Treatments can revive your winter-weary skin

(MCT) Just because you're ready for spring doesn't mean your skin is.

Shedding the armor of bulky winter clothes we've hibernated in for months could reveal dry, patchy, flaky skin — side effects of winter's icy breath (and the heaters and hot showers used to fight it).

With age, the sting of cold weather on skin can be worse as cell turnover rates decline and skin doesn't maintain as much moisture and elasticity it once did in its early 20s.

But there's good news: There are remedies you can follow at home or seek at a salon to rejuvenate winter-weary skin.

At-home treatments

"Prevention is key," says Dr. Suzan Obagi, director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center.

Try placing a steam or mist humidifier in the bedroom to put moisture back into the air as you sleep or invest in a whole-house humidifier that can be installed near the furnace. Cutting back on lengthy hot showers is another option to keep skin from getting dried out.

Removing the dead layer of dry, excess skin also is essential to enabling the face and body to reclaim a youthful glow.

"The first thing that people need to do is consider their own skin," says Nicki Zevola, founder and CEO of Pittsburgh-based FutureDerm Inc., a line of skin care and beauty products. "You have to consider a number of factors" such as age, race and skin sensitivity.

People — especially those with sensitive skin — should avoid granular body scrubs and washes, which can create small tears in skin and lead to irritation and blotchiness. Instead, opt for products with non-bead exfoliants or ones that have ingredients like papain, an enzyme from papaya and pineapple that naturally dissolves old skin cells. (Zevola's picks: AmorePacific treatment enzyme peel and Jan Marini's Zyme green papaya mask.)

Gentle acids in lower strengths are other exfoliating options. Dr. Dominic Brandy, a board-certified cosmetic surgeon and founding medical director of The Skin Center Medical Spa & Cosmetic Surgery Center, recommends products containing low concentrations of alpha hydroxy acid, beta hydroxy acid (salicylic acid) or glycolic acid applied with a cotton pad.

To help boost cell turnover, gradually incorporate an over-the-counter retinol cream (or the more potent, prescription-required Retin-A) to your skincare routine. Decades of clinical use back these products' effectiveness at building collagen, peeling away flakiness, dulling early signs of aging and brightening complexions, Brandy says.

And don't forget old shower standbys such as a luffa sponge or glove or even a washcloth. They, too, can target dry patches.

Daily moisturizing is a must to add back to skin some of the softness winter stole. It's best to apply lotions and moisturizers immediately following a shower while the skin still is damp. (Lotion on dry skin has minimal benefits, Obagi says.)

Professional procedures

For extra attention, consult a dermatologist, skin center or spa for procedures that likely will provide more significant, longer-lasting results. Microdermabrasion, a common exfoliation method, involves blowing aluminum oxide crystals onto the skin at high speeds to eliminate dead cells and give skin a refreshed look.

There's also dermaplaning, in which a surgical blade is used to scrape off layers of dead skin. A newer procedure that's been popular at The Skin Center is the Dermapen, a pen-shaped tool with 11 needles at the tip that create tiny puncture points to allow creams and peels to better absorb into the skin.

Coupling a treatment with a chemical peel can heighten the results, Brandy says. Look for a peel that complements your skin's needs, such as ones for acne, photo damage or extra-dry skin.

You are what you eat

How your skin looks on the outside is greatly impacted by what goes inside. Drinking "lots and lots of water" is one way to hydrate the skin from the inside out, Obagi says.

Zevola starts each day with a green juice consisting of kale, spinach, cucumber, half a lemon and apple from the Pittsburgh Juice Co. to support skin health. But stay away from juices that have been pasteurized and go for freshly squeezed and pressed ones, she says.

"At such high heats (of pasteurization), the enzymes often die, and the enzymes are great for skin."

Antioxidants can neutralize free radicals that damage skin, so eating a high-antioxidant diet (meaning lots of fruits and vegetables or even a multivitamin) is another way to make skin more resistant to environmental elements and signs of aging.

Bare skin

Spring and summer bring with them their own threats to skin, particularly when it comes to potential harm from the sun.

Removing the layer of dry, dead skin cells, which can help reflect the sun's damaging rays, can make skin more sensitive to the sun, Brandy says. Therefore, applying sunscreen amply and regularly is imperative to protect skin while outdoors or look for an SPF makeup.

But beware: Not all sunscreens are created equally, Zevola says. Physical sunblocks that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide perform better than other compounds because they don't let ultraviolet rays reach the skin.

"I don't think you can ever pay too much attention" to your skin, she says, but skincare is best when done with balance. If exfoliation, a sunscreen or a professional treatment leads to prolonged, extreme itchiness, redness or pain, listen to your body and make adjustments.

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PRODUCTS TO TRY:

Give your toes some TLC before slipping on your first pair of sandals. Pedi-in-a-Box ($20.95; simplesugars.myshopify.com) by Sharpsburg-based Simple Sugars smooths dry skin with its Happy Feet peppermint foot scrub. Use the pumice stone foot brush to eliminate excess skin on your heels.

Combat calluses quickly — and painlessly — with the Emjoi Micro-Pedi battery-operated callus remover ($30; www.qvc.com). Its micro-mineral roller rotates 30 times per second to buff away dead skin, calluses and rough spots in minutes. No blades means zero risk of cutting or slicing skin.

Want skin that feels like velvet to the touch? Josie Maran's pure organic Argan oil ($48 for 1.7 fluid ounces; www.josiemarancosmetics.com) is extracted from the nuts of Argan trees in Morocco and is rich in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids that can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and add moisture to the skin. Put a few drops on your fingers and run it through your hair for extra softness and shine. Plus it's suitable for people with sensitive skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea.

For gentle all-over exfoliation, look for a body wash that not only exfoliates but also moisturizes. The microdelivery exfoliating body wash by philosophy ($26 for 16 fluid ounces; www.philosophy.com) is designed to evenly exfoliate skin while soothing it with natural oils and botanicals, including Vitamin E. Not intended for use on the face.

Rid skin of unwanted oils, perspiration, makeup and other pollutants and debris with the Clarisonic cleansing brush (available in an assortment of colors and sizes at www.clarisonic.com). Created for skincare professionals to use in the office, it's easy (and gentle) enough for at-home use. Sonic technology causes the brush head to oscillate 200-350 times per second. Unlike some other devices, the Clarisonic brush does not vibrate or spin, which can tear and irritate skin.

Purify skin from the inside out with organic roasted dandelion root tea (at Whole Foods and most major grocery stores for a few dollars). Dandelion has been claimed to naturally detox the body, cleanse the liver and aid in digestion. Fighting impurities inside the body can improve the outside of the body.

Salon treatments not your thing? Mimic some procedures with at-home microdermabrasion or radio frequency gadgets. Personal microdermabrasion units by Olay, PMD and Riivia tend to run $100-$300 on average, and remove dead skin cells. The DermaWand (three monthly payments of $39.95, plus shipping and handling; www.dermawand.com) employs radio frequency technology to warm tissue and stimulate skin, which can promote the shedding of dry skin and improve circulation by bringing fresh blood and oxygen to the skin's surface.

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(Contact Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or Twitter @SaraB_PG.)

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