Five tips to beat winter skin from leading cosmetic surgeon

As we find ourselves verging on the first winter out of lockdown, many of us will notice that changes in the weather and our external environment will have seismic implications on our skin. Last winter the nation was asked to stay at home, meaning that our skin has had a significant break from the harsh realities of winter. Research from Uvence – a naturally based cosmetic treatment that utilises one’s own cells for skin rejuvenation – shows that 22% of Brits feel that the winter months cause them to look five years older – but what steps are Brits already taking to combat the potential impact on their skin?

Dr. Olivier Amar, leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, reveals five tips to help protect your skin this winter:

Hydration is key: Drinking more water helps to flush out toxins from the body, leaving the skin looking more radiant and youthful. As our skin is also comprised of up to 30% water, increasing water intake helps it to look plump. Try drinking at least 2 litres a day to really notice the benefits.

Moisturise: During winter, the air loses its moisture which often leads to dry, cracked skin and chapped lips. Our skin loses more than 25% of its ability to hold moisture in the winter, and high speed winds can make it appear and feel even more dry. To combat this, use a moisturiser as part of your everyday skincare routine that is suited to your skin type and its needs.

Use SPF: Over a quarter of Brits did not know that the winter sun can still cause much damage to our skin. Make sure you’re using a moisturiser that contains an SPF of at least 15 – even under make-up – to help protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Exercise: Exertion of the body helps increases blood circulation to the face. Red blood cells help carry oxygen and vital nutrients to parts of the body that really need it – more blood cells mean more nutrients! Exercise, therefore, helps to combat the drying effects of the winter air which can cause dullness in the appearance of skin.

You are what you eat: Eating a balanced diet and getting in those essential vitamins helps your skin from the inside-out. Ensuring you get your 5-a-day will increase your intake of antioxidants, helping reduce pigmentation as well as wrinkles. Including healthy oil-rich foods in your diet, such as tuna, has also been shown to increase collagen production in the skin, improving its overall texture.

Preventative rather than retrospective treatments are thought to be leading the way in the cosmetic arena, especially in preparation for winter. While the idea of pre-emptive treatments is often associated with preventative Botox – in which many patients typically start treatment in their 30s – the arena has diversified significantly in the last decade which has seen the birth of new and innovative treatments that are more naturally based, ranging from PRP to Uvence.

Dr Olivier Amar, leading cosmetic surgeon and CMO of Uvence, discusses how our skin concerns shift according to changing external environments:

“Seasonal change – especially when approaching the winter months – often brings an array of skin related concerns. Whether it be short-term effects such as dullness, or those that are longer-term such as signs of ageing, my patients often ask what nonsurgical treatments are available to combat the issues they experience with their skin in retrospect. Other patients take a pre-emptive approach, and act before they experience any noticeable change.

We should be taking care of our skin all year round, but giving extra care in the weeks leading up to winter is a popular and pragmatic approach. However, while pre-emptive rather than retrospective cosmetic treatments can be an effective way to maintain a refreshed appearance, too much too fast can age you. Although every patient is different – which is why I always recommend a bespoke plan – it is important to take a slow and steady approach with any cosmetic procedure.

It is important to remember that seasonal skin implications are likely to improve over time, and while it is understandable that many people will want to address their concerns using cosmetic treatments, I would advise to wait until you know this is the best option for you. There are many alternative options out there aside from cosmetic treatments, and doing your research will help you to identify what avenue is most suited.

Now, patients often look for naturally based answers to their skin concerns. Uvence is one example of a regenerative treatment, which cryogenically preserves purified extracts of a patient’s own fat tissue for reinjection in the form of a ‘biofiller’. In other words, although our bodies are naturally equipped with the resources needed to slow the ageing process, it doesn’t always have enough of them to be effective. Taking fat cells from other areas of the body, such as the stomach, and redistributing them to areas that are in need of rejuvenation therefore maximises the body’s natural ability to slow ageing.”