Combatting winter’s dryness

I love the winter, but my skin certainly does not. And since I am further along in my fourth decade, my skin will show every crease and crinkle when the air gets too dry. When winter air starts to dry out too much, not only does our skin dry but our mucous membranes in our nasal passages dry out as well. During the cold and flu season, it is important to keep our nasal passages moist and lubricated: this is how they protect us as our first line of defense against respiratory bugs and such. When the linings of our nasal passages lose their protective mucous layer, they become cracked and easily breached. But all is not lost: there is plenty you can do this winter to combat dry winter air.
First off, drink plenty of water. I don’t care if it’s in the form of teas or broths, just drink! Hydrate from the inside out. Take fish, flax, hemp or borage oil daily to keep your Omega 3’s up to a good level. Practice dry skin brushing at least every other day to exfoliate the dead skin cells that make themselves so apparent these days. Keep your showers short and warm, not long and hot, and moisturize with a good-quality cream or oil as soon as you finish. When washing your face, use a gentle face wash and followup with a heavier moisturizer especially if you will be outside. I really like the vitamin E cream made by Jason. it has no fragrance and has 25,000IU of vitamin E in it. So rich and soothing!
Humidifiers or vaporizers are a great choice for your home this winter season. Forced hot air and radiators can really dry out your home, as can wood stoves and fireplaces. First, go to Walmart and buy a cheap humidity monitor–they have them with thermometers as well. The humidity level in your home should be between 30 and 50 percent to be healthy– less is too dry and more will encourage mold growth. Next, purchase a humidifier that suits the size of the area you have. I like to have one in the bedroom and one in the liviing area. Run them as often as needed to keep the humidity between that 30 and 50 percent. The most important thing to remember is to clean your humidifier as often as recommended in the instruction manual. This is critical!! Molds and bacteria can grow and then be dispersed into your air and actually cause a condition known as “humidifier lung”. Now you don’t want mold growing in your lungs, do you? Then clean the humidifier often!
If you put all these tips to good use, you should be able to stay wrinkle and flu-free this season! All the best!
Diane