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The Skincare Edit
The Cold, Hard Facts about Autumn Skincare
Hot chocolate, brisk walks, blazing fires …. eczema. For all the seasonal joys of autumn, there is a huge downside for people with sensitive skin. Going from indoor heat into the freezing outdoors can stress skin and leave it dry, cracked and sore.
What happens when the temperature dips is that your skin cells suffer from dehydration and the dermal barrier - the body’s frontline defence against a whole barrage of things which can make you ill – becomes compromised.
Avoiding Triggers On The Home Front
Hibernation is a natural tendency in autumn, but more time spent indoors means more time exposed to troublesome irritants, so keep an eagle eye out for things that will make your home trigger-happy.
One of the biggest problems is the variation in temperature between over-heated houses and the chill of the great outdoors. Avoid over-heating by keeping your home at a comfortable 20C, or 18C in the bedrooms, and turn as many radiators as you can to low.
The air inside our homes can also become too wet or too dry - both problematical to sensitive skin. A dehumidifier is useful for removing excess water, while placing a small bowl of water beside radiators helps to counter excessively dry air.
Condensation can cause mould in the kitchen and bathroom, which is never good, so make sure you get rid of those black spores as soon as possible and maintain good ventilation to keep them at bay.
Be extra vigilant about using room sprays, scented candles, pot pourri and any other smellies around the house – central heating, closed windows and not enough fresh air make these even more potent triggers in autumn.
How To Defend Your Dermis
A few simple DIY steps will help keep your skin in good condition and protect it from the perfect storm of wintry weather. For example, when you go outside try wearing layers of loose, natural fabrics like linen, cotton, silk and hemp instead of scratchy wool or sweaty synthetics.
Guard against getting Lip Licker’s Dermatitis, which is a reaction to contact with an irritating substance - in this case, your own mucus and saliva. And anyone who has ever caught a cold knows the red-raw misery of constant nose-blowing!
After a chilly walk, a long, hot bath or shower is a temptation. But hot water can dry out the skin and exacerbate sensitivity, leading to flare-ups. Keep a dip to around 10-15 minutes and use lukewarm water – the cooler, the better, really.
Stay hydrated by drinking at least eight glasses of water a day and swapping coffee for green tea, which is full of great anti-oxidants. Beware alcohol, which causes dilation of the blood vessels and will further dehydrate your skin - as well as lowering your body temperature.
Make sleep a priority! When we sleep, skin cells renew and produce collagen, which promotes elasticity in the skin to retain a fresh and youthful appearance. So, remember, a cosy bed in a cool room will give you the best night’s rest.
Be A Slave To Your Daily Skincare Routine
Medical research confirms that using certified natural products with no nasty chemicals, preservatives, colours and fragrances as part of a daily regimen is the best way to keep your skin in tip-top condition.
Over 92% of the Elave and Ovelle skincare ranges from Gardiner Family Apothecary are vegan. They use only the purest, gentlest, free-from ingredients to soothe and protect dry and sensitive skin conditions.
Elave Skincare’s range of dermatologically-approved free-from natural products is available at gardinerfamilyapothecary.com, Boots, Dunnes Beauty and local pharmacies.
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Warm, humid weather is not always good news for dry skin conditions, says Selene Daly, Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Dermatology
People with dry skin conditions like eczema usually get a break when the sun shines. Warm weather, humidity and loose clothing all serve to alleviate a condition which can return with a vengeance once cold winds bite and the central heating and layers of clothing go back on.
How to raise a SunSmart kid! Tips for keeping safe while having fun in the sun
Young skin is particularly vulnerable to UV damage, says Selene Daly, Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Dermatology
Medical experts predict that children born in Ireland after the millennium will, on average, live until they are 100 years old! Given that 7 out of 10 of those children will have fair, sensitive and easily damaged Type I and Type II skin, it is important that they learn to look after their skin early.
