Winter skin care on the mountain is different from the skin care in urban environment, and climate change requires a completely different routine in facial care. Mountain climate is significantly drier than the city climate due to the higher altitude. With high altitudes and low temperatures, the concentration of oxygen decreases, which further dries out the skin.
As people come to the mountain in winter for skiing, skating, sledding, climbing, walking – additional physical activity causes increased sweating and dehydration of the body. Dehydration leads to dry skin. It is not uncommon to notice the first wrinkles after active vacations in the mountains and the skin on the hands becomes dry with slightly more pronounced cuticles.
Protect your skin from the sun and cold on the mountain
The combination of sun and cold on the mountain easily leads to burns. The index of solar radiation on the mountain is very high, so every 300 meters above sea level it is 4 to 10% higher than the solar radiation at sea.
That is why a good prevention is necessary. Apply a cream with SPF 30 or more, 15 minutes before leaving the room. Ideally, the SPF cream should be waterproof or otherwise it would be easily removed by sleet and sweat. It needs to be reapplied every two hours.
Mechanical protective factors with zinc oxide are less irritating to the eyes than chemical.
Sunburn is not the only thing that gives the image of cracked, red, hypersensitive skin. Strong wind, sleet and low temperatures can easily cause skin lesions similar to burns. Mechanical protection with a scarf, beanie and gloves is essential. Parts of the face that cannot be protected with a scarf should be protected with creams that repair the skin barrier. If your skin cracks in the wind, you should take care not to apply a cream that has a lot of chemicals, but creams that repair the damaged skin barrier.
The skin of the hands is more sensitive than the skin of other parts of the body. Thinner and without sebaceous glands, washed with the inevitable soaps it easily cracks and dries out. In people prone to eczema or psoriasis, the condition worsens in the winter.
Skin hydration on the mountain
As the skin is the largest organ, with the basic function of protecting our body, it is necessary to hydrate it from the inside. You should drink a lot of water because only when the body’s needs for fluids are met does the skin take it for itself.
The use of fresheners and humidifiers in the bedrooms reduces the skin dehydration that occurs due to intensive room heating.
End of the day on the mountain
At the end of a hard day, we must not forget to cleanse the face well, both from the sunscreen and from sweat. This prevents pimples during your stay on the mountain.
Micellar water or oil baths can be ideal for cleansing skin while on the mountain. They do not dry out the skin and do not change its pH. After rinsing the face, hydrating creams should be applied that contain oily component but also hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that binds 1000 times more water than its volume. If the skin is primarily dry, oily creams for daily care should be used, as well as creams for skin prone to eczema.
A very warm shower is nice after a day on the snow, but it also dries out the skin, so it should be avoided. Moderately warm water must be the only choice on winter days.
