Winter Skincare: Do’s and Don’ts

(this post suggested by @cawhitworth)

As someone who definitely isn’t a doctor, or even a fake doctor, or any grade of dermatologist, it should come as no surprise to learn that it is only incredibly infrequently that I am asked skin care questions of any sort. Winter related skincare questions, are even more rare.

So it is also not surprising that I don’t have a great deal of advice to give. Not precisicely zero, however, as I am one of the 17%[ref]Made up number. This page suggests it’s 90% of women. How many men? Nobody cares, it seems.[/ref] of UK residents who suffer from winter skin complaints, I can pass on some do’s and don’ts. My specific issue is very dry, broken skin on my hands that stings and bleeds and makes me look like I have leprosy. I don’t have leprosy, because that would be a bit weird to only have it for a couple of months of the year.

Do

• Moisturise. I steal my wife’s Body Shop hemp hand cream. No, you can’t smoke it. It’s also more expensive than diamonds. But it works overnight like actual magic.
• Keep moisturising. Just because your skin is better, doesn’t mean stop.
• Be aware that warm dry air, like when you put your heating on, isn’t helping your skin stay moisturised either.

Don’t

• Let your hands get cold and dry. Obviously. Gloves exist for a reason, you know.
• Pick at it. That won’t help.
• Take my advice as actual medical advice.

I’ve found E45 cream and the like does nothing, so it absolutely has to be the hemp stuff.

Of course, with global warming, winter skin complaints will simply cease to exist, and when we are dominated by our evil lizard overlords and turned into reptiles, all the hemp in the world ain’t going to help your skin then. Also, yes, this suggestion is Spaced related.

(Featured image is from here, is unmodified, and used under this licence)