If you’re searching for ways to treat and prevent windburn this winter, I have got some simple solutions for you! Windburn, if you are not familiar, is a skin condition that occurs due to prolonged exposure to strong, cold wind. Often times, skin turns red and feels sore as a result. If you spend a lot of time outdoors for work or for your workout, read up on these tips to treat and prevent windburn.
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1. Cover Yourself up
It should come as no surprise that one of the top tips to treat and prevent windburn is to cover up. The more skin that is exposed to the elements, the more likely you are to get wind burned in those areas. Wear clothing in layers with long johns, a scarf, earmuffs, hat and gloves. Your face is probably the most susceptible to windburn, so for days where you will spend a lot of time outdoors or the weather is downright horrid, keep your eyes and face covered, too. I know it might not be the chicest look, but a ski mask works great or you can always wear a scarf to cover your nose and mouth, along with some sunnies or goggles.
2. Slather on Sunscreen
I bet you are wondering what sunscreen has to do with windburn. Well, the two are not related, but wearing sunscreen is something that we should all do no matter what the time of year. Even if the sky is gloomy, you still want to apply sunscreen to keep your skin protected from damaging UV rays. Could you imagine having both sun and wind burned skin? Not fun.
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3. Ready for the Jelly
Another tip to prevent wind burned skin is to create a protective barrier between your skin and the weather. One commonly used product is petroleum jelly. It is thick, cheap and readily available, so it is a great option to keep your skin protected. However, I know some of you might not be too enthusiastic to slather Vaseline all over your face. In that case, look for skin care products that contain shea butter, jojoba oil or beeswax. Some fab options are Weleda’s Cold Cream or Kiehl’s All-Sport Non-Freeze Face Protector.
4. Stay in
Some days, it just pays to stay indoors. If you have the option to stay inside on days that are extremely cold, why not do it? Just because you stay inside does not mean you have to sit and do nothing. Pull out some workout DVDs, dust off your treadmill or get your workout in by doing household chores. There are lots of advantages to working out outdoors, but staying in also allows you to try new forms of exercise.
5. Protect Your Pucker
Wind burned lips are nothing to sneeze at, so it is certainly worth it to keep your lips protected before you go out. Look for an emollient lip balm or ointment that contains SPF to seal in moisture and nourish dry, cracked lips. WebMD suggests Aveeno Lip Conditioner Essential Moisture SPF 15 or Blistex Lip Infusion SPF 15.
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6. Re-moisturize
So far we have talked about some things we can do in order to prevent windburn, but what if your skin is already wind burned? One of the best things to do is to re-moisturize the affected area. Grab some aloe vera or creams that contain shea or cocoa butter or vitamin E and gently apply it to your skin. Some people like to use petroleum jelly to hydrate and soothe skin, also.
7. Eat Your Vitamins
Another way to combat the effects of wind burned skin is to load up your plate with plenty of foods that are rich in vitamin E. Vitamin E plays an important role in healing skin and wind burned skin will appreciate the extra help! Almonds, greens, avocado, broccoli and olives are all yummy choices. Another option is to break open vitamin E caps and apply them directly to your skin.
8. Defrost
When you come back indoors from the cold, automatically running to the fireplace or heater might not be the best idea. The folks at Skincare-Answers.com recommend allowing the room temperature to naturally defrost your skin instead. They say that doing so is quicker in helping your skin heal naturally. Also, avoid hot showers or baths and use mild cleansers on your skin during this time.
9. Pop a Pill
If your skin is painful and maybe even a bit swollen, elevate the swollen area if possible and take an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen or aspirin as directed. Although taking a pain reliever will not help skin heal, it’s something you can do in addition to moisturizing your skin that can help you feel better.
I hope you avoid getting wind burned skin this winter, but if you do, I hope these tips come in handy for you. The top way to prevent wind burn is to cover yourself up so if nothing else, please remember to keep your face, hands and lips well covered or protected! Do you have tips on treating or preventing windburn?
Sources: webmd.com, fitsugar.com, health.howstuffworks.com, wisegeek.com, skincare-answers.com, health.howstuffworks.com, health.howstuffworks.com, ohindustry.com, self.com