In winter, many people have such troubles:
After washing my face, I felt that my skin was dry and tight, and it felt a little rough to the touch
I always feel itchy skin, white marks and peeling on my calves and arms after scratching
Dry, flaky lips
……
In fact, the "pressure" of the skin in winter is really not small.
Why is it moisturized every day in winter, but it is still dry, itchy and flaky?
Dry, tight, itchy, flaky skin...... It does have a certain relationship with the winter climate.
1 Winters are cold and dry
During the winter months, the skin is exposed to two major effects: cold and dryness.
Indoor heating systems, in particular, can make the environment humid even lower. When the relative humidity decreases, the water retention capacity of the stratum corneum of the skin is significantly reduced.
Lower water content reduces the ductility of the stratum corneum, making the skin less elastic and more prone to chapping.
2 Skin metabolism slows down in winter
In winter, the body's metabolism slows down, and the secretion of sebaceous and sweat glands decreases.
Without the "protection" of oil and the "moisture" of sweat, the moisture in the skin is more likely to be lost, and if you do not do a good job of skin care, you are more likely to have problems such as dryness, itching, and scaling.
3 Lifestyle influences
In winter, people who like to take hot baths, don't usually like to wear lotions, and don't drink enough water are also more likely to have dry skin.
4 Disease factors
People who already have skin problems, such as eczema, may be exacerbated during the winter months.
Winter skincare avoids these 4 pitfalls
During this special time of winter, more attention should be paid to skin care. But many people have misunderstandings. For example-
1 Dry skin can drink plenty of water (×)
Drinking water can replenish the water needed by the body and help improve dry skin. However, if you only replenish water and do not pay attention to the use of creams and other things to keep the moisture on the skin, it will not improve.
In addition, dry skin can be caused by a variety of reasons, which can be completely resolved without hydration.
2 Nothing to apply after bathing (×)
Many people get used to not applying anything after bathing. In fact, applying a body lotion within 3 minutes after taking a shower can have a good skin care effect.
Body lotion helps to lock in moisture in the skin, reducing dryness, itching, and flaking.
3 Dry skin spray toner (×)
Many people like to use sprays and toners all the time, which can really make the skin feel more comfortable temporarily. However, if you don't use the cream in the future, you still can't retain the moisture in the skin.
4 Lack of attention to dry itching (×)
Some people find dry, itchy skin a minor problem. However, if dry and itchy skin cannot be improved by adjusting lifestyle, it should be taken seriously.
Because some dryness and itching can be caused by diseases, such as pruritus, it is usually caused by factors such as damaged skin barrier function, physical stimulation, mental stress, and the influence of drugs.
What is the right way to take care of your skin?
The skin's metabolic cycle is 28 days, with occasional damage to the skin barrier, which can be recovered in about a month.
If your skin is sensitive or severely damaged, here are a few ways to repair your skin barrier:
1 Cleaning:
It is recommended to cleanse the skin twice a day and wash your face with a cleanser in the evening, and in the morning with water for normal and dry skin, and with an amino acid-based cleanser for oily skin.
Also, be careful not to use scrubs too often.
2 Moisturizing:
Many people think that a tingling in the face when using skincare products is a sign of dehydration, so they use more skincare products to "hydrate".
In fact, the really effective moisturizing ingredient in skin care products is the moisturizer or occlusive agent found in some creams and lotions. For example, petroleum jelly, lanolin and other ingredients.
If the skin is dry, it is recommended to use cream or lotion to moisturize, as spray-type moisturizers will evaporate when sprayed on the face and will not have a good moisturizing effect.
Patients with atopic dermatitis can choose medical skin care products that contain ceramides, squalene, etc., to help repair the skin barrier.
Wearing a mask every day may cause mask dermatitis, and excessive hydration can loosen the structure of the stratum corneum and destroy the skin barrier.
Under normal circumstances, the mask can be used 2~3 times a week.
3 Sun Protection:
For sensitive skin, doctors recommend the use of physical sun protection: such as wearing an umbrella, wearing sun-protective clothing, wearing a sun hat, etc.
When choosing a sunscreen, sensitive skin can use a physical sunscreen, which contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, and relies on a protective film to reflect ultraviolet rays;
Oily skin can be protected from the sun by absorbing harmful UV rays with chemical sunscreens.
In fact, regular work and rest and a healthy diet are also important to repair the skin barrier.
People with acne skin should eat less sweets, dairy products, and fried foods.
3 questions and 3 answers for skin problems
1 Can I not use cosmetics or skin care products for acne?
When you have acne, it is recommended to use a moisturizer with a refreshing, oil-free formula to balance the skin with water and oil.
The T-zone (forehead and nose area) of the face has abundant pores and sweat glands, which are prone to oiliness, so you can apply the cream to your cheeks.
2 Can't I use cosmetics and skin care products for sugar control?
Anti-sugar helps the skin to resist aging, but blood sugar is also important for maintaining the normal function of the body, so you can control sugar properly, but you can't quit sugar.
The Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2016) recommends that the intake of added sugars should be controlled to no more than 50 grams per day, preferably less than 25 grams.
3 What kind of skin condition is healthy?
Healthy skin has several dimensions, radiant, delicate, elastic, uniform color, and complete function.
Don't over-pursue "zero pore muscle", there are sebaceous glands attached to the hair, infants and young children have "zero pores" because the sebaceous glands have not yet begun to develop, androgens begin to secrete after puberty, and the sebaceous glands secrete oil outward, so there will naturally be pores, so don't be overly anxious.
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