WINTER TIPS: NO MORE COLD HANDS AND CRACKED SKIN
No more cold feet and red noses. It's warmer now! The best tips for nourishing the skin from the cold and products that keep you warm even at low temperatures.
There is a big minus outside, there is dry air inside due to heating - it is not easy for our body in winter. The constant change of temperature between cold and warm air dries the skin, the immune system suffers and the susceptibility to diseases increases. In addition, in cold weather, we move less outdoors and instead spend more time in rooms with poor ventilation and low humidity.
PROTECT SKIN FROM THE COLD
"The skin is particularly vulnerable in cold weather," explains Dr. Nicole Konrad, a specialist in general medicine and traditional Chinese medicine in Vienna. "The skin is an important respiratory organ and a protective barrier against adverse external influences." However, when temperatures drop below zero, less fat is produced in the sebaceous glands. By entering from the field inside, the pores open, and more water is lost. An alternating game that dries the skin and makes it more sensitive. "If the protective barrier is broken, infections are easier to get," the doctor notes. "Small cracks on the surface of the skin provide cold germs with an ideal surface to attack."
We can prevent it with the help of the right skin care products. Unlike summer, now you need rich creams that contain more oil than water. Formulas with urea, hyaluronic acid or thermal water help to create a balance in water loss and moisture retention. Additives such as beeswax or marigold extract also protect against cold weather. In principle, the rule is: if drier and more sensitive skin is exposed to adverse weather conditions, it is necessary to use a higher lipid content. Accordingly, children's skin, skin in the elderly, and people who spend a lot of time outdoors require additional protection.
NO PROBLEM WHEN THE TEMPERATURE IS MINUS
Someone who knows exactly what it feels like when the cold creeps under your skin is Larissa Geier. A 24-year-old girl from Graz who works every winter for eight years as a ski instructor in the Styrian Alps. "Ski lessons always take place, regardless of whether the snow dust shines under the mountain sun or is so cold that every breath hurts." Temperatures up to 23 degrees below zero require very good equipment. She says that although they are trained well enough, a person cannot best protect.
To prevent the skin from freezing and drying out, it always has a moisturizer as well as care for sensitive lips. "A rich hand cream is also necessary, otherwise the skin on my hands will crack despite the gloves."
AVOID COLD FEET
In winter, the skin is weakened. "The body often has too little Qi, ie. Energy, to protect it ", explains doctor Konrad - TCM (for traditional Chinese medicine). "This is not surprising, because the body has to expend a lot of energy to maintain heat and ensure adequate blood flow." The heat is stored if necessary, on the outer parts of the body, in the so-called Acrenes. The blood vessels then shrink and allow less warm blood to flow there to protect important internal organs. The result is that the tips of the toes, toes and ears cool down quickly in the cold. Ski instructor Larisa has already had this rather painful experience.
"Once it was really very cold, I didn't feel my toes," she says. "Even in the hut, I couldn't warm up, my nails were completely blue when I got home."
The athlete was lucky, her legs recovered without any permanent damage. "Since then, I always wear heating patches, which I wear in ski boots and, if necessary, on my hands, those patches keep me warm for hours."
This is possible thanks to the active ingredients that either release the heat reaction on the skin or directly stimulate blood circulation and thus increase body heat on the affected areas of the skin. Thermo-creams that protect cold hands and feet from the cold during long winter walks work on the same principle. "Keeping your feet warm is especially important," the doctor agrees, "because the kidney meridian passes between the toes and feet, if cold penetrates that area, it penetrates deep into the body at the same time and can make the body very vulnerable and prone to bladder infections." Also, the neck, ears, forehead and lower back must be well protected.
HOW TO REHEAT PROPERLY
After a long day spent at the top of the mountain, Larisa prefers to settle down comfortably at home after a shower that relaxes her muscles cramped from the cold. Going to the sauna is also great, because proper therapy that causes sweating removes cold from the limbs and strengthens the immune system. Nicole Conrad recommends: warm baths or a cup of ginger tea with (Chinese) dates. "It warms the body, strengthens and helps against sensitivity to strong and cold winds."
In addition, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, cloves and fennel seeds warm the body well. When it comes to nutrition, the doctor advises hot dishes such as stews, soups and curries. "In particular, leek soup seems to make you recover very quickly from a cold. "In contrast, raw foods should be avoided in the cold season, and too many mucus-forming foods such as wheat, dairy products and sugar are counterproductive for colds or coughs.
MOVING IN THE FRESH AIR MAKES US READY FOR WINTER.
In addition to nutrition, according to Dr. Conrad for TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), enough sleep and good stress management also play an important role. "Instead of staying indoors while it's cold outside, dress well and enjoy a walk in the fresh air, which is good for your immune system and essential for staying healthy." Larisa Geier spends every free minute on the mountain, even if there are no appointments. skiing lessons. Her body is used to sports and exercise in the cold, and she rarely gets sick.
"I don't look at the weather," she says, "I like being on skis, there's nothing to keep me inside, I'm looking forward to dry weather, but even snowy days are great for skiing.
"Those who are outside during lunch can feel the pleasant sun on their skin. And that is not only good for the organism (for the formation of vitamin D), but also for the soul.
