Guest Author - J.W. Collvins

Skiing is one of the toughest sports for your skin because it can be very dehydrating. Knowing how to protect your skin when skiing is something that is often overlooked. Here are some tips on how to keep your skin healthy and hopefully stop problems before they start.

Your skin is the body’s largest organ and it acts as a shield against the outside environment. Taking care of your skin and keeping it healthy involves good skin care, exercise, fresh air, healthy eating habits and drinking a lot of water. If you like skiing, tubing, snowboarding, etc., keep in mind that cold, crisp air can be tough on your skin. Wool, silk, thick cotton or clothing made from other natural materials help protect your skin better than synthetic materials and moisturizer and sunscreen are definitely a major part of winter skin protection.

When skiing, colder temperatures restrict blood circulation to the skin, making the skin pale, dull and rough. (Cold weather affects your skin up to 14 times worse in dry air and up to 10 times worse in windy conditions.) Cool temperatures and dry winds deplete moisture from your skin. Also, the higher the altitude, the greater the lack of oxygen. This causes your skin to be more sensitive to cold and ultra-violet rays that can cause dehydration, chapping and sunburn.

If you plan to go skiing and decide to wash your face or even your hands, wait a half hour before going outside so that your skin can dry thoroughly. When you shower or bathe, use warm to cool water because hot water can remove the natural oils that the skin has to protect itself. Use a waterproof, non-drying moisturizer appropriate for you skin type at least twice a day or more when skiing. Your lips need special attention when skiing also, so remember to apply waxy lip salves or balms to your lips. Never come in from skiing and toast yourself in front of a hot fire because the rapid change in temperature can break capillaries. Do not go skiing without sunscreen! This is one of the biggest mistakes that people make when going skiing. You can get severe sunburns! Apply the sunscreen to any part of the skin that will be exposed. The sun is more damaging when skiing due to being reflected off the snow. Be sure to reapply sunscreen throughout the day.

Here are a few more does and don’ts for your skin:

Don’t use hand sanitizers that contain alcohol because they can dry your skin out worse. Don’t drink alcohol, it dilates the blood vessels and brings the blood's warmth closer to surface of the skin making you think you are warmer than you really are. Don’t use petroleum-based products that trap moisture next to your skin. While this may sound like a good thing, it really hinders the skins ability to get rid of toxins, which can make skin drier than ever. Do not wear metal jewelry. It can become cold quickly and freeze to your skin.

Do dress in warm layers. Layers create pockets of air that trap heat and prevent sweating. Wear a good pair of waterproof boots and wear mittens instead of gloves. Look for and use cosmetics and moisturizers that contain jojoba oil. It doesn’t clog pores and is one of the closest things to your skins own natural oil. Use gentle soaps like Dove and Lever 2000 to cleanse your skin. Choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher and look for products that contain titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and new blends like ROC that protect against the sun's rays and moisture evaporation. Goggles or sunglasses with UV blockers can also be used to protect the eyes.

Follow these dos and don’ts and take your sunscreen and lip balm with you to the slopes and you should be in good shape when you are ready to call it a day! So happy skiing and happy skin! See you on the slopes! Ski Safe, Play Safe, Stay Safe!