Skin care obsessives take note! Five skin care faux pas

The right skin care is important for a beautiful, even and fresh complexion. Especially now you should take care to adapt your skin care to the cold season and use richer, more nourishing oils, creams and emulsions.

There are a number of no-gos that you should bear in mind with skin care, especially in winter.

Here are our five care faux pas that need to be avoided:

Moistening chapped, dry lips with your tongue

In winter, dry, chapped lips often occur both because of the harsh weather conditions and because of the dry air from the heating. You then tend to moisten them with your tongue – but that is precisely what draws even more moisture out of them and the problem gets worse. The most common cause of dry lips is a lack of fluid. If you drink two to three litres of water a day, your lips become noticeably more supple and fuller. In addition you can “exfoliate” them with a soft toothbrush – this stimulates the circulation and the lips become nicely rosy and feel supple and soft. Coconut oil applied thinly to the lips protects, cares for and additionally provides moisture.

Not using sun protection in winter

Just as in summer, in winter we have to protect ourselves from the UVA and UVB rays that damage the skin. This is particularly true when skiing, since in the mountains the solar radiation is stronger still because of the altitude. In addition it is intensified by the reflection from the snow. Because in winter the skin has usually not enjoyed any pre-tanning, it is more sensitive than in summer. A high sun protection factor is therefore indispensable, above all during winter sports.

Daily exfoliation against blemished skin

A daily peel to prevent or treat blemished skin leads to the skin being thinned in an uncontrolled way. The skin's acid mantle is thereby attacked too severely, and it is precisely this that makes it even more delicate and sensitive precisely for the cold winter months. A peel should not be done more often than once a week. Severe skin blemishes should as a matter of principle be examined by a professional, that is by a dermatologist. Special peels, as well as preparations with highly concentrated vitamin A and creams with vitamin A, can support the treatment.

Bathing too Hot

Especially in the cold season, a long hot bath to warm up and relax is just the thing. However, this dries out the skin extremely quickly and the protective layer of fat is attacked. Therefore, above all in winter, short warm showers should be preferred to a hot full bath. It is important to apply a rich care oil or a richer lotion to the skin afterwards.

Rubbing in eye cream

It is said that creams and lotions have even more effect when massaged into the skin. However, this tip does not apply to the sensitive eye area. Here the cream may only be patted in gently, as otherwise the skin around the eye is put under too much strain and premature wrinkle formation can occur.

The right skin care, especially in winter, should be tailored individually to the needs of your skin. Dermatologist and venereologist Mag. Dr. Elke Janig will be glad to advise you in a personal consultation.