Tips to hydrate your home and your body during the winter season

Winters in the northern regions are quite brutal. We had a couple of winter storms and a couple inches of snow have already fallen. The dry winter air absorbs moisture, leaving your skin as dry and cracked as flaky salt and your sinuses as parched as the summer of the Sahara desert. Here are some tips to bring moisture back into your home and into your body.

Moisturizes instantly after washing.

The American Academy of Dermatology suggests using moisturizers within a couple of minutes of finishing drying off after a shower or bath, and washing your face or hands. Ointments and creams are more reliable at trapping existing moisture in the skin and are less annoying than lotions. Look for cream or lotion that contains olive oil, jojoba oil, or shea butter. A tip for everyone is to carry a non-greasy hand cream and use it after every hand wash.

Also put on lip balm or Vaseline to protect against chapped lips.

Before going outdoors, be sure to use a moisturizing sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Protect yourself further by putting on a hat, gloves, and sunglasses.

Keep hydrated

It’s always a great concept to stay hydrated and drink plenty of water every day. If you don’t like water, tea and juice are also great for rehydrating.

Use to moisten

Cold air in winter retains less moisture, and when it warms up inside, the air becomes even drier. Rather, many of the houses have a forced air heater, and it makes the air even drier. The goal here is to have a comfortable home humidity level between 30% and 50%. Don’t overdo it, or you may develop an additional problem: mold, mildew, dust mites, and other small critters. Keep the humidifier clean so it doesn’t spread dust and germs throughout your residence.

Shorten your baths or showers

While it feels great to stay longer in the shower on a cold day, the heat and steam can really dry out your skin. Use lukewarm water instead of hot water, wash with a mild, fragrance-free cleanser, and leave as soon as you’re clean, or limit your time to 15 minutes.

insulate your home

In the winter, cold air entering your home from outside has a lower humidity. To balance the low humidity in the room, the moisture would evaporate from your body, leaving your skin, nose, and throat parched. Effectively seal any air leaks in doors, windows, attics, and crawl areas with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping. Not only would you keep the humidity inside your residence, but you would also save money on your regular monthly heating bill.

Take care and hydrate all the time during this winter season.