Winter can cause chilling effect on your skin

"During winter, particularly with heating systems and wind chill, there's a lot less humidity," explains Glen Kertz, a Texas-based scientist whose own troubled skin led him to develop the Nova Skin Care System. "The skin's moisture is taken out and it dries up a lot faster, and there's a lot of sun and UV (ultraviolet) rays, so you want to try to protect yourself.

"Ultraviolet radiation can bounce off snow and you can get burned," he says. "People who ski often know that very well."

Winter's elements strip your face of moisture and can cause problems such as dryness and cracking that can detract from your appearance, despite the great outfit you might be wearing. Let's face it, it's your face that people see first, so it helps to give it extra care when it's cold outside.

Fredric Brandt, who has a dermatology practice in Manhattan, says it's a misconception that you have to worry about sun damage only in the summertime.

'It happens all the time: winter and summer, sunshine and clouds. Even fluorescent light bulbs emit rays that break down collagen and elastin," he adds. He notes harsh weather strips the skin of its natural oils and moisture, so the face is left very susceptible to UV damage during the winter months.

Brandt , a Newark native, says four out of five wrinkles are caused by sun damage alone.

'Sure, aging and genetics come into play, but you can, in fact, control how well or poorly your skin ages by simply protecting it from ultraviolet rays," Brandt adds.

He created Daily UV Protection, a formula for protecting skin against harmful sun rays throughout the year.

Kertz says wind in particular can be really damaging.

"Five or 10 minutes of wind exposure really will dry out your skin enormously, and lower temperatures do more damage to the skin," he notes.

His advice: "Put glasses on to cover your eyes and a scarf over your head so you can wrap up your face and retain the moisture it has. Try to play incognito."

Moisturizing is a vital part of his skin care system. You want to keep your face hydrated during winter, so give astringents the cold shoulder.

"Don't use anything alcohol-based on the face, or anything that pulls or dries the skin. Moisturizing in the morning and evening is critical," Kertz says. "You may have to limit makeup (at this time), but moisturizing is more important than the makeup."

Lisa Irizarry covers fashion. She may be reached at lirizarry@starledger.com or (973) 392-5977.

Source: www.nj.com