Winter Hydration

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face"

~Victor Hugo

Every winter I seem to struggle with those small, yet painful, cracks on the tips of my fingers. Skin is especially vulnerable to dryness and cracking during the winter for many reasons. One of the biggest causes is the forced-air/dry heat that we invite into our homes. And since we tend to sweat a lot less when it's cold out, we forget to drink water and stay hydrated. Proper hydration is key to preventing cracked skin and wrinkles!

Drinking plenty of water is obviously one of the best things we can do. We can also run humidifiers at home and in our offices – though some debate that this invites mold into the home. Another option is just to keep a bowl of water in the room and it will evaporate if the room is too dry. Changing the water daily will help prevent the mold spores. Watching your intake of caffeine and alcohol is important since they both act like a diuretic in the body and can be further dehydrating. Herbal teas can be comforting and hydrating during the cold months, so feel free to sip on some warm tea, hot water with lemon, or indulge in the occasional warm milk with a little vanilla extract and honey. We also like Emergen-C packets added to at least one glass of water daily.

Essential fatty acids from fish, fish oil, flax seed, hemp seed, chia seed, nuts and other seeds are very important for winter skin. These essential fats help keep the skin looking youthful and well moisturized.

In addition to dry skin, signs of dehydration include headache, fatigue, muscle weakness, excessive thirst, fatigue and nausea. And if you're heading up to the high country to ski, you really need to stay on top of your hydration.