Don’t Make These 8 Winter Skin Care Mistakes!

As the cold months linger on, you may be wondering what you can be doing to keep your skin glowing and fresh looking. Got Acne is here to help! While there are quite a few myths out there, here are few mistakes I see my clients make during the Winter with their skin care routine.

1. Over-Moisturizing

In the winter when skin tends to be dry and even painful, people overdo it when moisturizing. Many times, as they notice their skin is dry or flaky, they slather on moisturizer in an effort to reverse the uncomfortable symptoms. The problem with this is that too much moisturizer can actually have the reverse effects, drying out already dry skin. Today's moisturizers are concentrated, using stronger ingredients, and made to be used in small amounts. As products accumulate on the skin’s surface it can lead to clogged pores, breakouts, or a buildup of dead skin cells which will give your skin a dull, lifeless look.  Instead of over moisturizing, talk to your skin care expert to find a moisturizer that is made for your skin type.

2. Washing your face with hot water

We’ve all heard the talk about how hot water opens up your pores for cleansing, but the truth is, hot water strips your skin of its natural oils and leaves it parched. Instead, try rinsing with cool or lukewarm water. Your skin will still be clean and receptive to any other products.

3. Not wearing sunscreen

90% of visible signs of aging and skin cancers are caused by sun exposure. Many people think that because it’s cold outside and the sky is cloudy and grey, or because it’s raining out, that they don’t need to wear sunscreen. The fact is that 80% of harmful UV rays can penetrate through the clouds. Repeated exposure to UV rays not only increases your chances of skin cancer, it breaks down collagen and prevents new collagen from forming, which leads to wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and sagging skin. You want to use a broad spectrum sunscreen of at least 30 SPF rain or shine.   

4. Exfoliating too much

During the winter our skin can become dry, dull and even flaky. Many believe the answer to this winter skin dilemma is to exfoliate, and while exfoliating is important to skin health, overdoing it can be counter productive. Red, burning itchy skin is the biggest telltale sign that you've overdone it. These reactive symptoms happen when the skin’s barrier has been compromised. Daily scrubbing to rid yourself of flaky skin can actually be the reason why your skin is flaking. A compromised barrier loses the ability to retain water or moisture leaving skin rough and dry leading you to think it needs to be exfoliated more. Other signs that you're over exfoliating are breaking out in pimples or acne. (When our skin’s barrier is compromised, it allows bacteria to get in leading to breakouts.) A shiny, almost plastic look is often caused by over use of chemical exfoliation.   

5. Not drinking enough water

In winter we often don't realize that we are thirsty like we do on hot summer days. Colder temperatures and decreased humidity makes your skin more likely to dry out. It's just as important to hydrate in the winter as it is in the summer. Your body needs hydration both internally as well as externally. Dehydration can make your skin appear dull, dry and crepey. It accentuates fine lines and wrinkles, as well as expression lines.

6. Eating right

We've all heard that you are what you eat, and to a point that is true. The truth is the healthier your diet is the healthier your skin will be. What we eat can affect our hormones, metabolism, cause acne, speed up or slow down the aging process, and create inflammation. First step to healthier skin is to slow down on the sugar! Simple carbs, like refined sugar, pasta and bread, raises insulin levels causing an inflammatory response which breaks down collagen leading to wrinkles. It's also known as an acne trigger because it aggravates acne leading to painful, inflamed lesions. The second thing we can do is to cut out dairy, such as milk and cheese. Dairy is directly linked to acne and aging. The theories behind this are that milk contains hormones such as testosterone, progesterone and insulin. These hormones can stimulates oil production, increase keratinization (the number of dead skin cells we produce), causes inflammation, and break down collagen and elastin. Instead of grabbing some of these foods try having things that are high in omega-3 fats such as avocados or walnuts, foods high in Vitamin C such as strawberries, oranges and broccoli, and foods rich in antioxidants such as blueberries, pecans and dark chocolate.

7. Not getting enough sleep

When you don't get enough sleep, you are depriving your body of its basic function of restoring itself. Missing a few hours of Z's can cause puffy eyes, dark circles and a dull, sallow looking complexion the next day. Prolonged sleep deprivation has may long lasting side effects. It increases the stress hormone called cortisol which is known to advance the breakdown of collagen and elastin thus destroying the integrity of the skin. This process leads to increased wrinkles, decreased elasticity, accelerates dark spots, and thins the skin. Not getting enough shut-eye also inhibits the body's wound healing process and can increase inflammation. If you are not getting 6-8 hours of sleep per night you could be more likely to have skin conditions such as acne, eczema and psoriasis and could experience outbreaks after prolonged sleep deprivation.

8. Forgetting about your lips

Cold temperatures and decreased humidity can turn our pampered pout into a dry, chapped, painful mess. Our first response to feeling like our lips are drying out is to lick them but by licking them we are actually making it worse. As your saliva evaporates it strips the moisture from your lips and leaves behind an irritating enzyme that's meant to digest food. If your lips are chapped and peeling do not pick or scrub them to remove the dry skin this can cause cracks and sores. Instead use a balm to soothe and hydrate irritated lips. Choose a balm or ointment that has petrolatum or essential oils as an ingredient that will help lock in moisture, reapply often throughout the day and before going to bed. Avoid products that contain camphor, eucalyptus and menthol which dries the skin. Keep your smootcher protected during the day by using products that include SPF and cover them up when exposing them to the harsh elements of winter.