Windburn is a condition which affects the entire skin of the body when exposed to strong and very cold winds. It occurs due to the skin’s exposure to cold wind and low humidity. These two conditions lead to depletion of the oil layer of the skin causing a drying effect which looks like a burn.
Some of the symptoms of windburn include: reddish skin and skin irritation which make the skin sore. This condition occurs mostly in winter. Not only does it affect the face but also the other body parts. For those who spend most of their time outdoors, here are 9 simple tips to treat and prevent windburn:
1. Bundle Up
One of the most recommended measure for treating and preventing windburn is to bundle up. Every part of your body needs to be completely covered. Leaving any part exposed to the cold increases the likelihood of getting windburn. Whenever you spend your time outdoors, cover your hands with gloves, a scarf to protect your neck and chin, a headband or a hat to cover your ears, and a face mask to protect your cheeks, nose and forehead. Moreover, you may wear goggles to protect your eyes.
2. Always Apply Your Sunscreen On The Skin
Sunscreen is a mandatory item for your skin any time of the year. It’s highly recommended to wear a moisturizer and a sunscreen when you are out in dry cold weather. The sunscreen reduces the drying effect on the skin, thus reducing the chances of getting windburn.
3. Stay Moist
It is advisable to moisturize wind burned skin frequently so as to protect it against more adverse effects. The best moisturizer for this case is petroleum jelly. If you can’t use petroleum jelly, then look for other products that have jojoba oil, Shea butter or beeswax. Non-acidic products without fragrances are highly recommended since they don’t cause skin irritations.
4. Lay It On Your Kisser
Your lips are vulnerable to windburn just like the other parts of the body. It’s therefore important to give them extra protection. Lip balms with sunscreens like Blistex and ChapStick are recommended. Also, lip balms that contain SPF will moisturize and nourish your dry lips.
5. Stay Indoors
One of the best measures to avoid windburn is staying inside your home. This means that there are no chances of being affected by chilly weather. Staying indoors is also beneficial as you can keep yourself busy with household chores, or try some other body workouts.
6. Put Your Best Foot Forward
Take necessary measures if you know that in the next few hours, you will spend most of the time outdoor. Avoid washing your face or shaving the head. Doing so removes the natural oils which offer protection against the cold dry weather.
7. Eat Food Full Of Vitamins
If your skin is affected by windburn, it is obvious that you would not like to advertise it to the outside world. One of the best methods to counter the effects of wind burnt skin is eating food full of vitamin E. This vitamin is very essential in healing the skin. Vitamin E is readily available in avocados, greens, almonds and broccoli. Other than these foods, try others with vitamin E, though the ones mentioned are the best choices. Another way of getting vitamin E is by opening vitamin E caps and then applying them on the skin directly.
8. Take A Pill
Windburn might be very severe on your skin, such that it becomes very painful. Besides this, the skin may swell up and become sore. When this happens, it is advisable to take an anti-inflammatory drug to ease the soreness and the discomfort associated with the windburn. Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin and ibuprofen are recommended to ease the pain and accelerate the healing process. Alternatively, combining a pain reliever with a skin moisturizer could also reduce the soreness and pain on the skin.
9. Defrost Naturally
After leaving the cold chilly weather, health experts recommend that people should not go directly to hot places – like where there is fire or heaters – to defrost themselves. Instead, they should leave the skin to be defrosted by the indoor room temperature. This makes the skin heal naturally. Furthermore, use of mild cleansers and hot baths must be totally avoided at this time.
The best way to avoid windburn is to bundle yourself. Keeping your face, hands, neck, lips and all other parts covered keeps windburn far away from you. Don’t get wind burn this winter, but if you do, use the tips above to combat it.
Joecy Parker is an Online Manager for Dermatend – Cream for Moles and Skin Tags. She likes to Blog about Health, Beauty and Skin care. You can also follow her on Twitter.
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