The extreme weather conditions during winter can cause our tender protective barrier to dry out.
Here’s a reminder when traveling during cold season: It’s not only our body heat that we must protect during the harsh weather — our skin needs extra care too. According to Reid Health Hospital, it is during this time that our skin gets exposed to cold air, whipping wind, and sun reflecting on the snow.
Low humidity steals moisture from the air and your skin. And staying indoors won’t make things better either, as humidity turns cold air from the outside into dry heat inside. All these can make your skin dry, flaky, and itchy, and can also lead to cracking and bleeding.
To keep you and your skin happy as you frolic in a winter wonderland, The POST interviewed board-certified dermatologist and dermatopathologist Zac Patio on how to keep our skin healthy in the cold, snowy season. Patio is one of the doctors of Cleopatra Medical Aesthetics, a newly launched dermatology clinic in Cagayan de Oro that provides advanced solutions for skin aging, pigmentation, and other skin irregularities among Filipinos.
The clinic announced its launch through an intimate lunch with members of the press in Sala Restaurant in Makati on Nov. 18. Read on for the tips Dr. Patio exclusively shared with The POST about keeping your skin healthy during your winter travels.
Make sure to pack your moisturizer
Moisturizer keeps your skin hydrated and protected against pollutants and other environmental elements, so make sure to bring it with you when you fly to winter destinations. Ingredients like humectants attract water from the air and deep layers of the skin to keep your skin hydrated, while occlusives lock in moisture.
Patio recommends that you apply it “liberally” on your face before anything else when you’re going out. And to help lock in hydration better, apply the moisturizer after washing your face and not after drying it with a towel. You can do this twice a day — in the morning before you head out and at night as part of your skincare routine.
If your skin is very dry, you can reapply moisturizer in the middle of the day. This is also necessary if you are dealing with inflammatory skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis.
Use sunscreen with SPF 30
Because the weather is cold during winter, people tend to think that they no longer need to protect their skin with sunscreen, said Patio. The dermatologist then reminds everyone to “always bring it with you.”
He recommends using sunscreen with at least SPF 30 because “sometimes, radiation from the sun is still high even though it’s winter.” Reid Health also reported that since the sun’s rays are reflecting from snow, UV rays are hitting you in more ways than usual.
When it comes to applying sunscreen, Patio recommends spreading it all over the face and neck 30 minutes before you go out. “You can apply moisturizer first, then next is the sunscreen. If you have a hybrid product that combines moisturizer and sunblock in one, then it’s fine,” he said.
“If you’ll stay out and have a lot of sun exposure, reapply the sunscreen every two hours,” Patio added, noting that there are sunscreen sprays and roll-ons to help you with that, especially if you’re wearing makeup. Otherwise, you would have to remove your makeup before reapplying sunscreen to prevent the lotion from clogging your pores.
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Wash with warm water
While washing or bathing with hot water relieves us from the coldness of the weather, it would be best to avoid doing so as it can do more harm than good. Hot water dilates your blood vessels to help your body cool down. This, in turn, makes your skin feel irritated, red, and dry.
Reid Health recommends using warm water instead, which can still keep your body’s natural oils that keep the skin protected and healthy. It’s also a good idea to avoid taking a bath for too long and too frequently. After bathing or showering, pat dry and moisturize your damp skin.
Get a HydraFacial skincare treatment
Now that you know how to keep your skin hydrated during your winter trip, it’s also a good idea to keep your skin fully geared up even before your flight. One of the best ways to do this is by getting a HydraFacial skincare treatment at a dermatology clinic.
HydraFacial is a multistep facial treatment that cleanses, extracts impurities, and hydrates your skin using a patented device. It is one of the services offered by Cleopatra Medical Aesthetics and is recommended by Dr. Patio for extreme winter weather. “For the harsh weather, I think our HydraFacial treatment is the best. It plumps up your skin, hydrates it, and uses serum for that glowing, hydrated look,” he said.
The procedure usually takes 30 to 45 minutes, depending on your skin condition and concerns. It consists of three steps: (1) cleansing, which includes a gentle exfoliating peel, (2) extracting impurities like blackheads and whiteheads, and (3) hydrating using intense moisturizers.
For this treatment, Cleopatra Medical Aesthetics uses “professional-strength LED Light Therapy to address wrinkles and acne.” This is coupled with a patented Vortex-Fusion Technology that works like a vacuum to open pores for easier, gentler, extractions and more effective application of active ingredients.
Patio said that the “painless and relaxing” treatment has no downtime or recovery period, meaning you can get it done anytime and fit it easily into your schedule. In addition, those who will be getting the treatment at their clinic can expect results including instant glow, improved skin elasticity, smoother texture, even skin tone, and reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Skincare experts recommend getting a HydraFacial every four weeks, as this is when the skin completes its cycle of skin cell growth and exfoliation. It is available in several skincare clinics in the Philippines, including Cleopatra Medical Aesthetics at Las Ramblas corner Beacon Avenue, Pueblo Business Park.
You can book an appointment through their social media accounts, contact number +639951614726, or e-mail cleopatramed@diagroup.company.
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