Skincare Tips for Skiers and Snowboarders

An Ounce of Prevention - Skiers and snowboarders must take extra special care of their skin because they are exposed to sun, wind, cold, and altitude. Too much sun can cause dehydration, premature aging, sunburn, and dilated capillaries. Wind, extreme cold, and high altitude causes chapped lips, dryness and dehydration.

Proper ski wear can help you avoid some problems. Always wear a hat to prevent heat loss from the head and protect the hair. Find some good quality ski goggles and/or sun glasses with a built in sun filter. Goggles should not be adjusted too tight to avoid pressing hard on areas where the skin is thinner, such as the bridge of the nose. This will help to avoid broken capillaries, maintain good circulation, and avoid frostbite. Good quality sun glasses will prevent constant squinting, feigning off inevitable crow's feet. Always wear gloves to protect the hands from the elements and avoid callouses and scrapes.

Protect Your Skin Like a Pro
1. Cleanse, tone, and protect the skin on the face and neck with a rich protective day cream, preferably one with a humectant or liposomes. Humectants help retain moisture and liposomes are microencapsulated moisture agents that are delivered deep into the skin, often with timed-released agents to ensure longer protection. Look for a product with a sunscreen of at least 15. Remember that the bridge of the nose can get sunburned as well as the eyelids and ears.

2. Protect your lips with a balm with a SPF of at least 15. One trick is to apply lip balm, then cover it with an application of ChapStick. The wax will secure the balm and prevent cracks in the lips, which gives an added boost of protection. Don't forget to apply balm to the corners of the mouth to prevent cracks. Avoid licking your lips. Why? There are digestive enzymes in saliva, which can eat away at dry skin on the lips, causing more dehydration.

4. If you use Retin-A (Tretinoin) cream in a strength that causes flakiness or irritation, take a break from it for a few days prior to and during your ski vacation. (Tretinoin thins the top layer of the skin, sloughing it off.)