Hardly any organ is as stressed in winter as the skin. The dry air indoors puts as much strain on it as frosty winds. In the cold months, you have to protect it from heat and moisture loss, otherwise inflammation and eczema can develop. When the cold wind whistles around your ears, your face and hands suffer the most. Tip: A whey bath regenerates stressed winter skin.
Skin more vulnerable in the cold
Already at outside temperatures from eight degrees plus, the skin becomes more sensitive, because it almost completely stops its self-protection, the sebum production, at low temperatures. A natural protective film is absent. The face and hands suffer – the skin tightens, cracks and is susceptible to skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis or even neurodermatitis; viruses and fungi can spread.
If one changes from cold to warm air, the pores open and the skin releases a lot of moisture. The red cheeks are then not a sign of radiant health, but a violent reaction, not infrequently accompanied by itching.
Fat cream protects the skin
For thousands of years, people in the cold regions of the earth have protected their skin with fat. Well creamed, cold, wind and dryness can no longer harm her so much. Especially older people, whose skin is much drier than that of children, need this protection.
Women who swear by a moisturizing emulsion in summer should definitely switch to a more greasy cream in winter. Alcohol or soap-based cleansers are aggressive; soap-free wash lotions are better.
Winter skin care for sensitive skin
After each wash, you should apply cream to the skin. For sensitive skin, products containing the ingredient dexpanthenol are particularly suitable, as they accelerate the regeneration of the skin. Creams containing urea are also well suited: Urea binds the skin moisture.
Lotions containing tannin, on the other hand, are effective against itching. Here you should consult your doctor or pharmacist. Women do not need to do without makeup, because a good greasy care makeup protects the skin.
Caution during winter sports
The skin is exposed to even more extreme conditions during winter sports: The already low temperatures in themselves are perceived as even colder during fast downhill skiing, and the driving wind lowers the skin temperature even further.
In addition, there is strong UV radiation in the high mountains. The snow in turn reflects the sun’s rays. Here, a strong sunscreen (from sun protection factor 16) or even a UV blocker is necessary. It is also important to protect the lips with a sunblock.
Whey as a natural care product
Baths made from donkey’s milk were very popular in ancient Rome. According to legend, Cleopatra also bathed in it. Much cheaper are whey baths, because whey is excellent for skin care. Regular baths and washes with sweet whey are natural remedies for the whole body. Acid whey is ideal for eczema and skin inflammation. Lactic acid, as a component of the protective acid mantle, protects the outer layer of the skin from bacteria and germs. The skin is revitalized, cleansed and prevented from drying out because the lactic acid can bind water.
Two to three liters of whey or 300 g of whey powder are sufficient for a care bath with a bath temperature of about 37 degrees. However, soap and shampoo should not be used. After the bath, the whey film should dry on the skin. With a little pure whey on a cotton pad you can also care for your facial skin. Whey powder and bath mixtures with whey can be purchased ready-made in pharmacies and health food stores.
