Countless Brits are bracing for freezing temperatures next week, with a ‘huge wall of snow’ forecast for the UK. While some might be dreaming of snowball fights and igloo building, others may fear what the cold snap will do to their skin.
Icy temperatures and less humid air bring the perfect storm for drying up your hands, lips and face. In extreme cases, this may give rise to painful cracks and chaps that’ll have you wishing you’d just stayed inside.
But don’t panic. Dr Anil Sharma from Sharma Skin and Hair Surgery, suggests there are a few things you can do to lessen the blow of colder weather. Surprisingly, this includes using two kitchen staples in a DIY wellness regimen, which you can buy for a total of just £4.20.
“In winter, noticeable signs of dry skin include flakiness, roughness, tightness, itching, and even raw or chapped areas,” Dr Sharma explained. “Our hands are particularly prone to dryness due to their frequent use.
“Cold temperatures lower humidity, drawing moisture from the skin, while indoor heating systems like heaters, wood stoves, and fireplaces exacerbate the dryness by reducing moisture levels in the air. Hot showers can strip the skin of its natural oils, further contributing to dryness, especially when combined with harsh soaps that can irritate and dehydrate the skin.”
Dr Sharma’s game-changing remedy involves mixing products like sugar and coconut oil to create an exfoliator for your skin. Not only will this ‘buff away’ dirt, debris and dead skin cells, but he claims it helps your skin absorb creams and lotions better.
Moisturising products are especially crucial when it comes to preventing chapped skin in the colder months. He specifically recommends those with ingredients like aloe vera, erythritol and vitamin B5 for ultimate protection.
“During winter, when hands are often dry and cracked, it’s important to avoid harsh exfoliants typically used for areas like the legs,” he said. “Instead, opt for gentle exfoliation to effectively remove dead skin. You can create a homemade scrub using ingredients like sugar combined with olive, coconut, jojoba, almond, or grapeseed oil.”
After lathering your hands in moisturiser or oils, Dr Sharma then recommends wearing a pair of ‘cotton gloves’ to bed for the best results. Albeit bizarre, he suggests this will allow the ‘oil to penetrate even more deeply and soften your cuticles overnight’.
“Repeat this routine regularly to maintain healthy, hydrated cuticles,” he summarised.
For Dr Sharma’s DIY exfoliator trick, you can bag some sugar for just 85p and coconut oil for £3.35 at Sainsbury’s, which comes to a mere cost of just £4.20.
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