Negative outside temperatures, cheek biting wind and central heating are not conducive to keeping the skin in good condition. This is the time when we can observe redness, dryness and even local breaking of blood vessels and peeling. How to take care of your skin in winter? What ingredients will protect it from the harmful effects of winter?
What is skin exposed to in winter?
Winter, with all its qualities, is not conducive to the condition of the epidermis. People with dry, capillary and sensitive skin are particularly exposed to rapid changes in temperature (e.g. when coming from a walk to a strongly heated house) and strong winds. Changing weather conditions favor damage to the hydrolipid coat, which protects against moisture loss and ensures flexibility. Blood vessels also suffer, which can rupture as a result of alternating contraction and expansion.
Excessive drying can lead to severe redness, tightness and painful local cracking of the epidermis. It can be rough and unpleasant to touch. Moreover, loss of the skin’s natural protective barrier increases the risk of allergies and irritation.
Therefore, in winter, you should remember to choose cosmetics, the composition of which will not only effectively rebuild and protect the epidermis exposed to frost, but also will not cause irritation and allergies.
What are emollients?
Emollients are products that are commonly used in the skin care of adults and children. They have a deeply moisturizing, protective and moisturizing effect. They are a very important component of many dermocosmetics, including face, hand and eye creams, body lotions, olives, hair shampoos and shower gels. Dermatologists recommend the use of emollients, especially in the case of people with atopic dermatitis and dryness prone to irritation.
The action of emollients is based on:
- reduction of itching,
- soothing existing skin irritations,
- moisturizing and smoothing,
- protection against external factors, including weather conditions,
- reduction of the TEWL (TransEpidermal Water Loss) coefficient, which is evidence of transepidermal water loss,
- improving the tone of the epidermis.
The emollients include, among others occlusive ingredients (allowing to maintain an adequate level of skin hydration), humectants (binding water in the stratum corneum), liquid paraffin, lanolin, glycerin, natural vegetable oils (rich in omega-3 and omega-6 acids), as well as collagen and vitamins . What’s more, most cosmetics classified as emollients are hypoallergenic, i.e. devoid of substances that could irritate the delicate epidermis. They generally do not have any artificial colors or fragrances. All this means that they can be used even in very young children.
It is worth reaching for emollients in winter, when the skin is particularly exposed to the loss of valuable ingredients and the resulting damage.
Proper skin care in winter
The first step should be to give up irritating washing substances that cause significant drying of the epidermis, e.g. fragranced and colored soap bars. A much better solution will be to use mild, hypoallergenic face and body cleansing gels with mild amino acid-based surfactants in winter. Good examples of gentle and effective cleansing gels are Cerkopil body wash gel and Cerkopil face cleansing gel by Cerko. They not only cleanse the skin, but also soothe irritations and strengthen its protective barrier. After washing your face and body, it is worth remembering to use a cotton towel gently, pressing it against the epidermis. In this way, excess water is collected better. It is better to avoid strong rubbing, which can cause irritation and exacerbate redness.
Securing and strengthening the epidermis are the most important elements of everyday winter care. Not only the skin of the face needs to be moisturized, but also the entire body, including hands and feet. This effect can be achieved by using neutral emollients by Cerko – CERKOBAZĘ and CERKOCARE hand cream. Water-in-oil (W / O) emulsions are excellent in winter due to very good lubrication, hydration of the skin, and reduction of itching. CERCOBASE significantly reduces the roughness of the skin and the tendency to excessive exfoliation and keratinization of the epidermis. CERKOCARE, on the other hand, due to the content of aloe and panthenol, accelerates the healing of wounds and minor skin injuries, soothes and alleviates irritations that may result from exposure of the hand skin to low temperature.