New year, new you! Learn 7 expert tips to repair holiday skin damage and start the year with healthy, glowing skin
After two weeks of overindulgence, late nights, not enough sleep, party make up and way too much alcohol, skin can look more like its at the end of a long and tiring journey rather than that at the start of a bright new beginning.
Getting skin back on track in the New Year needs some special attention to address some of typical skin issues that may be blighting your new year complexion.
Seven skin experts highlight some of the most common skin issues that many of us face after the festive season and to offer their best advice on how to deal with them so ensure your new year skin gets off to a clearer and calmer start.
Bloated Post-Festive Face
An increase in salty and fatty foods salt intake causes your body to retain fluid, leading to puffiness especially in the face. Dehydration from excessive alcohol can make your body hold onto the fluid it has, causing a bloated or puffy face. Not enough or disturbed sleep can also lead to facial puffiness as can elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh says:
“An excellent and simple remedy for a puffy face, besides drinking more water, is coconut water due to its potassium and hydrating properties, which reduce fluid retention and inflammation. Drink a glass of coconut water first thing in the morning and avoid coffee for a few days.
”You can also apply it topically as a toner by dabbing it on the skin with a cotton ball. For a more intensive treatment, freeze it into ice cubes to gently massage over the face. Or make your own face mask using coconut water with other ingredients like turmeric and a drop of coconut oil mixed into a paste and applied directly to the face, and then rinsed off after 10-15 minutes.”
Itchy Dry Eyelids
Post-festive skin issues often affect the eyelids, causing itchiness and dryness, whether or not you usually have dry skin or eczema. Low humidity, central heating, lack of sleep, and heavy party makeup can quickly take a toll on this delicate area.
Professional makeup artist Helen Andrew, who suffers from bouts of eye eczema herself, says:
“As a general rule when having an eczema flare up on my eyes I tend to avoid putting any make up directly onto the irritated skin. Here’s a few of my top tips for managing dry flaky and itchy eyelids.
”Firstly, using a life-saver of a product called Hydrosil Dry Eye Gel has been a game-changer for me! Just make sure you allow 5-10 minutes for the gel to really absorb into the skin before applying your make-up, this will maximise the benefits without moving the gel when applying makeup on top.
”Avoid make-up which contains Talc, perfume, zinc and preservatives. These are all common irritants in makeup.
”A lot of powder eyeshadows can contain Talc, so I would opt for a cream-based eyeshadow to help avoid irritation.
”Clean your eyes and lashes thoroughly! Asides from makeup, we touch our eyes throughout the day usually without realising but especially during those hay fever months when rubbing our itchy eyes becomes more common. Our hands touch many surfaces throughout the day, gathering dirt we cannot physically see so daily cleansing is a routine we must get into the habit of doing!
Cleaning the root of my lashes twice a day with diluted baby shampoo has hugely helped to keep my symptoms under control, dipping a cotton bud into the solution and running it along my lash line (top and bottom) really helps to remove the build-up of bacteria that begins to form on the lashes through the use of makeup and the general outdoor elements, pollution and dirt etc. I use one end of a clean cotton bud for each lash line to avoid cross contamination.”
Congested Pores
The increase in fatty rich foods over the festive season, higher levels of cortisol from the stress of large family gatherings and late night and more party make up than normal can mean that sebum production can increase, causing greasy skin and clogged congested pores.
Dr Barbara Brockway, a skin Biochemist and lecturer at Reading University says;
“It’s a common misconception that excess sebum is the cause of acne and treatments that aim to dry up or reduce sebum production are not necessarily aiming at the root cause of the problem. It’s not sebum itself that is the enemy, it’s rancid sebum.
”Rancid sebum happens through the process of oxidisation when the sebum mixes with oxygen on reaching the skin’s surface and starts to rot. The acne bacteria’s main food source is rancid sebum, so the more it feeds on, the quicker it multiplies, leading to pore blockages, inflammation, and, of course, acne.
”Pixalia, which is the principle in the Clarol Sebopure is a polyphenol rich extract with seven scientific studies showing its effectiveness for helping adult acne and its function for preventing acne is relatively simple. Its main function is that it prevents the oxidation process of sebum, keeping sebum preserved and pure.
In conclusion, when sebum stays pure, it effectively starves acne-causing bacteria, reducing pore blockages and breakouts without damaging or drying the surrounding skin. Sebum naturally moisturises the skin, so as long as it remains uncontaminated and fresh, high sebum production can actually benefit adult skin by maintaining moisture and conditioning.
Red Cheeks
A higher intake of spices or rich food and more alcohol as well as lack of sleep, stress and moisture zapping central heating and indoor log fires with cold dry temperatures outside leave sensitive skin flushed and dry, especially on the cheeks.
