Winter weather can be hard on our skin and hair. Cold temperatures, low humidity, and dry indoor air can all take a toll. Here are some simple tips to help keep your skin and hair healthy throughout the winter months.

Soothing Dry Winter Skin

Your skin needs extra support in winter weather. Cover as much skin as possible, including your hands. If your face is uncovered, remember your sunscreen – winter sun can still damage the skin. Try to limit your exposure to water; keep your showers and baths to 10 minutes in warm – not hot – water, and wear rubber gloves when doing dishes or household chores involving water and cleaning products. Also consider switching to a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser and apply moisturizer within a few minutes while skin is still damp to help lock in hydration. Look for creams containing ceramides, glycerin, or hyaluronic acid, which help strengthen the skin barrier and attract moisture. Using a humidifier at home can also add moisture back into dry indoor air.

Lips Need Winter Love, Too

The skin on your lips is thinner and more vulnerable to cold wind and low humidity. Look for petroleum-based lip products to help keep moisture in and prevent chapping, and remember that other ingredients, like menthol or salicylic acid, can actually contribute to lip dryness or irritate your lips. Many balms and even lipsticks offer sun protection, as well, so look for SPF 30 products if you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors.

Staying on Top of Healthy Hair

Cold air and heated indoor environments can leave hair brittle and dull. Washing with lukewarm water, spacing out shampoo days, and using a nourishing conditioner can help. You can also use a dry shampoo product to absorb excess oil between washings, but it shouldn’t replace regular washing.

How you dry your hair in winter counts, too: Air drying is healthier for your hair, so try to limit heat styling as much as possible. Using a leave-in conditioner or lightweight oil on your hair ends can also reduce breakage and limit static electricity that so often accompanies dry winter air.

Finally, What’s Inside Counts

Amid the creams, oils, and supplements is one important skin and hair care factor that can’t be overlooked: Nutrition is a critical key to healthy skin and hair. Dry, flaky skin, slow-healing wounds, thinning hair, excessive shedding, and dandruff can all be indications that you’re missing essential vitamins and minerals. While these signs don’t confirm a deficiency on their own, they can be useful cues to review dietary habits and, if needed, consult a healthcare professional.

That’s why your first and best defense to keep your largest organ (skin) healthy, as well as your hair and nails, is a well-rounded diet that includes lean proteins, healthy fats and carbohydrates, and vitamin-rich foods. And don’t forget hydration – water is essential for healthy skin!

Seek Help

If you are enrolled in a Transocean medical plan and your skin and hair care routine checks all the winter care boxes but you’re still experiencing excessive dryness or other concerns, a virtual telehealth visit may help determine whether an in-person visit or a referral to a dermatologist is appropriate. After all, what better way to get through winter than to love the skin you’re in?