Keep your skin protected and smooth this winter.

Winteris the season where we all dream of leaving our cold, chilly cities and heading to the warmer destination. If you're not able to spend the money on the latest holiday destination making sure you're ready for winter's harsh weather is an important consideration.

You can make for prepare your vehicle for winter conditions and enhancements you can make for your house when winter's harsh effects. Are you ensuring your body is safe?

The harsh winter weather can be hard for our bodies. Humidity is low, which means that the air is dry and temperatures are frigid. If you don't make the proper steps to protect your skin from the harsh winter conditions, you'll be dealing with rough, inflamed skin when the warm, sunny days arrive.

Follow these guidelines for keeping your face looking fresh and refreshed.

Use sunscreen

There is a common misconception that sunscreen is only used on warm daytime days while lying on the shore or relaxing by the pool. However, if you are planning to engage in winter activities such as snowboarding or skiing sun protection is an absolute requirement. 

The sun is the most powerful UV (UV) radiation. This is which is the primary reason for skin cancer. If sunlight bounces off of a surface, it may cause an increase in UV exposure. As per the Skin Cancer Foundation, "snow reflect 80% of sun's UV light" increasing the harmful exposure by a third and increasing the chance of injury to the skin. Make sure you use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 15 or more on the skin that is exposed to shield your body.

Wear your clothes in a professional manner

This may seem like common good sense, but the best method to safeguard your skin during winter seasons is to dress appropriately. When temperatures drop and the weather gets colder, you should layer up. 

According to the National Weather Service suggests wearing two to three layers of clothing and warm, waterproof footwear in the winter months and three to four layers along with a warm hat and waterproof boots during a cold winter day and more than three layers and a warm hat mask, and waterproof boots in extremely cold winter days.

Do not take long, hot showers

After a day spent outdoors in the winter the first thing you'll think of is be to crank the heat of your shower up to the maximum level it will be able to go, and then relax till the steaming hot shower flows out. However, your ideal shower may harm your skin. 

Based on the Mayo Clinic, one of the reasons for dry skin is the hot showers and baths. Set the temperature of your water to warm and not hot. Avoid arguments over the lack of hot water or spending too long in the shower. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends limit shower time to 10-minutes or less. A second tip is that once you're done, rub clean your face.

Apply creams and Ointments

The winter months are known to dry the skin. However, you can stop your skin from turning rough and dry by investing in rich creams and Ointments. As per the American Academy of Dermatology Association rich creams, ointments and creams work as an excellent defense against the winter-related effects weather since they hold in existing moisture within the skin . 

They are also less irritating than lotions. To achieve the optimal results apply a cream on the entire body after you shower. If you're predisposed to dry and flaky skin type, combine the cream with oil to provide an additional layer of protection.

Make use of a hand cream

The peak influenza time within the United States is during winter months. Although there is no proof that cold temperatures will bring people the flu and spread it to others, touching a potentially contaminated surface can trigger. Cleaning your hands frequently is a must however, so should apply hand cream. Similar to how you wash your body, apply the hand cream right after washing to seal in moisture.

Wear gloves

Alongside applying hand creams and wearing gloves during cold days can shield your fingers from damaging consequences of winter's cold air. Hands are the first signs of dry skin. Protect your skin from cracks and nails that are brittle.

Choose a great foot cream

Your toes are encased in heavy socks and boots that are even thicker throughout winter. However, just because your feet are secluded from the outside world does not mean they aren't worthy of an affectionate touch and attention. 

Dry conditions can cause rough, cracked skin and your feet could suffer the consequences if you don't take care of them. If you're looking to have perfect feet throughout the year apply a foot care cream to your feet following a shower and before bed.

Apply Lip balm

If you're exposed to the sun while you are out in the cold the chances are that your lips are susceptible to damage. Winds can dry your lips, leaving the lips cracked and peeling. Consider investing in an oil-based lip balm to keep your lips soft and well-hydrated. 

It is recommended by the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery suggests using the lip balm that has SPF to protect your lips from the harsh elements but also UV rays. Make sure that you don't share the balm on your lips with anyone else to stop the spread of bacteria and viruses.