DOES YOUR SKIN GO CRAZY during the change of seasons?

It may be time to adjust your daily routine to keep your skin fresh and renewed in dryer weather conditions. It’s not too late to give your skin the moisture and care it deserves for the upcoming months:

• Out with the old. Winter is the perfect time to get rid of old items you don’t need anymore, right? It’s an even better time to get rid of dead skin and bacteria left on your face with a gentle, oatmeal based exfoliant. Exfoliating two to three times each week will help avoid acne scarring and irritation and those dreaded clogged pores.

• Watch out! Extreme heat could be drying out your skin even more. Use Lukewarm Water– When rinsing your cleanser, avoid water that is too hot or too cold. Your skin is very sensitive and not being careful with temperature could cause irritation and break capillaries. That means shower water temperature can also be damaging if it is too hot.

• Drench and hydrate. Don’t forget to use deep-hydrating creams and facials to ensure your skin is receiving enough moisture during this harsh, dry season. Since our skin is dryer because of the harsh elements you might find that a heavier moisturizer might benefit you.

The best time to apply a moisturizer is just after getting out of the shower while your skin is still moist. For your body, I highly recommend the use of a dense creamy body lotion. For the face, I recommend a lighter moisturizer which contains antioxidants and vitamins A and E. Also, don’t forget to stay hydrated yourself. Be sure to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day to maintain a radiant complexion.

The pH balance of a product is one of the most important factors; it must be in a specific range to not only allow— but promote—absorption.

Over the course of my career, I have found that lifestyle, age, priorities, nutrition, genetics, and environment all trump skin type. So I have developed a customized skin care regimen that focuses on your specific skins characteristics and your lifestyle. The environment in which you live, work, and play can influence your skin.

A change in climate may affect the dryness of your skin. Living in dry, Southwestern climates, such as Arizona, is an obvious cause of dryer skin because the heat actually bakes moisture out of your skin. When skin doesn’t retain moisture, you need a heavier moisturizer and a creamier cleanser.

Letting it all sink in…

Regardless of the effectiveness of a product, it will be of little help if the ingredients are unable to penetrate into the skin, as absorption problems can block even the best skin care lines. The pH balance of a product is one of the most important factors; it must be in a specific range to not only allow—but promote—absorption. When an invisible, unintended barrier is challenging the product, you’ll get a less-than-optimal result because the deeper collagen layers are never reached.

By following these tips you will ensure your skin stays healthy and protected through the dry weather. You can do it — keep the skin you love, even in the harshest winter months.

Dr. Joseph Rucker is a board certified plastic surgeon who has developed a proprietary skin care line called Enza Essentials specifically formulated around lifestyle, age and location. For more info, visit www.enza.com.