way. There are a few things you can start doing today that will repair and prepare your skin for the spring season.
Hydrate
During the wintertime, our bodies soak up less moisture, so it’s important to increase your water consumption as we move into spring. Hydrating from the inside out will not only leave you feeling less parched, but will improve the look, feel and quality of your skin. To increase the amount of water you consume, try drinking at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day, eat fresh fruits and vegetables that contain a lot of water and watch out for the high-sodium foods.
Use Your SPF
Daily use of sunblock will help protect your skin year round. Though still very important in winter, as the sun begins to come out more often, it is crucial to use sunscreen during the spring season. Sunscreen will help protect your skin against harmful UV rays that not only cause permanent damage, but potentially dangerous skin cancers like melanoma. Try using an SPF containing tinted moisturizer on your face. Keep a spray sunscreen with you for easy, convenient body application. Aim for an SPF 30 or higher.
Exfoliate
During the winter months, your skin can become dry and flaky, making spring the perfect time to whip out that salt scrub. Exfoliating your skin once a week will shed dead skin and give your skin a beautiful glow in time for the warm weather. In addition to getting rid of excess dead skin, exfoliation will help clear pores of excess oil and dirt. Be sure to avoid over-exfoliation by only exfoliating once a week so as not to irritate skin. Try to stick to scrubs that don’t contain any harsh chemicals or ingredients that could put micro-tears in the skin.
Moisturize
Like we said before, locking moisture into your skin is crucial to its health. As we head into spring, the air will begin to contain more moisture, which will in turn benefit your skin. You will no longer need the heavy winter creams, but a light moisturizer is still recommended. Try swapping out your heavy foundation for a lighter tinted moisturizer like BB or CC creams that contain SPF coverage. In addition to using a moisturizer, you may want to invest in a good humidifier. A humidifier in the home will keep a constant flow of humidity to help prevent your skin from drying out.
Conscious Bathing
Be careful when bathing in hot water for excessive amounts of time. This can strip your skin of its natural oils. Try showering for no more than 10 minutes at a time, using water at a lower-degree temperature.
Evaluate your cleansers
Soaking your skin with hot water can be drying, and the cleansers you’re using can take its toll as well. Read the ingredient label on your skin care products. If your cleansers have drying chemicals like sodium lauryl sulfate, it may be time to explore other options. Try to stick to a gentle, all natural soap that won’t be too harsh. Also keep in mind that most skincare products should be discarded after about 12 months.
Listen to your skin
Your skin is one of the most important organs in the body and the first line of defense against disease. Make sure that you are keeping it healthy and stay on the lookout for any warning signs that there could be an issue. Redness, flakes and blisters can all be signs you should not ignore. If you or someone you know is experiencing signs of seasonal skin irritation, give the skin experts at Forefront Dermatology a call today at (855) 535-7175 to schedule an appointment.
