It's Your BodyFebruary 2017

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The Face of WinterHow to Protect Your Skin in the Dry, Cold MonthsBarbara Hey

Protect your skin from winter's harsh elements for a healthy complexion year round

In the midst ofmovement andchaos, keepstillness insideof you. DeepakChopra.

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In this Issue

The Face of WinterBe Smart About SunscreenThe Sunshine Vitamin

Winter can be tough on skin, but there'smuch you can do to defend against theassaults of the season. The skin'sprimary role -- to protect the body -- isever more important in extremeweather, and in most locations, thatmeans extreme cold outside and dry,over-heated air inside during thewinter. Your epidermis must "weather"these drastic fluctuations intemperature, and often the result ischapped, scaly, flaky skin.

Facing the FrostThe biggest wintertime concern isdehydration. In colder climates, youdefinitely need to increase theprotection quotient. "You must

over-treat skin to keep it hydrated," saysBarbara Schumann-Ortega, vicepresident of Wilma Schumann SkinCare in Coral Gables, Florida. Thatmeans a shift from lighter skin careproducts used during warmer months towinter-weight products, such as thicker,cream-based cleansers and moisturizers.These will provide stronger barriersagainst the harsh environment of winter

months. And this is especially importantfor the face. And if much time is spentoutdoors skiing, snowboarding, orwalking, for example, your complexionneeds heavy-duty protection from briskwind and winter sun as well.

"People often forget about sunscreen inthe winter," says Schumann-Ortega. Forregular outdoor time -- a few hours aday -- a sunscreen with an SPF of 20should be sufficient. But if a winter tripon the slopes or shore is part of theplan, sunscreen with a higher protectivefactor is needed, even if your time isspent beneath an umbrella. "Both snowand sand reflect the sun," she says, sodon't be caught unprepared. Doubleyour efforts to protect the parts of the

face particularly prone to display theeffects of dryness: The lips and the areaaround the eyes need a continual shieldagainst the elements. Ask your skin careprofessional which products areappropriate for your skin type andeffective, seasonal moisturizers andsunscreens.

When you're outside in harsh conditions, cover up with gloves, scarves, and sunscreen.

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"When it's cold, you lose blood flow tothe skin," says Schumann-Ortega. Theresult is a dry, dull tone. Facialtreatments can increase circulation andrejuvenate a healthy glow. But,Schumann-Ortega cautions, be carefulwith peels and resurfacing treatmentsduring the winter, as they can do moredamage than good with skin that'salready taxed from the harshenvironmental conditions.

Winterizing the BodyIt's not just the face that suffers in thewinter. Skin everywhere dries out, andgets that flaky look and uncomfortablewinter itch. Hot baths -- a delightfulantidote to the chill -- can furtherexacerbate dry skin. The solution? Add10 drops of an aromatic essential oil tothe bath to moisturize as you soak.(Lavender is particularly soothing to dryskin.) Then apply an emollientmoisturizer -- a product that feelsparticularly thick and creamy to thetouch, like a body butter -- geared forextra dry, rough, chapped, or crackedskin. Apply it immediately after dryingoff, when the skin can most readilyabsorb the lotion and restore its barrier.If dryness is still bothersome, indulge ina salt rub and full-body conditioningwrap to remoisturize.

And don't forget feet and hands. Thefeet, hidden by socks and boots allwinter long, often go neglected this timeof year and need attention, but the mostobvious casualties of winter are thehands. Exposed to the elements and thesubject of frequent hand-washingduring the cold and flu season, handscan turn to rawhide just as holidayparties go into full swing -- not anelegant look for holding onto achampagne flute.

This is the season to slather hands withheavy, oil-rich cream at night and coverthem with gloves. And don't forget feet:they also require the same special care.Consider a moisturizer for them in theevenings and sleep with socks on. In themorning, your feet and hands will feelsoft and moisturized. Your skin careprofessional can recommendappropriate gloves, socks, and ahome-care routine for this process. Inaddition, treat hands and feet to regularspa treatments to exfoliate dead skincells, and paraffin treatments toreplenish and moisturize.

Relax and Enjoy ItIn winter, and all seasons, stress candisrupt even the best skin. "We alwaysask clients what's going on in life, sinceadrenaline, holiday pressures, and evenjoy can have an effect on bodychemistry," says Schumann-Ortega. Theskin reflects it all. "Some clients maycome in after four weeks and they looklike a train wreck," she says. So do yourbest to minimize the effects of stress withexercise, meditation, and proper diet.And don't skimp on the self-care.Schedule time for pampering, relaxingtreatments.

