Those who reside in four season countries are more prone to skin damage than those living in the tropics. This is because people of two seasonal climates only need to adjust to two kinds of weather patterns, the summer and the rainy season. This is not the case with those who had to experience summer, winter, spring and fall. Since their skin is exposed to more weather changes, and abrupt changes too seeing as how climate change has altered the standard passing of seasons nowadays, a more intensive skin regimen would be required of them. Hydration is the key for these individuals, as well as sun protection, so that translates to moisturizer and sunblock. During the winter season, people are still advised to wear both because the dry cold could actually burn our skin. For these instances, it is advised that one wears a sunblock mixed with a moisturizer to survive the cold dry months. Without this, skin will peel off from the dry cold and you will also develop mild ice burns.

Your skin is not the only part of your body susceptible to dryness during the winter weather.  Lips don’t have oil glands, and that means they dry out even easier than skin does.  Give your lips the care they need this winter with these tips from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Do not lick your lips.  They will chap even more easily due to the cycle of wetting and drying.  Instead, moisturize them with petrolium jelly or lip balm.

Cover up, especially when you’re headed outside.  You can protect your lips by wrapping a thick scarf around the lower part of your face.

Boost moisture in your house or apartment by using a humidifier.

Use lip balm with sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher.  Exposure to UV rays make chapped lips even worse, and the blinding white snow does a very good job of reflecting rays on people.

If the problem continues to persist, consult your dermatologist.

Some people prefer traveling to tropical areas or going to the beach during winter time. The sultry winds keep the skin lithe and moist, hence, a healthy skin. But heading down south or hitting the beach isn’t the only option to care for the skin; it may be as simple as going to the nearest spa.

England’s The Sequoia Spa will rehydrate your face by a massage that will replenish with face oil. This face oil includes aromatic sandalwood and patchouli essences. This rejuvenates exhausted and environmentally stressed skin. All of these for only about $160.

Body treatment in Belladona’s in New Orelans, is at the same time, fruity and soothing. Tropical fruits enzymes from pineapples and papayas are natural exfoliators. For only $135 for 110 minutes, this body treatment includes a cream-based papaya and pineapple enzyme mask, plus a coconut-papaya salt scrub. Yummy and relaxing at the same time!

The most neglected, yet an important part of the body that also needs attention: the feet. Winter season requires the feet to wear boots, thus, trapping the footsies.

Belladonna’s Thai Lime Pedicure boosts hydration and exfoliation for the feet. This pedicure contributes in the circulation of the blood. This treatment includes a deep Thai massage to the legs and feet and also, a stimulation of acupressure points with a special wooden tool. This relaxing treatment for the most ignored part of your body for only $80.

This is the best time to do your moisturizing regimen especially during winter, right after your bath. With respect to the bath, you could settle for warm ones rather than hot baths for too hot and you risk draining the oils on your skin that can land you with bone dry skin. Warm water works best, soothing and taking away the cold weather’s effects ever so slightly. Better have those moisturizers ready once you step out for like a wet towel, it soaks moisture better when wet rather than when bone dry that can lead to more dryness. Skin is truly a sensitive yet tough skin that protects the rest of the body from the world yet once irritated does suffer greatly and sometimes even over reacting to the simplest problems such as loss of moisture or too cold the weather.

As it turns out, people who turn to tanning through artificial or through fun in the sun share similar results, possible damage to the skin and during the winter months this seems to be one of the hottest trends. There are certain areas on the globe where tanning through UV lamps is vital for survival, but for the rest of us who live in areas of the globe that do get ample sun along with the rest of the weather spectrum, too much sun or UV is most surely bad for your health. UV rays have been found to have gene mutating abilities, so bad that it results in cancerous growth that can manifest itself many years after the over exposure occurred. Experts agree that ample amounts of moisturizers and sunblock that are of respectable SPF levels are always vital, more so with today’s harsh weather that changes from chilly to sunny in a matter of hours.

Extreme cold even though we feel like it’s normal for us since we live in quite frigid areas is bad for your skin and the skin being rich in moisture, it can freeze and crack leading to the condition known as frostbite. Frostbite has the skin and in too extreme situations, even the underlying muscles freezing, effectively killing them resulting in a very painful medical condition. Keep skin covered and if possible, stay indoors and avoid exposure in the first place. Anybody who has had frostbite knows the pain it can cause and the loss of skin that can result. The blackened skin is in fact dead and will have to be taken out to allow healthy skin to grow back if possible. If damage goes in too deep that the re-generative tissue is damaged itself, all damaged tissue is removed to prevent gangrene or tissue rot wherein dead tissue decays releasing toxins into the body as it does. Read more

The condition is quite common due to the changing seasons and life would be better if it is dealt with well before the cold takes hold. Moisture, or the lack of it is the culprit and skin health is determined by a balance between moisture, elasticity and acidity, all of which is needed for healthy skin not only during the cold winter months but all year round so we maintain healthy skin all the time. Hot water, though it feels soothing tends to leach out natural oils the skin produces to lubricate itself, coupled with harsh soaps we use and love, they can indeed disrupt the natural balance of skin leading to itch. Read more

The older you are the less your ability to detect changes in temperature which may put you in a very dangerous situation with today’s extreme warm or cold weather. As we get older the skin tends to degrade and lose elasticity with the sensory cells either getting less sensitive to the temperature or dying off all together. Our skin is under a continuous regenerative state that at a certain age slows making it quite stiff and prone to breakage. Having people to watch and monitor elderly people is vital for the health of such elderly folks like the case of the war veteran who dies right after the electrical company installed a current limiter at the outside meter tripped leaving him to die a slow and painful cold death that caused much uproar. Read more

Keeping warm is not only for survival but it is also for the sake of your skin. Cool weather brings cool air that tends to dry skin faster thus lose moisture at an amazing rate. Too wet and the cold weather also wreaks havoc, cooling it more, so choose breathable clothing that keeps you warm yet lets sweat escape. When you do get to bathing, everybody is tempted to jump into a hot bath to warm the soul. It’ll warm your soul alright, but it’ll dry your skin too. try some warm water then adding hot water slowly.
Remember, too hot and your skin dries out, losing it’s natural oils and thus leaving you dry as bone. Moisturize but not too much for it can irritate dry skin if applied too much. Wearing warm clothing helps you stay comfortable, it also prevents your skin from drying out. Use heavy moisturizing creams on those spots that rub against your clothes so you don’t get chaffed.

Everybody loves a warm bath, especially during cold days which has a very warming effect on the body and the soul. Your skin being the largest organ on your body is a good reflection of beauty and a healthy glow assures good health so what better way of caring for it that with a warm bath. Remember to use warm and not hot, for too hot the water causes the natural oils to get washed down the drain along with the dead skin. Use milder soap with moisturizers during cold weather which aids in keeping skin soft. A gentler brand of soap for winter is better than the regular ones you use for the rest of the year for cold weather can wreak havoc on skin drying it and leaving it rough and scaly.