Dermatologist Dr Eva Melegh says:
”Red skin occurs when blood vessels open, allowing blood to rush to the surface – a condition called rosacea. But even people without rosacea or in the early stages of it can still experience lingering flushed red skin after too much excess and stress. If the redness lingers and is accompanied by skin sensitivity and sometimes bumpiness it’s a sure sign it’s likely to be rosacea flare.
“People over 50 with fair complexions are more prone to developing rosacea, although darker skin tones can also have it it’s just not so obvious to see it. Age is a risk factor because the blood vessels become weakened and less elastic, meaning they gape open for longer when the blood rushes in and so the redness lingers and is a deeper red color, often described as ‘liver red’.
Rosacea Triggers
“When rosacea flares, even washing the face with water can trigger red flushing due to the sudden change in temperature on the surface of the skin. Likewise cold winds, central heating and other sudden temperature changes can trigger a rosacea flare making the festive period a prime time for a red skin flare.
”Dedicated skincare with a regular routine and not lots of changing or new ingredients is the best way to reduce red skin flares along with cutting out alcohol and spicey food for a few weeks, wearing an SPF daily and not washing your face with tap water.
Kalme Skincare is a complete dedicated skincare range for very sensitive skin prone to rosacea and contains targeted ingredients for the multiple symptoms of rosacea such as anti-redness, prebiotic skin repairing, mineral SPF40, anti-inflammatory antioxidants, water-free cleansing and a treatment concealer. Due to it being a complete skincare range, there’s no need to use any other products which means reactive red skin won’t be getting any nasty surprises from problematic skin care ingredients.
Crusty Lips
HVA Director, Marion Nichols says:
The herpes simplex virus that causes cold sores affects over 50% of the population and lies dormant in the skin around the lips until its activated, usually when the body’s immune system is lowered or when there is any trauma to the lips such as dryness or chapping. This means the post-festive period is a prime time for a cold sore outbreak.
But there’s not much available at chemists for preventing the risk of a cold sore outbreak. Most treatments are for one a sore has arrived, by which time it will typically be at least a week before it starts to heal.
Marian Nicholson from the Herpes Viruses Association says;
“A trial by the Herpes Virus Association found that a lip balm containing a highly concentrated extract of glycyrrhizic acid (liquorice root) reduced the severity and duration of cold sore outbreaks for over 73% of subjects tested and, furthermore, 83% of subjects using the Lip Q Liquorice Balm reported experiencing less severe outbreaks. While using the Liquorice Balm helped reduce the frequency and intensity of cold sore outbreaks if used regularly, making it one of the few products with a preventative action.”
Scratchy Scalp
After a period of more blow dries than normal, and lots of styling products and part hair, scalps can be left feeling dried out, flaky and irritated. But be careful not to assume this is normal dandruff, which is caused by fungal overgrowth. Post-party dry scalp is more likely to be dry scalp dandruff caused by mild scalp reactions to hair products and overuse of hair driers.
Trichologist Tony Maleedy says:
“Conventional anti-dandruff shampoos contain anti-fungal agents which can actually make dry scalp dandruff considerably worse. You need to use a shampoo specially for dry scalp dermatitis. I trialled Hydrosil Scalp Shield Shampoo which is formulated for sensitive scalps or conditions such as scalp eczema and scalp dermatitis.
”In addition to the anti-flaking and anti-inflammatory ingredients in the shampoo, the product’s Ph balance is 6, which is very close to the skin’s natural Ph of 5. Most OTC shampoos have a very high Ph but this high Ph is too harsh for sufferers of dry scalp dandruff and can actually make the flaking worse.
”The results of the trial carried out at Bath University showed a very high success rate of Hydrosil Scalp Shield Shampoo not only for clearing the scalp of dermatitis scales and flakes but also preventing their return, reducing any underlying erythema (inflammation) and causing a marked reduction in dryness, irritation and sensitivity of the scalp.”
Irritated Intimates
Vaginal discomfort and dryness effects 1 in 4 women and the festive season can be a problematic period for this uncomfortable skin condition due to stress, disturbed sleep, dehydration, increased sexual activity and too much alcohol. Intimate itching, irritation and dryness are a common issue after the festive season.
When considering ways to rejuvenate skin after the havoc of the festive period, intimate skin should not be forgotten.
Dr Debjani Mukhopadhyay, consultant NHS gynaecologist says:
”Vaginal dryness is caused by acidic pH level of the vagina becoming more alkaline, which is ideal for bad bacteria to flourish and infections to develop. The use of restorative prebiotic compounds, such as in In2mate Moisturiser in vaginal skincare encourages the growth of good bacteria which studies show can help repair chafed and infected skin in vaginal tissue.”