Let’s be honest, the winter is not a fun season in Tennessee. It’s always gloomy, and our skin is always dry.

While we can’t fix the weather, there are definitely ways to boost our skin health! Read on as our team at AFC Urgent Care Memphis sheds some light on how to do so.

Why Does My Skin Get Dry When It’s Cold?

Dry skin is typically caused by low-humidity environments. When the air outside is cold and dry, the water in your skin evaporates more quickly, which makes our skin feel dry, tight and flaky.

Also, windy weather can beat down on the skin and make it look and feel dry and chapped. We’ve listed some ways you can protect your skin below.

Natural Ways to Protect Your Skin

• Drink lots of water every day.
• Incorporate more healthy fats into your diet, like those in salmon and avocados.
• Limit the amount that you shower or bathe.
• Get an adequate amount of exercise every week.
• Quit or refrain from smoking.

How Can I Keep My Skin from Frequent Handwashing?

It’s definitely tougher to take care of our skin during this pandemic. Our faces are always moist due to masks, and our hands are always dry due to washing them multiple times a day.

While frequent handwashing is a good habit, it tends to dry out the hands. To combat this, dermatologists suggest carrying your own moisturizing liquid hand soap as the hand soap in public restrooms is often very harsh and drying.

More Ways to Boost Skin Health

• Choose your skin cleanser carefully. Cream-based cleansers will help keep the moisture in while still taking off the day’s dirt and makeup.
• Exfoliate. Not only exfoliating take off the dry, dead skin cells, but it also helps you regenerate new ones.
• Keep your showers short. Soap and hot water strip your skin of its natural oils, so minimizing the amount you bathe is important.

Skin health is important! If you are having skin problems or other general health issues, don’t hesitate to stop by AFC Urgent Care Memphis today.