Top Skin Care Tips for Dry Weather (Harmattan)

Dry weather can be tough on your skin. Whether you live in the dry heat of Northern Nigeria, preparing for a visit soon, or simply researching skincare tips for the harmattan season, the impact of dry weather on your skin can truly turn a good complexion bad. 

The common issues that people often experience during the dry harmattan season are chapped lips and a general feeling of being dried out. This is an entirely normal reaction if you do not take steps to protect your skin against the dry weather. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to understand and implement skincare tips for dry weather, avoid the harsh effects of this climate and keep your skin looking great.

So, Is The Dry Weather Bad For The Skin?

Yes and no. Generally, the dry weather is great for people with oily skin as it’s the best season for their skin to pop. Vain, I know. But that’s a common consensus from people with this skin type. For people with other skin types, especially dry skin, dry weather can be bad for the skin. In fact, it is one of the most common reasons people experience skin problems. When the humidity drops, the skin’s ability to retain moisture is reduced, leading to dryness, itching, scaling, and cracking. In severe cases, dry skin can become inflamed and infected. This is often worse for people with skin sensitivity issues.

What Are the Signs of Dry Skin?

The obvious sign of dry skin is a feeling of tightness, especially after showering or bathing. Some other common signs of dry skin include:

• A lack of moisture that leaves your skin feeling rough or looking ashy and dull.
• Redness or feeling inflamed, especially after washing.
• Itchiness, especially after bathing or showering.
• Cracks in the skin that can often appear small and which can be painful.
• Scaly patches that are visible in more severe cases, and develop in patches.

Each of these symptoms of dry skin is a sign that your skin is not getting the moisture it needs. It is important to pay attention to these uncomfortable and unflattering signs as they can worsen if left untreated.

What Can Dry Skin In Dry Weather Lead To?

Ignoring the signs of dry skin, especially during the dry weather can lead to more severe health issues down the road due to a lack of treatment. These include:

• Eczema:

This is an irritating skin condition that causes the skin to become inflamed, itchy, and cracked. Signs of eczema include redness, scaling, crusting of the skin, and clusters of small bumps.

• Dermatitis:

Skin irritation can cause the skin to become dry, itchy, flaky, and swollen over time. This condition is called dermatitis.

• Psoriasis:

An autoimmune skin condition that causes thick, red skin patches with silvery scales.

• Rosacea:

A skin condition that causes the face to become flushed and irritated, giving you a constant “sunburned” look.

Additional Skincare Tips To Protect Your Skin From Dry Weather

There are a few key ways to protect your skin from the harsh effects of the dry weather this harmattan season and these include:

• Drinking Lots of Water:

This is essential for keeping your skin hydrated from the inside out. Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to help keep your skin healthy and looking its best. When you consume water, it travels through your body and helps to hydrate your skin from the inside out. Ensuring we reach our daily water intake quota is one of the most important things we can do for our skin health and this is why the message to drink lots of water is something that we hear constantly.

• Applying Moisturising Products Regularly:

Applying a moisturiser to your skin after showering or bathing is one of the most important things you can do to protect your skin from the drying effects of the climate. Look for a moisturising product that is labelled “humectant” or “hydrating.” Humectant-infused moisturisers work by trapping water molecules in the skin and preventing them from evaporating, and this helps to keep your skin hydrated and looking its best.

Natural moisturising products like Kanda’s range of Body Balms and Oils also contain ingredients like natural oils that help to lock in moisture. This is unlike many other products that claim to be moisturising but also include harmful chemicals that can hurt your skin in the long run. For this reason, it’s important to read the ingredients list of any moisturiser you are considering using and to choose one that is free of harmful chemicals.

• Applying Sunscreen Religiously:

Sunscreen is important year-round, but especially so during the winter months when the sun’s rays are less direct and many people assume they are safe. Sunscreen helps protect your skin from harmful UV rays that can cause damage to your skin over time.

Look for a sunscreen labelled “broad-spectrum” and has an SPF of 30 or higher. It is important to note that from time to time, we need to allow our bodies to get some sun exposure to produce vitamin D. However, if you are going to be spending a significant amount of time in the sun, you should wear sunscreen to protect your skin from UV damage.

• Using a Humidifier:

A humidifier can help add moisture back into the air and prevent your skin from drying out. If you have central heating in your home, using a humidifier can be a great way to help improve your skin condition. Setting the humidifier up in your bedroom at night can be a great way to help improve your skin condition while you sleep.

• Don’t Overuse Exfoliants:

Exfoliating your skin can be a great way to remove dead skin cells and improve your skin condition. However, over-exfoliating can do more harm than good. Exfoliating your skin too often can strip away the natural oils that help to protect your skin from drying out. When this happens, after dealing with dry skin, your skin will produce more oil to make up for the lost oils, leading to acne and other skin problems. For this reason, you should exfoliate your skin no more than once or twice a week and avoid over-exfoliating.

Hope you will start using some, if not all, of these tips as we are already in the thick of the harmattan season for this year. Be sure to stop by the Kanda Store to stock up on necessary moisturising natural skincare products for you, your family and loved ones.