Get your skin ready for Christmas

Dermatologists share skin care tips for your 40s and 50s

The Christmas holidays are fast approaching. That means parties, school plays but also cold winter days and nights. Here are a few tips to get your skin festive-season fit:

1) Changing your moisturisers

The colder, drier months often require heavier moisturisers for all skin types.  Cream-based moisturisers are more hydrating than lotions. Gels tend to dry the skin out more. Those with dry skin do better with rich ointments. For many people, acne tends to worsen in winter without the suppressive effects of strong sunlight.  Many of their acne treatments, which can be quite harsh at the best of times, dry the skin out even more.  Water-based moisturiser formulations tend to trigger fewer breakouts.

2) Sunscreen is not just for summer!

Despite the bad weather, your skin is still exposed to UV and it’s potentially damaging effects on a daily basis. So you need to continue with daily sunscreen SPF 30 and 4 or 5 star UVA protection on the face, particularly if you have pigmentation problems.

3) The Winter re-boot

Winter is a good time to repair the damage sustained from the summer sun. Retinoids are not only great for acne-prone skin, but also for treating fine lines and pigmentation. However they make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so Christmas is a good time to start these. Many treatments like chemical peels, laser treatments and intense pulse light require a period of sun avoidance before and after the procedure and that’s why a lot of people have them at this time of year. The holidays are also a good time of year to hide whilst your skin recovers from the more aggressive procedures! If you are thinking of botulinum toxin injections for Christmas remember it can take two weeks after the treatment to see the maximum effect.

4) Festive feasting

One of the best things about Christmas is the great food and drink that comes with it, but this can also wreak havoc with the skin. In particular high-sugar content food and drink has been shown in recent years to not only aggravate conditions like acne but also play an important role in ageing. There are some relatively new anti-ageing creams which address the glycation process but can’t completely reverse it  Eating well is a better strategy! Sites like Deliciously Ella have great Christmas recipe ideas which are both well, delicious and have less refined sugar.

Christmas is a time for fun, family and friends. Hopefully with some of the tips above you can enjoy it to the fullest and keep your skin in good shape as well!

 

Dr Nisith Sheth is a Consultant in the Dermatology Surgery and Laser Unit of St John’s Institute of Dermatology. He trained in the UK, Canada and the USA. He sees and treats all skin conditions, so contact us today!