As we anticipate colder temperatures, don’t forget to renew, refresh, and wrap up your body’s first line of defense – your skin.
The cold air and low humidity during this season can be brutal on our skin. Harsh winter weather combined with artificial indoor heat can dehydrate your skin and lead to dryness, cracking, and sometimes bleeding, putting you at risk of injury and infections.
As part of your hygiene and self-care routine during the winter, examine your skin from head to toe for changes. As your body’s largest organ, skin can be a reliable indicator of underlying health problems.
Healthy skin is one of the many keys to a healthy body and vice versa. So, why wait for the springtime to get healthy skin? You can start nourishing timeless skin from within by incorporating these foods into your diet!
Enhance your skincare regimen and winter diet with foods that improve blood flow and healing, protect against UV rays and toxins, and are full of antioxidants such as:
- Citrus
- Carrots
- Sweet potatoes
- Egg whites
- Tomatoes
Keep your skin moisturized from the inside out with these hydrating ingredients you can add to everyday drinks, meals, and snacks such as:
- Water (8-10 glasses per day)
- Herbal tea
- Nutrient-dense soup
- Low-sugar fruits with high water content like berries, watermelons, kiwis, grapefruits, and cucumbers
Enhance your skin’s texture and elasticity this winter to minimize flaking, breakouts, irritation, and inflammation. Healthy hydrated skin heals quickly, is consistent in texture, and shows few signs of dryness and discoloration. To help seal and retain moisture in your skin, eat “good” fats such as:
- Nuts and seeds such as flaxseed, chia seed, walnuts, sunflower seeds
- Wild salmon, sardines, and mackerel
- Avocados
- Olives/Olive Oil
Other proven ways to protect your skin against harsh winter weather are:
- Using a humidifier indoors to reduce dryness in heated air.
- Avoiding wearing rough fabrics like wool directly on the skin. First, layer up with something softer.
- Moisturizing your hands throughout the day, especially after washing and applying hand sanitizer.
- Applying sunscreen to your exposed skin daily to protect against ultraviolet, even in the winter months.
- Helping your skin stay hydrated with fewer, shorter, and cooler showers. Long hot showers can cause the skin to dry out over time.
- Patting your skin dry after washing and always moisturizing.
- Keeping your stress levels in check. Stress can cause excess production of oil that can aggravate skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, etc. and cause acne, hives and more.
