The sun isn’t the
only weather element that can burn your skin. Winds, no matter how seemingly
gentle they may be, can also leave your skin dry, red and irritated. But you
have the products and capabilities to effectively treat and prevent windburn on
your own.
What Is Windburn?
In skincare
circles, windburn is a debated topic. Some say it is its own skin condition
caused by the loss of skin’s natural oils and water resulting from exposure to
cold, low-moisture air. Some say it’s the same thing as sunburn because
wind-affected skin is more susceptible to UV damage.
It really doesn’t
matter if windburn is or isn’t its own thing. The bottom line is it hurts, and
sometimes it causes peeling, and that’s annoying and embarrassing. So, what you
really need to know is how to take care of it.
How to Relieve and Treat Windburn
Because windburn
may be sunburn, treatment is essentially identical:
For severe windburn, you may opt for OTC pain relievers/anti-inflammatories, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. For mild cases, moisture-replenishing topicals are all you need.
- Replenish hydration and moisture
Cold,
dry air increases surface-level evaporation, so you need to restore and protect
your skin’s water space. Apply a hydrating serum and follow with a moisturizer
that contains one or more non-comedogenic oils.
- Facilitate skin damage repair
Give
your skin a good dose of antioxidants so that it can mitigate and reverse
oxidative damage. You may opt for a separate Vitamin C serum or treatment or
use a moisturizer with active antioxidizing ingredients.
While your skin is
recovering from windburn, AVOID:
- Exfoliating
- Chemical
peels
- Alpha
hydroxy acids
Only use
lukewarm water when cleansing your face and avoid hot showers.
How to Prevent Windburn
The same
strategies you use to prevent sunburn are effective in preventing windburn,
too. Before heading out into the cold:
- Apply
broad-spectrum sun protection with a minimum of SPF 15
- Cover
your face with a scarf
- Wear
sunglasses
- Wear
long pants, long sleeves and gloves to minimize skin exposed to the elements
Keeping your skin
adequately hydrated will also reduce any effects you may feel after being in
the wind or sun, so drink plenty of water.
