Experts give advice on how to protect your skin in winter

With the arrival of winter it is necessary to pay particular attention to the health of the skin. Many people tend to commit certain sins, such as taking long, hot showers and ditching sunscreen. These are just two of the most common examples. Additionally, low temperatures, wind and dry air can cause dryness, sensitivity and irritation. Some fundamental tips help keep your skin healthy and protected during the coldest season of the year.

When temperatures drop, staying hydrated is essential. Fabiana Oliveira Pereira, a dermatologist at Centro Médico Pastore in Rio de Janeiro, explains that skin tends to lose more moisture in the winter, so investing in powerful moisturizers is key. She recommends looking for body products that come in cream or balm form and contain a blend of humectant, emollient, and occlusive moisturizers, which help lock in moisture and maintain the skin’s protective barrier. The best time to apply is after a shower, while skin is still a little damp, and reapply as needed. For those with oily skin, she recommends avoiding regular moisturizers on the face, opting for oil-free moisturizers on oilier areas.

The dermatologist also warns of the importance of taking care of your lips and hands, because these are parts of the body that are particularly sensitive to dryness. Using lip balms with SPF and mixing in moisturizers such as panthenol, shea butter, vitamin E, oils, and waxes protects your lips. As for your hands, choose moisturizers that contain urea or ceramides.

The care routine must be maintained at this time and even intensified in some aspects. According to Franklin Veríssimo, specialist and specializing in Lasers, Cosmetics and Procedures at the Albert Einstein Hospital, even if the Brazilian winter is not as harsh as in other countries, it is interesting to take some precautions during this period and increase the use of some products, such as moisturizers, as this is a period in which the skin tends to dry out more.

Veríssimo teaches that the ideal is to never stop using sunscreen, even if in this period the incidence of sunlight is lower, because you may not see it, but the sun is present all year round. When bathing, avoid, as much as possible, high temperatures, prefer at least the warm one, shorter and with neutral soaps with respect to the skin. The hydration of the skin of the face and body also depends on a good intake of water, regardless of the time of year, drink water.

She adds that cold leads to a decrease in body sweating and, especially when combined with low humidity, can lead to excessive dryness of the skin, increased sensitivity and a decrease in the regeneration capacity and effectiveness of its barrier function. This can even make the skin more vulnerable to the action of external agents, such as pollution.

If you travel to places where temperatures are much lower, you need to be even more careful. According to dermatologist Ana Paula Fucci, a full member of the Brazilian Society of Dermatology (SBD), the Brazilian Society of Dermatological Surgery (SBCD), and the European Academy of Dermatology (EADV), if your destination is a place that is usually very cold, your body will already be better protected by clothing, but sunscreen is still important for your face.

For example, if it snows in the region where you are going on holiday, be very careful, because the reflection of the sun’s rays can reach 80%, causing skin burns and eye damage, such as cataracts. Therefore, in addition to sun protection, sunglasses are essential.