First aid for dry autumn/winter skin

Do you recognize it too? In autumn and winter your skin feels (much) drier than in the rest of the year. Read how this is done in this blog. And what you can do to prevent or improve drier skin.

Why is your skin drier in autumn & winter?

In winter, the humidity is lower both inside and outside. As a result, your skin dries out faster - the oily protective layer of your skin shrinks, causing you to lose moisture faster. First of all those of your face and your hands. Because these are not covered by clothing. Cold temperatures and wind also lend a helping hand; at lower temperatures, your sebaceous glands are less productive.

As you get older, your skin will also become drier. This is due to changes in your hormone balance. During the menopause, estrogen decreases in women, so that you produce less protective skin fats, which results in drier skin. In combination with drying autumn-winter factors, the recipe for dry, tight skin.

Protect your skin from within

To improve your skin's protective layer or prevent it from deteriorating, it is essential that you (also) nourish your skin from the inside. Not only in autumn and winter, but all year round. This way your skin gets the right building materials to protect itself. The better your protective layer, the less moisture you lose. How can you do this?

• Eat enough healthy (including omega 3 rich) fats. These help to improve the protective layer of your skin. For example, add a dash of extra virgin olive oil to your vegetables. Spread coconut oil on your bread. Regularly eat oily fish such as mackerel, herring or sardines. Walnuts are also a good source of omega 3. Avocado and almonds are also full of good fats.
• The first advice we give for dry skin is to use a fish oil supplement aimed at skin improvement. For example SkinBalance from LaVieSage. This has been specially developed for improving your skin; nourishes and improves the barrier function of your skin. Your skin becomes softer and smoother. For very dry flaky skin, the combination SkinHydrate + Epidermoil from LaVieSage offers a solution.
• Make sure you get enough vitamin B. This helps your skin retain moisture.
• Eat enough proteins, they help your skin retain moisture.
• Cut back on coffee, alcohol, theine rich tea - these dry out your skin.
• Everyone has stress - try to deal with it properly - stress destroys good intestinal bacteria - which can make your skin drier. Yoga, mindfulness, Chi Neng, meditation, forest walk ...
• Do you breathe deeply in and out through your belly? If not, give it a try - it also helps with dry skin! This promotes good blood flow and therefore oxygen, moisture and minerals supply to your cells.

Hydrate your skin from within

Drink plenty of water! 1.5-2 liters per day. Preferably at least room temperature. And preferably via 'bulk drinking', 2-3 glasses in a row, 2-3 times a day. Why? Because after you drink something, your immune system goes on alert for a little while - launching a small inflammatory response. So that any contamination is undone. If you drink small amounts all day long, you cause small inflammations all day long. Which is exhausting for your immune system. Do you find plain water boring? Put hot water with a piece of ginger in a thermos. Add a natural flavor to your water. Or alternate water with herbal tea.

Protect your skin from the outside

• Choose a moisturizing care product with sufficient (vegetable) fats.
• Only a cream is often not enough in autumn/winter. Apply a hydrated product in the morning and evening. Such as the Hydrating Toner from Abloom, Liposome Ceramid from Dr Baumann (1), Hydrolate Toner from The Green Goddess or Shankara's Daily Repair Serum . At least during the day, over that your cream.
• For tight/dry skin, apply a moisturizing mask in a thin layer under your day cream as a cure. For example, Dr Baumann's Liposome Mask , the (great smelling honey/avocado) moisturizing mask from Shankara or Dr Hauschka's moisturizing mask . A 28-day ampoule cure from Dr. Hauschka also helps.
• Aloe Vera softens and cares for the skin; for example, Abloom products do not contain water, but a base of organic aloe vera gel.
• Use your night cream as a day cream if necessary. A night cream often contains more fats.
• Lubricate your dry hands generously at night with a greasy cream or (coconut) oil. Put on a pair of cotton pantyhose gloves and let the cream/oil soak in.
• Protect your hands when you go into inclement or cold winter weather. With a cream and/or gloves. In very inclement weather you can also rub your facial skin extra. Note: when it freezes, use a greasy cream. A cream with a lot of water can freeze on your skin. Preferably no creams with petrochemical ingredients such as petrolatum or parrafinum liquidum. They hinder the natural functioning of your skin, which will only make it drier in the long run.

Choose a healthy lifestyle

• Stop smoking. Relax, move and get enough sleep. Movement keeps the blood circulation of your skin going.
• Limit a (too) hot shower or bath + skin-damaging products
• t Sounds strange but is true; hot water dries out your skin. So don't shower too long. And not too hot. Max 37 degrees is better for your skin.
• Only use body wash products that do not affect the natural acidity / protective layer of your skin. Many body wash products contain foaming agents that affect and dry out your skin.
• Use a bath oil instead of bubble bath.
• After a bath or shower, lubricate your skin with a nourishing oil or milk.
• Avoid products with harmful products such as perfumes, synthetic preservatives, many foaming agents, 'hard alcohol'. (ethanol, ethyl alcohol e.g.). These damage your skin barrier. 'Soft alcohol' has a soothing, moisturizing effect.

Tips for at home

• Ensure good humidity (45-50%). Using a special device. Or, for example, by placing a container with water in every room. Special containers are available for the heating to put water in. Clean these regularly. The heat in the container is ideal for bacteria.
• Plants in your home also increase the humidity and purify the air.

A whole list of tips. Most importantly: nourish your skin from the inside and out with the right ingredients; water. healthy fats, proteins. And avoid skin-damaging products. Good luck with it! If you have questions, let them know !

(1) We can only show and sell Dr Baumann products behind a password screen. Chat, call (062612815) or email (huidspecialist@indisha.nl) if you want advice.