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Post Date: Monday, November 4, 2019 |
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We hate to break it to you, but
with summer fading fast and the nights drawing in, it's almost time to pack
away the sandals, brush off the knitwear and start cranking up the central
heating.
The change in season doesn't just
call for a different wardrobe and toastier home. Everything from cooler, less
humid weather and overly hot baths to hanging out too long in dry, stuffy
indoor environments can deprive your complexion of moisture and wreak havoc on
your skin.
Cooler low-humidity weather
Humidity levels tend to drop off
in the autumn and winter months. The drier the air, the more moisture it sucks
from your skin, so you're more likely to experience dryness and flakiness
during the colder months of the year, especially if you're prone to eczema or
other dry skin conditions.
Ideally, you want to amp up your
skincare routine as the season changes and swap your summer products for
richer, more nourishing autumn/winter alternatives. "Just as you change
your clothes with changing temperatures you should do the same with your
skincare," says top dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe of London's Cranley Clinic.
"You need to switch up your lightweight summer moisturizer to a more heavy
duty face cream."
Harsh central heating
You can mitigate the drying
effects by investing in a humidifier to keep the air moist in your home or a
portable device that you can also bring to work and pop near your desk. If you
can't stretch to a pricey humidifier, placing a few bowls of water near your radiators
should do the trick, too. And don't forget to drink lots of water and slap on
your rich moisturizer (Elemis) as often as necessary, along with replenishing
lip balm( Coola) and extra-thick hand
cream.
Sudden temperature changes
Keep the risk of spider veins and
inflammation to a minimum by wrapping up warm in the cold and not overdoing it
on the central heating to reduce the temperature difference between indoors and
outside. A light layer of barrier cream will help protect the skin, and
products with anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant ingredients such as chamomile
and green tea should help control any redness.
Hot baths and showers
When temperatures plummet, a hot bath or shower
is super-enticing, especially if you've spent the day outdoors in the freezing
cold, after all, there's nothing more relaxing than a long soak in the bubbles
or a nice soothing shower
Sorry to rain on your parade but
try to resist the temptation for the sake of your complexion if you can.
"Hot baths and showers can dissolve the protective barrier in the skin
which will eventually lead to dryness," Dr Lowe explains. "Have warm
baths and showers to reduce this damage."
Cold weather comfort eating
For many people with oily,
acne-prone skin, the drier weather can actually help with breakouts and reduce
flare-ups. But autumn/winter comfort eating might have the opposite effect.
Studies suggest that diets high in refined carbs may trigger or exacerbate
acne. Foods with a high glycaemic index (GI) spike sugar which is thought to increase
the levels of hormones in the body that are responsible for oil production.
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