Tight skin, rough knuckles, chapped lips? Say hello to winter, about to wreak havoc from head-to-toe. Here are 10 things you need to know on how to keep your skin happily hydrated throughout the cold snap. From your brows to your feet, here’s how to treat your skin – starting now.

You still need SPF

Just because it is winter, it doesn’t mean you should put away your suncream. Whilst there is less UVB around in winter, levels of UVA are still significant enough to age our skin. We advocate a sunscreen specifically with a high UVA rating all the year round if you want to protect your skin from its ageing effects. As UVB is the wavelength that stimulates vitamin D production, levels can drop in the winter months and if necessary we can supplement with oral vitamin D3.

Consider professional skin treatments

Winter is a great time of year for skin treatments. We always worry about peels and laser treatment in the summer months. With sun exposure before or after such procedures there is a higher risk of unwanted post-inflammatory hyper-pigmentation. Autumn and winter therefore represents an opportunity.

How to keep hydrated

Your skin will become drier and often more sensitive with the onset of colder weather and central heating. Make sure you keep hydrated during the day, swap your coffee for green tea which has great anti-oxidant effects. Gentle cleansing is a must, you need your skin barrier to be as healthy as possible so that it can retain vital moisturiser.

Tweak your daily skincare routine

If you are to apply a moisturiser during the day, it is likely your skin routine needs tweaking. Try swapping your lotion to a cream and massaging it into your skin for 30 seconds to maximise its effects.

Book in for a facial

Winter skin is often dull, so we recommend a professional facial about every three to four weeks. That’s how long it takes your skin to move through the full life cycle of skin cell growth so we often advise people to opt for a superficial peel or exfoliating treatment. Regular facials will help to keep your skin clean, clear and hydrated whilst maximising your everyday skincare regime too.

Prevent dry, chapped hands

Hands are at a very high risk for becoming chapped and sore in the winter months. Dermol 500 is a fantastic moisturising soap substitute that is mildly anti-bacterial, it is very useful if frequent hand washing is necessary. At night apply a rich layer of hand cream under cotton gloves. After a few nights, the skin barrier will start to heal and the difference is often amazing.

Protect lips from ‘lick eczema’

Licking sore lips will only exacerbate dryness and can cause what is referred to as ‘lick eczema’. Make sure your lips are sealed with an effective ointment at all times, particularly before eating and drinking as some foods like tomatoes which can irritate chapped lips. Zinc oxide is a fantastic physical sunscreen and will help to reflect the UV away from the skin of your face and lips.

Monitor scaly skin for dermatitis

If you notice scaling around your nose and eyebrows in the winter months you may be developing a dermatitis thought to be exacerbated by yeast. Cold winter weather is also a known trigger. If you use a very gentle skin wash and moisturise twice a day, it will help. Sometimes an anti-inflammatory cream may be needed too for a short time.

Consider a foot peel

Feet often become dry and cracked in the winter months. Exfoliating frequently and applying an effective moisturiser always helps, but for many there just aren’t enough hours in the day. A foot peel mask might be of help. In a few days, you will be essentially shedding your exoskeleton. Expect to lose layers of skin, unattractive as it is, the results are baby soft feet.

Use bath time to hydrate

Baths are a gift to dry winter skin. Not only do they provide the all-important relaxation to switch off those skin damaging stress hormones; baths are a marvelous opportunity to hydrate skin.