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The Big Chill
 The
winter season along with the chilling air, brings about its own problems of
dryness, brittle nails, cracked feet, and all the rest of those cold
discomforts. From a soft and supple skin all summer, the skin gets scaly and
coarse in winter. Cold makes keratin stiffer and less flexible - you will
probably be familiar with the 'tight' feeling that skin has in the winter.
Another factor is that, the stratum corneum simply doesn't like the cold. In
extreme cases, this constant drying effect can lead to cracking, flaking and
redness. In the winter, skin tends to lose the battle against the environment.
That's when it needs to be looked after most.
The sudden dip in temperature, biting winds and central heating can have a
drying effect on the skin and hair, so check out these different ways to prevent
winter discontent.
Cracked Heels, Corns, Bunged-Up Feet And Hairy Legs
What To Do :
 Feet
get tired from wearing closed shoes throughout the day and they, too, need to
breathe. Because feet aren't always on display in winter, you may slack on foot
care. Make sure toenails are always neatly trimmed-long ones are just too gross
for words and besides, you could end up with ingrown toenails. Relax feet at the
end of the day by pressing along the inside of the foot from the heel to the big
toe. Point feet forward and rotate. A good foot massage will also help you sleep
better.
Take
time out to soak feet in warm water. (Too hot water will only dehydrate feet
further). Place some marbles in a bowl full of water and rub your feet against
them. Add a few drops of essential oil as well. Use a pumice stone to remove
dead skin.
Massage
your feet at night with brahmi oil for dry skin and castor oil for sensitive
skin. For corns and callouses try dipping cotton wool pads in fresh pineapple
juice or lime juice and apply as a bandage to the affected area. In time the
corn should dissolve. Try Krack cream for cracked feet.
Tip: Slit open a capsule of vitamin E (easily available at the local
chemist), mix the contents with a rich moisturizer and massage your feet with
it, at bedtime. It's absolute heaven. Get your legs Waxed, to get rid of the
layer of dead cells on the skin allowing the skin to breathe. Besides you never
known when you may need to well, undress suddenly!
Rough Hands, Brittle Nails, Fuzzy Arms
What To Do:
 Gloves,
are great for keeping the hands warm, and softer throughout the season.
Neglected hands, will reflect not only your personality but also your age.
Always keep hands clean (for purpose of hygiene as well as for reasons of
beauty) and never forget the golden rule of applying a hand cream whenever your
wash them.
Nails,
should be neatly filed and shaped on a regular basis. For under the nail
cleanliness use a nail brush and for smooth and shining nails use a nails
buffer. Try a cuticle softener, for it might prove worthy.
Refrain from biting your nails. To help, kick this habit keep nails short, and
paint them with a dark coloured polish. (Every-time you bite you'll be conscious
of chipping the polish).
As
with legs, arm too get hidden away this season. Again, waxing or using a
depilatory cream will remove dead cells clinging to the surface of the skin.
Don't even think about giving armpits a miss. You'll be risking a fungal
infection.
Elbows, need special attention this time of the year. Try these kitchen
recipes of lime juice, mixed with sugar to slough away dead skin and then
massaged with almonds oil to moisturize. Another is using mashed papaya with
sugar. The enzymes in the papaya will loosen the dead skin cells. If using fruit
for the skin is not your thing check out the market, for a foot sloughing cream
which will work just as well on your elbows.
Chapped Lips, General Body Dryness, Dry Brittle Hair.
What To Do:
 Makeup
left on-added to late-night partying- not only clogs up pores and toxifies your
system, it quickens the ageing process. No matter how late you get back from
that party take out 10 minutes to first remove makeup. Go for the eyes first.
Use an eye makeup remover (preferably, oil based) and gently clean if off-taking
care not to pull at the delicate area around the eye using only as much remover
as you need. An overload of oil will clog pores further causing irritation and
puffiness. Try using a cotton bud for removing traces of make-up between the
lashes. Choose a creamy cleanser for the face. Cleaning milk is great for dry
skin and Cleanser with fruit extract work, well for oily to normal skin. Wash
face with a soap free face wash.
The cold and dry climate will chap most lips. A thin coat of mousterizer, works
wonders and keeps lips soft. An alternative is using lip balm. The more you lick
your lips, drier they become. A baby's tooth brush rubbed gently against the
lips removes all dry flakes. Use a creamy, drenched- in-moisture lipsticks
during the day.
Few things beat a good soak in the tub. To relax blend just a few drops each of
essential oils such as of essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, and orange.
To counteract dry skin put some baby oil in the water. If it's a shower, you use
(shouldn't be too hot) rinse yourself with cooler water (pretend you're going
form a sauna to a swimming pool) to close pores dab yourself dry, and apply
almond oil mixed with a cream or lotion. If dryness doesn't disappear in time
then perhaps a dermatologist can help.
Since
it's cold outside, we can't go out with wet hair. So out comes the hairdryer-in
comes brittle, dry hair. And why should hair suffer? Vigorously rubbing hair dry
will strip if of its natural oils, so blot instead of rub. Try an intensive
conditioning treatment once a week.
Massaging
the head does improve circulation and promote healthy hair also worth a try is
the traditional hot oil treatment.
Dated 25 November 2012
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