We all need to follow a slightly different skin care routine in the winter. This especially goes for those of us who live in climates that undergo huge seasonal changes with the summer, fall and winter, such as myself. The reason for this change is skin care is that those of us in non-temperate climates see large dips in humidity in the winter, as well as the drying force of hot air that comes out of our home's furnace and adds another drying factor to our skin. Not to mention, there is the wind factor. The freezing wind can actually "wind burn" your skin, which means that it will dry it out immensely, and can even abrade and irritate the skin's surface. Although acne vulgaris is largely due to an over production of sebum (oil), excessively drying the skin actually has a counterintuitive effect by further aggravating acne and even bringing on more breakouts, so it is imperative that we protect acne prone skin from the over drying and irritation that often comes with the winter weather change. There are a few things we can do to protect our skin against the ravages of winter, and they are going to vary per your skin type. For example, you may only need to heed a few of these suggestions if your skin does not tend to be overly dry in the winter, or you may want to give some of these tips a try that you've never heard of before if your skin becomes a virtual desert or flakiness and redness every winter. The first suggestion is to try out a small humidifier in whatever room you spend the most time in, say your bedroom perhaps since you are in there (I hope) for at least eight hours a day. Humidifiers used to be very expensive, but you can find the smaller ones that work in a smaller area nowadays for a very reasonable cost. One tip with humidifiers though is that you have to make absolutely certain that you keep them clean since mold tend to build up in them if you don't keep them clean. The humidifier's purpose is to help add moisture to the air itself, since many times that heat that is pumped out of your home's vents is extremely drying. Not only can humidifiers help keep your skin moist, but they may also make it easier or you to breathe, making respiration much more pleasant where they are set up. Another tip is to stay very well hydrated. Try drinking only water, and add a little lemon juice to your water for an extra boost in hydration, as well as the skin clarity benefits of lemon water. Stay away from lots of coffee and other caffeinated beverages, since they only make you expel more water and this definitely trickles down to the skin, making the skin dry, irritated and flaky if it is under hydrated from the inside out. Consider also taking a fish oil supplement at least twice a day. They're very reasonably priced and help keep the skin smooth, supple, and moisture-retaining. Another winter tip for acne prone skin is to switch to a more moisturizing cleanser, especially if you are currently using one that is especially made for acne prone skin. Maybe switch to a creamy cleanser instead of a clear one, or if you currently use bar soap as a cleanser, you definitely want to switch to a gentler liquid cleanser, perhaps infused with vitamin c. You want to make sure you are not washing your face with overly hot water. I know it's great to take a nice hot shower in the winter, but it really isn't doing your skin any favors. Hot water dried the skin out, and you may notice that after a long hot shower, your skin feels itchy and tight. Take only a warm shower, and make sure your face is getting warm water only, not hot. Do not hesitate to use moisturizer, allover the face in the winter. If you do not currently use a moisturizer because you are afraid it will aggravate your acne, this is a big mistake. Not only will your skin look red and dry, but you will also be encouraging your skin to produce MORE sebum because it will automatically try to balance itself again to be well hydrated.
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