Preventing dry skin conditions this winter

Winter is notoriously known for its harshness towards skin. Whether you usually suffer from chapped lips, cold sores, or even sore and dry skin, the season of applying topical creams and lotions is well and truly upon us now that the temperatures are plummeting. As is usual, the best practise would be to try and prevent sore skin conditions from rearing their head at all, rather than focus on treating them. It’s for this reason that it’s a good idea to start hydrating your skin now so that as winter creeps in, your skin will continue to be moisturised, supple and soft.

In order to put your best face forward, invest in a good quality facial moisturiser that can be used twice daily- once in the morning and once at night. This will not only hydrate your skin and help it to be better prepared to face the elements, but will also form a good base on which to apply make-up too, saving you the expense of purchasing an additional primer product. Additionally, you may wish to apply a lip balm at the same time, in order to keep your lips looking luscious and feeling super soft. In fact, it’s a good idea to keep a travel sized moisturiser and lip balm in your handbag so that if you feel dry during the day, you can moisturise at your leisure whilst causing minimal disruption to your day.

skin care

Another fantastic way to keep dry skin at bay is to invest in a monthly or bi-monthly facial at a local beauty spa or health club. Try the Montcalm hotel spa gentle radiance facial for an indulgent treat that uses both Swedish and lymphatic massage techniques. This treatment will include a gentle exfoliating scrub being massaged onto the skin in circular motions to remove any dead skin cells and to aid your circulation. Then your skin will be massaged with top quality anti-ageing products in order to relax you and help your stresses and strains to melt away. Finally, you will receive utter hydration through a deeply moisturising cream being gently applied to your face. The whole treatment lasts around an hour and afterwards, you’ll feel like a completely new person- your face will feel the softest it’s ever been whilst your outward glow will be envied by your friends and families who will want to know your secret.

In order to really get the most out of your facial, try to avoid rushing around before your appointment time. Give yourself plenty of time to arrive at one of London’s best spas to enjoy their spa facilities beforehand in order to really let your hair down and relax. Don’t forget though, to switch your mobile phone off and leave your worries in your locker in the changing room. This is one time where you are completely entitled to be a little selfish, it’s a time set asides just for you to totally zone out and switch off from any problems or challenges that you might have in your life. Leaving extra early to reach the spa will also help you to avoid hitting any traffic on your way to your appointment. After all, the last thing you’ll want to do is to lose any of your precious massage time thanks to getting stuck in rush hour traffic. Leaving early will also allow you plenty of time to locate the changing areas and change into your swimwear. Starting the day out being all stressed out from arriving late will only detract away from your spa experience, so give yourself plenty of time to travel.

The majority of spas will also have a relaxation room, so that even if you don’t want to take a dip in the hot tub prior to your treatment, you can still give yourself time to de-stress in a beautifully decorated, quiet room that also offers light refreshments such as herbal tea, water and fruit. It’s the perfect opportunity for you to empty your mind in order to fully benefit from your facial. You are also welcome to make use of this area once your treatment is complete to extend your time of relaxation further.

Although, if the worst happens as Jack Frost comes out to play, and you notice some soreness or inflammation flaring up as the months draw on, then do seek out a cream to offer some relief. If you leave dry skin untreated, it can develop into further problems, such as psoriasis or dermatitis. Therefore if you notice a rash or red area of skin appearing, then do try to determine the cause and then treat it accordingly until the symptoms are less noticeable, or better still, are gone altogether.

Other skin conditions that can start out as dry or itchy skin include athlete’s foot, skin rashes and hives and eczema. To avoid these being problematic to you, it’s a good idea to get into the habit of applying a rich moisturiser not just to your face, but all over your body after you take a bath or shower. Even applying baby oil after washing can help to lock in essential moisture that your skin needs in order to stay supple and healthy. However, should any of these skin conditions flare up, then it may be worth a visit to the pharmacist or doctor, especially for athlete’s foot, as this is caused by a fungal infection that will need specialised cream to treat it. If you don’t treat it, athlete’s foot can be contagious to others and even spread to other parts of your body, so please don’t ignore anything out of the ordinary when it comes to your skin.

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