While most people know that the winter and summer months can do significant damage to their skin, it is equally unfortunate that those very same people don’t understand that their skin can suffer damage any time of the year. Whether it’s winter, spring, summer or autumn, several elements can come together to cause such things as rashes, dry and cracked lips as well as eczema and premature aging and wrinkling. Skin cancer is also a huge concern, so if you are looking to protect your skin against seasonal damage, here are some points to consider.

1. Adequate Protection Against UV Radiation

Few people are unaware of the necessity to guard against UV radiation from the sun but that is where the average person ends their understanding of the different types of unhealthy radiation as well as the type of sunscreen to use. When choosing a sunscreen, it is necessary to find one with an SPF value of at least 30, preferably higher, and one that has what is called ‘broad spectrum protection’.

Always look for UVA and UVB protection and a sunscreen that is water-resistant. From the foundation you wear on your face to the lotion you cover your arms and legs with, the type of sunscreen you choose should have, at a minimum, the above mentioned factors. Also, it is wise to remember that your skin is exposed to UV radiation every season of the year as long as the sun is overhead. It could be the rainiest or snowiest day of the year; if there is sunshine, there are UV rays.

2. Moisturizers Are of Vital Importance in Winter Months

While you would want to keep your skin moisturised any time of year, winter months tend to necessitate a better quality of moisturiser. Most people know that their lips get quite chapped and dry during the cold, blustery months of winter, but may not know that a good moisturiser would help defend against chapped, bleeding lips. Products like the lip balm Reve de Miel® can help to heal your lips at the same time as protecting them against further damage.

Reve de Miel is formulated with both honey and propolis that help to heal and repair chapped, cracked lips. Consider for a moment exactly what propolis is and you’ll know how it works to repair and protect your lips. Propolis is a substance manufactured from the flower sap of trees and which honey bees use to seal up the chambers in their honeycombs. It is also used by bees to coat the surface of their hives and amazingly, is a natural disinfectant. If ever you wanted to soothe, heal, and protect your lips in winter months, a lip balm like Reve de Miel can do the job nicely.

3. When to Wear Protective Garments and Accessories

Another factor in winter months is the dry heat that most homes and offices use to keep the cold at bay. Few homes or businesses are equipped with vaporisers and so it is important to learn how to guard your skin when stepping out into the cold. Bear in mind that you’ve just been warm and cosy inside but that warmth comes with the cost of drying out your skin. The moment you are exposed to cold temperatures, especially on windy days, your skin will become extremely dry and yes, brittle.

Always keep your skin moisturised as mentioned above but wear gloves when going out and try to keep a scarf wrapped around the bottom half of your face. This will help guard against dry skin but moisturiser and lip balm can save the day when all else fails.

4. Avoid Long Hot Showers

So many people love coming home any time of year to a long, hot shower after a stressful day at work. While heat can relax your muscles and soothe your aching nerves, hot water can be very damaging to your skin. Think about this for just a moment. Heat dissolves oils and no matter how hard you work to keep your skin moisturised, all its natural oils will literally be washed away if you aren’t careful.

Do step into a hot shower as needed but be mindful of the length of time you keep that water running. Dermatologists recommend taking a warm shower for shorter durations. If you are still chilled to the bone, a heating pad will do nicely to comfort you without the damage of drying out your skin. Again, don’t forget those moisturisers after you step back out into the cold, hard world.

5. Avoid Chlorinated Pools and Extended Periods in Direct Sunlight in the Summer

While summer days tend to be warmer and humid, your skin can still be dried to the point of cracking or chaffing if exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods or when swimming in chlorinated pools. Of course, that chlorine is meant as a sanitising agent so that you won’t be exposed to harmful microorganisms, but it can do extreme damage to your skin.

Even when bathing in sea water, the salt can have a drying effect. The best advice you can be given for summer months is to avoid any water but fresh water ponds or lakes and always wear a high level SPF sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. Always rinse well after swimming and then apply a high quality sunscreen lotion.

6. The Transitional Seasons of Autumn and Spring

The remarkable thing about nature is that the seasons of autumn and spring are times of transition for animals and vegetation as well. These are the months when anyone concerned for healthy skin should also begin making a transition in their skin care products. In the autumn it is recommended that you begin looking at heavier moisturisers by transitioning from lotions to creams and then do the opposite in the spring. This would be a time of using a slightly lighter cream as a step before you begin using lightweight lotions with a higher SPF value.

During both spring and autumn, it’s time to look for a high quality hand cream. In the summer, if you do any work outdoors in the garden, for example, your hands will undoubtedly take a beating. Use autumn as a time to find a good quality pair of gloves and that scarf spoken of above. In fact, it is recommended that you begin using a good moisturiser on your hands during both seasons to help soften them so that they will not sustain as much damage in winter and summer. By keeping your skin moist, you can help mitigate the damage to your skin sustained during those drier months ahead.

There May Not Be a Fountain of Youth But…

At the end of the day, you must know that there really is no fountain of youth. What you can do is to protect your skin against those elements known to do the most damage while using skin care products that are proven to promote softer, healthier skin. Some products can help eliminate those tiny lines and deep wrinkles but they can’t turn back the hands of time. Seek natural products with good quality ingredients any season of year and you can look younger longer. A combination of high quality products and a diligent skin care routine can help delay the damage that time and the elements can do to your skin, so stick with it and many seasonal problems can be avoided all together.