Some final tips:- Drink water. Even when there's a chillin the air and thirst isn't overwhelming,water consumption needs to be high tocombat the dry air.- Avoid products with a high percentageof synthetic ingredients (propyleneglycol, petroleum), chemical detergents

(sodium laurel sulfates), and artificialcolors and fragrances.- Employ quality skin care productssuited to your skin type.- Check your medications. Illness andongoing pharmaceuticals can upset pHbalance.- Incorporate nutritional supplementsinto your skin health regimen, such asessential fatty acids, zinc, magnesium,vitamin A, and B vitamins.

Winter doesn't have to take its long,hard toll on your skin. Ask your skincare professional about hydratingproducts and circulation-enhancingtreatments to ease the long, dry monthsof winter. After all, spring is just aroundthe corner.

Make sure you are protected from UV rays.

Be Smart About SunscreenJason Barbaria

The Sunshine VitaminShelley Burns

According to the American CancerSociety, more than 2 million people arediagnosed with skin cancer in the UnitedStates each year. There are more than2,000 over-the-counter sunscreenformulas on the market today. How canyou tell which sunscreens are the safest,most effective, and represent the bestvalue for your money? In most cases, theanswer comes down to the differencebetween the two types of filteringingredients. Here's what you need toknow.

Chemical or Physical?The UV radiation in sunlight consists ofUV-A, UV-B, and UV-C rays. UV-Aand UV-B are both responsible forphotoaging, skin cancer, sunburn,tanning, and wrinkling. UV-C is not afactor in skin health, as it is absorbed bythe Earth's atmosphere and does notreach us in significant amounts.Broad-spectrum sunscreen protectsagainst both UV-A and UV-B. Thisprotection can work in one of two ways:chemical or physical.

Chemical UV Filters-- Work by absorbing UV radiation.-- Require application 30 minutesbefore sun exposure.-- Provide partial protection from UVspectrum.-- May irritate the skin and eyes.-- Not regulated for safety by the USFood and Drug Administration (FDA);some may even be carcinogenic.-- Not photostable (exposure tosunlight degrades effectiveness).-- Avobenzone is the most commonlyused chemical filter ingredient.

Physical UV Filters-- Work by reflecting UV radiation.-- Start protecting immediately uponuse.-- Provide comprehensive broad-spectrum protection.-- Non-irritating to skin and eyes.-- Safe, as particles do not penetrate theskin.-- Highly photostable (exposure tosunlight does not change effectiveness).

Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are themost commonly used physical filteringredients. Clothing and shadestructures also count as physical filters.

Jason Barbaria is director of marketing atDermagenics, a skin care line that includessunscreen, cleansers, and moisturizers.

In the world of skin health, we focus onways to improve skin quality. We work toprevent acne, cellular damage, dryness,and wrinkles. It is less common todiscuss how a skin-care strategy mayincrease risk of developing other healthconditions.

Skin cancer is one example. To preventskin cancer, we protect ourselves withsunscreen--especially during thesummer months. But by using sunscreenwe are blocking the absorption ofvitamin D, the "sunshine" vitamin.

Vitamin D is fat soluble and containspowerful antioxidant andanticarcinogenic properties that canprevent premature aging and cellulardamage. Solid research indicates thatvitamin D plays a role in reducing therisk of cancer, specifically breast, colon,

and prostate cancers. Vitamin D hasbeen associated with preventing diabetesby reducing insulin sensitivity. It alsoimproves heart health, reduces the riskof multiple sclerosis, strengthens bones,and decreases the effects of seasonalaffective disorder.

Vitamin D can help resolve skinconditions like psoriasis, as it plays arole in skin cell regulation, includingcell turnover and growth. Vitamin D canbe effective in reducing the itching andflaking associated with this disorder.Ultraviolet B (UVB) treatments havelong been used successfully in treatingpsoriasis because UVB produces vitaminD in the body.

Getting between 5-10 minutes of directsun exposure daily on the arms, face,hands, and back (without sunscreen) can

provide enough vitamin D to meet yourdaily requirements, though sunexposure does present a risk. Because itis difficult to obtain enough vitamin Dthrough food, many prefer to usesupplements. Research on the healthbenefits of ingesting vitamin D ledexperts to advise an intake of 25-50micrograms daily.

Shelley Burns is a doctor of naturopathic medicineand campleted studies at the Canadian College ofNaturopathic Medicine. She has certification incomplementary and integrative medicine fromHarvard University.

Sometimes themost importantthing in a wholeday is the rest wetake betweentwo deepbreaths.

Etty Hillesum

It may seem strange that the topic of this newsletter focuseson the skin and exposure. You ask yourself "why now", itsstill winter, at least in the northeast. We have seen significantsnowfall recently, and following that, a bustle of outdooractivity like skiing and snowshoeing. As the warming sunradiates and reflects off the snow, the accompanying windstake their toll on exposed skin. Sunscreen is important in thewinter too.

Additionally, I am in the process of relocating to a muchwarmer climate, where the sun is more of a culprit. Again, itis important to be mindful of protection.

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