We may cover up when those balmy summer days are a distant memory but what should we do to care for our skin in the winter months? ANNETTE HARMAN from Geelong skin clinic Vitality Laser & Skin offers expert advice on keeping our skin happy, healthy and hydrated when we live in the changing climate of Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula

When it comes to taking care of our skin during the colder months it is a common mistake to just accept your skin will be dry and do nothing to combat it.
Instead, the best thing you can do is to love the skin you are in – all year around.
Heating and the extreme cold temperatures contribute to dehydration, flaky, dull and dry skin during winter therefore adjusting your skin routine accordingly is essential. The cold weather can also exacerbate conditions such as eczema, dry skin, psoriasis and even rosacea.
Here is how to keep your skin nourished and hydrated all winter long:

Invest in a good moisturiser

It’s important to moisturise your face and body all year round, especially during winter when certain cellular processes occur along with the change of environmental factors which effect the natural moisturising of the skin, causing it to be drier that it would be in summer. Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid is extremely hydrating including antioxidants such as A and E.

Apply sunscreen

It might seem unusual to prioritise sunscreen in winter but UV rays are a consideration year around which means sunscreen remains a vital tool in your skincare kit. Apply every morning to your face and areas of exposed skin to prevent premature ageing.

Stay hydrated

Two litres a day is the ideal amount of water to drink each day so just because the weather cools and you may not feel as thirsty, don’t forget to keep up your H20 intake.

Watch your diet

Diet and sleep effect all skin conditions as they influence hormones and gut health.
Repair of enzymes, as well as many other processes, occur when we sleep so when this is inhibited it adds extra stress on our body. Gut health is a major factor that will result in various flare-ups of many skin conditions. Internal inflammation of the gut will exacerbate any external inflammatory conditions which is why it’s so important to treat skin conditions by taking a holistic approach.

Continue to exfoliate

Exfoliating is not just for summer! It should be done 1-2 times a week in all seasons as this removes excess dead skin cells. Home care exfoliants should be done through the use of an enzyme exfoliant or granular exfoliant as this helps to reduce texture in the skin and stimulates the cells underneath.

Take advantage of technology

An excellent way to assess an individual’s winter skin is via a Visia skin complexion and analysis system. This is the most sophisticated diagnostic skin analysis equipment currently available in Geelong, utilising specialised digital photography with a comprehensive series of reports to provide a true picture of your skin’s condition and skincare requirements.

Use quality skincare

We recommend the following products including Cosmedix Emulsion Intense Hydrator, Miss Vitality Good Oil, Ultraceuticals B2 Hydrating Serum, Cosmedix Opti Crystal Eye Serum, Pevonia Reactive Skin Care Cream, Aspect Dr Redless Serum and Ultraceuticals Ultra Replenishing Mask.

Treat your skin

Consider clinic-based treatments to manage those common winter skin concerns. These include:
FACIALS: Pevonia Anti-Free Radical Mask Treatment. Repair you skin while deeply nourishing and replenishing your complexion, leaving your skin well hydrated,, toned and visibly radiant.
PEELS: Peels are wonderful to aid in hydration depending on what type of peel it is. The best way to treat any skin condition is for a dermal clinician to physically see what the skin presents with in person and treat accordingly.
LED light therapy: Increases glycosaminoglycans function and stimulates ATP energy production of the cells to aid in putting the skin back to its normal functioning state. We recommend the Omnilux LED light therapy.
LASER GENESIS: Laser Genesis aids in stimulating growth factors and wound repair, as well as stimulating collagen and elastin.

Perfect time for laser treatments

Winter is an excellent time of the year for laser hair removal and skin rejuvenating procedures, including chemical peels and microdermabrasion, as you are required to avoid direct sunlight. The laser is far less effective if your skin has excessive pigment from sun exposure. At Vitality we use the most effective medical grade non-invasive light-based treatments for skin rejuvenation improving brown spots, sun damage and skin redness. This non-invasive Limelight facial treats benign lesions, improving skin tone and imperfections associated with ageing and photo damage. Exposing your skin to the harmful UV rays will damage the DNA in cells risking skin  cancer and speeding up the ageing process.

Annette Harman is the founder and owner of the award-winning Geelong skin clinic Vitality Laser & Skin. An industry expert, she holds a Bachelor Degree in Dermal Science specialising in non-surgical treatments, laser, skin diseases and disorders. For more expert advice visit Vitality’s Geelong beauty salon at Gateway Plaza Leopold or make a booking here.