Skincare experts are showing increasing concern about the effects that the winter elements can have because regardless of how visible the sunshine is, UV light can cause the production of unstable molecules inside our skin called 'free radicals' to increase, and overtime they will progressively damage our skin tissues and obstruct the body's natural release of collagen, thereby modifying our skin's DNA. This results in many harmful effects, as skin will be left dehydrated and unhealthy which will not only lead to blemishes such as wrinkles, but may even lead to forms of skin cancer being developed too.
The winter weather can also exasperate existing skin problems like rashes, acne and sores. Those who suffer from allergies are also more prone to skin outbreaks during the winter and unhealthy skin is more vulnerable to diseases and infections. Skin will also be more likely to become scarred if an injury is sustained due to the damaging effects that results from the sudden transition into a colder climate after the warmer summer months. One way of helping to avoid these effects is to keep our skin hydrated at all times by consistently drinking water throughout our everyday lives. Eating a balanced diet containing vitamins and minerals is also an effective method of keeping skin healthy by flushing out the harmful toxins that our bodies can pick up.
Although there is no definitive answer to how much sunlight will damage our skin due to the fact that different people tolerate different levels of sunlight due to the pigment and colourisation of their skin, there universally recognised ways of ensuring that skin will remain as healthy as possible under UV rays during the winter months.
The most effective way to maintain healthy skin from a cosmetic viewpoint is to regularly cleanse and moisturise our skin because since skin exists in a constant state of growth with old cells dying and new ones developing, it is vital to wash away the top layer of dead skin cells. This will not only result in fresher cells being produced but will also increase circulatory blood flow to help create a regular release of healthy cells.