I’m one of those people who likes to spend a day engaged in some kind of outdoor physical activity, even when it’s cold and windy. I am extremely aware of applying sunscreen and try to take care of my body and my (aged) muscles as much as possible. But inevitably, I always suffer from a few painful bouts of windburn in the winter.
If you’ve ever experienced windburn, you know the stinging and stinging sensation that can result from a full blast. winter adventure (or sometimes just a walk to the store). When my skin is windburned – often on my face – it can develop a flushed appearance, taking on the “pink winter cheeks” look. to the extreme. It’s not a look I really like.
For a day or so afterwards, my skin feels extremely dry, slightly warm and a little sore – not a sharp pain, but a general sensitivity that I try to combat with moisturizer (which is usually quite successful ). Although there were times when the burning sensation was quite intense, I often compared it to what a mild burn feels like.
According to the experts we spoke to, windburn is quite common. A15 minutes of exposure can lead to the condition, said Dr. Adam Friedman, professor and director of dermatology at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.. It turns out that the skin, especially on the face, is quite delicate.
To find out more, we talked to dermatologists about what windburn actually is, what makes it so painful, and since most of us can’t stay indoors all winter, how to prevent it.
What is Windburn anyway?
“Windburn is an injury to the skin barrier that causes the top layer of the skin, called stratum corneumdry,” Friedman said.
When the wind hits the skin, it pushes the water convectionhe said. Therefore, you are more likely to end up with windburn after skiing, snowboarding or outdoor cycling – all activities that increase wind resistance. Although the stratum corneum only needs a small amount of water to function, its loss can be disruptive the skin cell renewal process. This is why sunburn can appear so quickly.
“Our skin is constantly shedding dead cells and introducing new ones. And when this transformation process stops, the skin tightens. It clings to the dead cells that are supposed to take the boot, and then it starts to fall apart,” Friedman said.
While any part of the body can suffer from sunburn, people feel it most often on their face. “The skin on your face is more sensitive because it’s thinner,” said the dermatologist Dr. Rajani Kattayear author and a volunteer clinical faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and McGovern Medical School.
A second element of windburn has to do with cold affecting the skin, which causes blood vessels to dilate. According to Friedman, this is what produces the stinging sensation we associate with windburn, as well as that dreaded red appearance.
How is windburn related to sunburn?
My burns are often similar to sunburn. While Friedman did not agree with the suggestion at all that sunburn is simply sunburn in the colder months, pointed out that the skin is more sensitive to exposure to the sun when it is not “right”. So if your skin is already inflamed from sunburn, it will be more susceptible to sunburn and vice versa.
“Sunburn can affect your skin’s ability to get windburn because when you have a sunburn, your skin doesn’t function properly. The skin is already dry,” Friedman said. “So I think they sound like each other, but I don’t think they’re analog. I’m thinking of UV rays [ultraviolet] radiation can make it easier to burn, but then sunburn can make it easier to burn.
What can be done to prevent windburn?
How long it takes for a given person to get sunburned depends on a variety of factors, including location on the body and underlying skin conditions, such as eczema, according to Katta and Friedman.
While the higher humidity in the air makes windburn a little less likely, just the action of the wind hitting your skin will cause it to lose water. That’s why there is coverage one of the most important ways to prevent it, Friedman said.
Another prevention method is “strengthening the skin’s barrier by using mild soaps and trying not to stay in a hot shower for more than 10 to 15 minutes, which can strip moisture from the skin,” Katta advised.
“You also want to pay attention to the products you use. For example, retinoids in some antiaging products can increase the turnover of skin barriers, which can end up damaging the skin. Acne medications that dry out the skin can also weaken the skin barrier,” she added.
But from both Friedman’s and Katta’s perspective, the best form of prevention is physical protection in the form of masks, hats and gloves. “When you’re skiing or snowboarding or something like that, you have to add a physical barrier to protect yourself, like a balaclava,” Katta said.
“Moisturizers provide some protection because they are a barrier between you and the outside world,” Friedman said. But if you stay in the air for a long time in the wind and cold, cover your face and the hands.
How to moisturize windburned skin
If you’re dealing with sunburn pain to the point that anything you put on it stings, Katta recommends “moisturizing your skin before putting moisturizer on top.”
However, not all moisturizers are created equal. In general, thicker products work better.
“Ointments are sticky and thick and does not tend to stingwhile creams and lotions will usually be due to their contents [like preservatives or hydroxy acids]Friedmann said. “If the inflammatory response and irritation is severe enough, a topical steroid may be necessary hydrocortisone 1%.” She suggested using any product specifically designed for treatment eczema.
What if you are constantly exposed to the cold every day?
If you’re out for days on end, you might do something slightly crazy like hiking on a glacierthis will obviously prolong the healing process or stop it altogether.
“You will start to have cracks on your skin. And when that happens, it predisposes you to skin infections, making you more prone to developing skin allergies,” Katta warned. “I have had patients who, after their skin became very dry and cracked, developed an allergy to lip balms. Once you break that skin barrier, your immune system is more exposed.
“There’s a compounding effect because it’s not just exposure; you have to go out every day,” Friedman said. “So every day the injuries get worse. The tricky part is that you shouldn’t just treat it as it comes, but be proactive about prevention. You have to incorporate it into your routine.
This is sage advice for many things in life. Fortunately, hydrating more is a routine change that most of us are ready to make.
“And one last thing,” Katta added. “Always protect your lips.”
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.