Face up to the facts: 'Tis the season to save your skin
All summer, you've basked in the sun, bathed in chlorine pools and splashed in sea water. You've oiled, creamed and tanned and, aside from making sure your SPF is on point, you've probably let your skincare regime float away with your holiday lilo.
And who'd blame you? There are more important things to worry about in the sunshine season – such as drinking sangria.
Most skin diseases aren't life-threatening, but they can be life-altering which can have an impact on confidence. Even a tiny spot on your face can affect how you feel, whirling you into a sudden crash of self esteem so imagine what it's like coping with a real skin disease?
Eczema: Atopic eczema is an extremely common skin condition which causes red, dry, itchy skin, which can sometimes develop weeping, blisters, scaling and thickening. It's not contagious and can run in families. Often treated through topical emollients (moisturisers) and sometimes steroids.
Psoriasis: Affecting around two per cent of the population, psoriasis occurs when skin cells are formed and shed rapidly, in three or four days instead of the normal three to four weeks, causing inflammation. Psoriasis lesions are pink or red, and covered with silvery-white scales. They can itch, split and become painful. It's not infectious and tends to flare-up unpredictably. Topical or oral medications, and sometimes ultraviolet light treatment, can help.
Vitiligo: This is an incurable skin disorder resulting from the destruction of melanin-producing cells, leading to visible white/pale patches. Although the cause is unknown, there's evidence that stress may play a role.
Acne: Acne is a very common skin condition, characterised by blackheads, whiteheads and puss-filled spots. It usually starts at puberty but can continue into adulthood, and varies in severity. Topical or oral treatments can be effective.
But now the nippier nights are drawing in and, we don't know about you, but our skin is really feeling it.
Our lips are starting to chap, the heating in the office is drying out our foreheads and our face is sucking up moisturiser just as fast as we were supping cocktails on the beach just a matter of weeks ago. We need to alter our skincare system, but where should we begin? Short of splashing our cash on a dozen different balms, creams, lotions and potions, what can we do to protect our skin this season?
We consulted a specialist.
Seena Seka is a skincare expert at Lincocare, the company behind the Re-Gen skincare range, and the people that make Calypso sun cream. He explains: "Winter can be brutal on the skin, with it being exposed to not only the harsh cold weather conditions but also to heavily heated environments. The combination of these extreme temperature differences can cause undesirable side effects to the skin, including reddening, dryness and greying.
"It is essential to follow a winter skin care regime to ensure your skin remains looking healthy glowing and youthful."
Seena has shared with us three top tips to get your skin ready for the winter, advising that one of the crucial elements to achieving the ultimate glow comes from the inside:
1. EXFOLIATE. The must-have winter skin saver. Investing in a good facial exfoliant can help remove dead dry skin which is a common side effect during the colder weather. Add this to your cleansing routine once a week. Not only will you feel fresh and look younger, but this will leave your complexion free from all those old dry skin cells. Now you're ready to moisturise.
2. MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE, MOISTURISE! It is essential to maintaining a healthy glow. Applying a daily moisturising cream and oil is the perfect boost for your skin in winter to lock in moisture and restore skin's vitality and help revive a dull looking complexion. You might want to switch to a richer, heavier formulation in the winter months.
3. H20 IS YOUR BEST FRIEND! Hydration is the key to ensuring healthy, youthful-looking skin. During the winter months especially, you will likely go from centrally-heated rooms to cold brisk walks outside, which can dry the skin out dramatically. Make sure you drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep your PH levels balanced and ensure your skin is fully hydrated from within. If you are exercising, ensure you top up your fluids.
With these tips in mind, we've found that just a few small changes can make a real difference. We've decided to ditch our fragrant soapy scrubs, instead opting for creamy body washes that incorporate natural oils. Coconut is a firm favourite. In fact, we've been down the world foods aisle at the supermarket and invested in a pot of pure coconut oil. We've used a clean spoon to fill a small, handbag-sized cosmetic pot with it, and we're using that on our lips and hands to avoid chapping on the go. It's wonder stuff!
Instead of our light summer lotion, we've gone for a thicker cream. It lasts longer and has stopped our skin from losing moisture in the heated office.
And finally, we're making an active effort to cut down on the coffee and tea, instead supping more water. A hot water with lemon is a satisfying winter warmer, especially with a blob of honey. Bring on that glow!
By Kirsty Bolsey
