Banish Winter Woes

Are you staring at skin and hair that will not cooperate this winter? Well fret not, experts tell you how you can take care of your skin and hair this season so you can look haute when it is so cool!

Skin Issues

Dry skin is the biggest and most common problem as the skin can get flaky as humidity levels go down and the lack of moisture in the air causes irritation. Preeti Seth, Wellness Expert, Pachouli Spa & Wellness Centre Delhi says, “our hair and skin are very sensitive to external factors like climatic changes and weather conditions. Every season our skin and hair needs to be taken care of. Also, winter season brings with it an array of wonderful fruits, vegetables and fresh produce. It is the time when hunger pangs increase and our body craves for good food. Due to poor intake of healthy food, most people face skin and hair problems.” As winter approaches the wind gets drier. “You might not feel thirsty but ensure 8 liters of water intake every day. Along with this, one also needs to change their skin care products based on skin texture. Switching to a nourishing moisturizer in place of a light weight summer gel/ moisturizer is the basic while those who have acne prone skin might still want to stick to their anti bacterial cosmetics for oily/acne prone skin. Use of serums and oil capsules at night is a good way to rejuvenate dehydrated skin and repair any damage caused during the day,” says Aakriti Kochar, Beauty & Make-up Expert, Oriflame India.

Mane Bane

Dry scalp, limp locks, breakage, split ends, faded colour, flaky scalp and dry hair are major issues seen in the winter. “Static charge is another major winter hair problem. It is a result of the dry conditions in the air, which build up electrons in the hair causing the hair to stand on end. It can also be a result of the heat styling tools which tend to dry out the hair much more,” explains Dr. Deepti Shrivastava, Founder Director, Skin Hair & You Clinic. Thirumal Raj, CEO and Founder, Advanced Beauty and Cosmetic Clinic says, “special care is essential to maintain the moisture in the hair and give them proper nourishment to stay healthy and shining. During winter season hair needs healthy food with some healthy ingredients. Condition with Mayonnaise and Avocado, Olive oil hair mask and Honey egg mask help.”

Skin Care

Winter is when there is sudden change in weather from hot, humid summers to cold and dry. “Turn to cream based products early. If winter is approaching, it’s time to turn to skincare products that have cream based thick moisturizers. So, your light water-based moisturizer will pave way for a heavy and thick cream. Similarly, you will need to switch over to a milder facewash that doesn’t rip away all the moisture from your skin. Also try to use a sunscreen that has moisturizer. While removing make-up use moisturizing cleansers and toners,” advices Dr. Madhuri Agarwal, Founder & Medical Director of Yavana Aesthetics Clinic. The most common issue faced during the winter season is dryness also known as Xerosis medically. It is usually a minor and temporary problem, but may cause discomfort. “Your skin needs moisture to stay smooth. The most effective way to prevent this is moisturizing your skin at least twice a day. The most effective way is to immediately apply moisturizing lotion within 5 minutes post bath as there is tendency of the water to evaporate very soon from the surface when the outside temperature is humid,” says Dr. Mukesh Ramnane, Consultant Dermatologist, Manipal Hospitals. “Avoid harsh soaps and toners as they may further dry your skin, soap free cleansers are ideal. Do not wash your face very frequently, twice daily followed by a moisturizer should be adequate,” advices Dr. Saloni Katoch, Consultant Dermatologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Whitefield, Bangalore. Anuradha Balasubramanian, Co-founder & Director, Syona Cosmetics adds, “moisturise your skin while it’s still damp – this helps to seal in the nourishment. Keep hands, feet and stubborn areas like knees, elbows well nourished.”

Tress Talk

Hair is most often ignored but needs taking care. Dr. Muhammed Majeed, Health Expert- Sami Labs opines, “Oil soak is an awesome remedy for both skin and scalp. Create your own mix of almond, olive and coconut oil according your preference and apply for both body and scalp, leave if for about 40-60 minutes and allow the skin glands to absorb the oil followed by a light rinse. This will leave the hair nourished, shiny and soft.” Using a good conditioner for the length of the hair is very helpful. “Avoid blow-drying your hair; rather the natural way is always the best. Also keep hair oil, gels at bay as these tend to aggravate dandruff,” says Dr. Anuj Pall, Director, La Skinnovita. “You may pamper your hair with a good leave-on-conditioner to lock the moisture level and delay frizzy and dry hair,” adds Dilip Kundlia, Directer, Oshea Herbals. Dandruff and itchiness are other issues in winter. Akshay Batra, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Dr Batra’s™ Healthcare adds, “shampoo less often. Do not shampoo frequently as it can deplete the scalp of natural oils. You may shampoo hair twice a week. Use a mild shampoo and wash hair with ‘lukewarm’ water.”

Take Care

An easy and simple tip to follow in winter season is to have a proper balanced diet. “A diet consisting of vitamin and minerals will help in keeping your skin fresh and healthy. Make this your habit to drink lots of water even when you are not thirsty at the time. This will keep you hydrated,” says Bharti Modi, Herbal Beauty Expert & Director, Vedic Line. “Hot water showers feel great in winter, but they wreak havoc on dry skin. Try a lukewarm shower instead, and then pat your skin dry with a towel. Your hands, feet, knees and elbows need to be looked after too, during winter. Use products containing shea butter, petrolatum, mineral oil, tea tree oil or glycerin. For intense relief, moisturize hands and feet at night, and then slip on gloves or socks to lock in the moisture,” advices Preeti Seth, Wellness Expert, Pachouli Spa & Wellness Centre, Delhi. Dr Jamuna Pai, Cosmetic Physiologist says, “the problem of chapped lips can be treated with a lip balm or even Vaseline from your bathroom cabinet. ‘Ghee’ also locks in moisturizer, and is available in every Indian kitchen. Don’t make the mistake of licking your lips to wet them, as this can cause further drying out.” Diet matters too. Dr. Fatima Mohammed, Dermatologist, Bangalore explains, “a healthy diet rich in vitamins A, C, B-complex,. Minerals like calcium and Zinc along with plenty of nuts and seeds to replenish the body’s resources of Vitamin E and omega 3 fatty acids which play an integral part in the skin barrier –hydrating mechanism.” So this winter ensure you look your best by taking the right steps for your skin and hair.

This article appeared in the 6th Dec 2016 issue of Femina Karnataka: