Page 19 - Florida Sentinel 11-26-21

Health
1. Decrease Your Time In The Shower
A long, hot shower seems like the perfect remedy for relaxation on a cold winter day.
However, showering with hot water for long periods of time can have a drying effect on your skin. The hot water combined with soap can wash away the nat- ural oils in your skin.
Decreasing your shower time to ten minutes or less can help prevent your skin from drying out. Applying natural moisturiz- ers to your skin like jojoba oil or shea butter after you pat yourself dry from the shower will help to seal in moisture. Adding essen- tial oils like rose, geranium, or chamomile to your moisturizer can amp up the moisturizing power.
2. Cleanse Your Skin With A Moisturizing Soap
The thought of not using soap to get clean is hard to imag- ine for most. There’s nothing wrong with using soap, but soap can be harsh on the skin, espe- cially in the winter.
Avoiding antibacterial soaps or soaps that have fragrances can prevent the skin from drying. Moisturizing soaps with little to no fragrance have a less drying effect on the skin.
3. Don’t Over Exfoliate
Clearing away dead skin cells is an important part of any skin- care routine. However, exfoliat- ing too much during the cold months can be damaging to your skin. When you over-exfoliate,
you strip away your skin’s natu- ral oils and cause inflammation. This can lead to breakouts and hyperpigmentation of the skin, aka dark spots or blemishes.
If you have normal or oily skin, limit the use of exfoliating creams or sponges to 1 time per week instead of 2 to 3. If dry skin is the norm for you, limiting ex- foliation to twice a month may be beneficial during dry months.
4. Stay Hydrated!
Drinking water during the cold season is just as important as when the sun is blazing. Your skin is the largest organ your body has and plays a vital role in your health. It provides a protec- tive barrier for your internal or- gans and muscles while serving as an avenue for your body to get rid of toxins.
Drinking at least eight, 8- ounce glasses of water daily will provide your skin with what it needs to do its job.
5. Rest Up!
With our busiest holidays during the cold months, it can seem nearly impossible to get enough rest. Rest is an impor- tant component of having healthy skin. Without adequate sleep, our skin has a hard time regenerating from the damage done by harsh winter weather conditions.
Sleep deprivation causes a decrease in blood flow to the skin which can lead to inflam- mation and premature aging.
Setting a time to unplug from your newsfeed or favorite show can help you get to bed ear- lier. Putting your children on a sleep schedule will help cut down on endless hours of trying to get them off to sleep.
Your skin not only is impor- tant to your physical health, it adds to your self-esteem and confidence! By incorporating these tips, you can keep your skin healthy and glowing in any weather.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 7-B