An active lifestyle can bring on a new set of challenges to your skin.
Extreme climatic conditions can cause dry, brittle skin. Cold air lacks moisture and indoor heat causes dryness, a common complaint among winter loving athletes.
This is the reason why there must be special care for this skin type in order to have smooth healthy skin. Extreme dryness to your skin adds a whole new dimension to your skin care regimen.
You must protect your skin when exercising outdoors. Do not use petroleum jelly as this will clog the pores that naturally open during exercise to expel sweat. Your skin also needs to breathe even in outdoor cold conditions. Before heading outdoors use a sunscreen with zinc oxide in it. Not only will it protect your skin from the sun's rays but it will help hold moisture in the skin.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! After washing away sweat with a gentle astringent cleanser, always apply moisturizer after every cleanse. Never skip this step in your skin care regimen. If you cleanse at night before bed time , in the morning just splash some luke warm water on your face and follow with moisturizer. If heading out to ski or for a long run apply sunscreen after your moisturizer.
You must continue to exfoliate dead skin cells with a gentle exfoliating cleanser. The removal of dead skin cells will help the emollients in the moisturizer to penetrate the skin more effectively. Removal of dead skin cells and keeping adequate topical moisture levels will help ward off dry skin and reveal smooth, soft skin.
Your face that is the most exposed seems to get the most attention, but the same regimen applies to your body even under protective clothing the dry air will effect the skin too.
By Sandy Alcide, founder Motion Medica fitness skin care.
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