As the weather turns colder, our skin gets drier. If your skin is like mine, it needs some extra care in winter to keep it looking and feeling good.

A skincare regimen that worked in July may be ineffective in December, when temperatures are lower and the air holds less humidity.

I recently spoke with Dr. Tonya McLeod (photo below), a dermatologist at Piedmont Plastic Surgery and Dermatology, about cold weather skincare. Here are some tips:

Keep it Clean: Cleansing your skin – whether face or body -- is one of the most important skincare steps a person can take.

“It’s important to find a cleanser that doesn’t strip the skin of oil,” McLeod said.

With so many skin types -- oily, dry, and combination – look for products that work best for your skin type.

For example, if a person has oily skin, which can be more prone to acne, McLeod recommends products with salicylic acid, glycolic acid and retinoic acid, which help treat the skin.

Products such as Cetaphil and Dove unscented soap can be mild options for cleansing the skin.

Stay Moist: Nothing feels worse after a shower then tight, dry, itchy skin. To keep skin hydrated, use a good moisturizer.

“Find a moisturizer that doesn’t over-moisturize or under-moisturize your skin,” McLeod said.

I agree. I once tried the very popular Crème de La Mer face cream, which costs $230 a jar. Unfortunately, it was too rich and caused my face to break out, so I used it on other parts of my body.

I’ve learned that just because a product is expensive doesn’t mean it works well with my skin type. Now I use Cetaphil as daily facial moisturizer.

Another trick: Apply moisturizer immediately after you get out of the shower or wash your face. Pat your skin dry with a towel. Then, with our skin still damp, lock in the moisture.

Protect your Skin: Sunscreen in moisturizers should not be overlooked. It protects the skin from ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer.

“It’s a myth that because our skin is darker that we can’t get skin cancer,” McLeod said. “We can. So we need to protect our skin from skin cancer but also the damaging rays of the sun.”

Remember, any part of your body that is exposed should be protected – even in winter.

McLeod recommends facial and body moisturizers that have an SPF rating of 30, but if you can’t find one, she said, a rating of 15 will work as well.

No Scrubs?: Exfoliating (removing dead skin) is one of my favorite skincare practices. I especially like sugar scrubs. But Dr. McLeod warns not to over do it.

“I would recommend a light exfoliation once a month,” she said, “but not on a daily basis. Too much exfoliation can remove the skin’s natural oils.”

If you’re unsure about your skin type or which products would work best for you, consult a dermatologist.
***
Dr. Tonya McLeod is a licensed dermatologist. She’s located at Piedmont Plastic Surgery & Dermatology-Charlotte, 5815 Blakeney Park Dr., Suite 100. Phone: (704) 542-2220

Sign up for our Weekly Email Newsletter Email: For Email Marketing you can trust

Other Ways to Share Twitter Del.icio.us MySpace

Discussions and Submission Agreement