Harsh winds and cold spells can wreak havoc on the most resilient skin. Winter’s low humidity can sap moisture from the skin, leaving it feeling dry, itchy and cracked. In humid conditions, the skin can replenish lost moisture by soaking up moisture from the air. When the humidity drops in the winter, however, your skin loses the opportunity to moisturize itself. Couple that with the low humidity resulting from indoor heating, and your skin can become tight and dry. What’s a busy clever parent to do?

Not to worry! Now is the perfect time of year to adjust your skincare routine. A few simple steps can help you combat the effects of winter skin and make all the difference between a dull winter complexion and glowing radiance!

Wash with lukewarm, not hot, water and use a moisturizing cleanser.
Your skin contains thousands of oil glands that prevent the skin from losing moisture and help keep it supple and soft. When you wash your skin, however, you strip away oil, letting moisture evaporate and drying the skin. Hot water and harsh cleansers further strip the skin, so be sure to turn down the water temperature and avoid alcohol-based cleansers.

Don’t forget your sunblock.
Just because the sun isn’t shining as often doesn’t mean you should abandon sun protection. The sun’s UVA rays are present year round, are not diminished by cloud cover, and can be extra harsh when reflecting off snow. Apply a heavy layer of moisturizing broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 25 or higher to the face, hands, and any other exposed skin. This will act as a barrier to help protect against the harsh elements and prevent photoaging.

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
Daily moisturizing with a face cream and body oil goes a long way to keeping skin feeling and looking healthy. Apply body oil to skin immediately after a bath or shower while your skin is still wet. This will help trap the water in the upper layers of the skin and decreases dryness and itching.

Moisturize from the inside out.
Cold weather muffles your body’s thirst signals in winter, so it’s easy to become dehydrated. Drinking lots of water will help keep your skin moist from the inside out. And what you eat can also help your skin look and feel better. Walnuts, wild salmon, canola oil and ground flaxseed are all rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have a lubricating effect on skin over time.

Drag out that humidifier.
Counteract the drying effects of central heating with a humidifier, which puts water back into the air and helps your skin stay moisturized. Most clever parents own at least one of these handy devices to soothe little ones’ colds and runny noses. Placing two or three humidifiers around your home will help to humidify the dry air and can keep skin from drying. Just be sure to keep humidifiers out of reach of little hands!

Treat your skin, treat yourself!
Why not beat the winter doldrums with a relaxing, therapeutic facial? A hydrating facial can help your skin regain lost moisture. The steam from the facial will increase the skin’s water level, which is then locked in with a deeply replenishing cream. And best of all, this special treat will leave you feeling refreshed, rejuvenated and ready to face Jack Frost head on!

With summer here, many of us are heading to our neighborhood pools, lakes and beaches. Warm, sunny days are one of summer’s delights, but you’ll want to ensure you’ve done all you can to protect your family from the dangers of excessive sun exposure. In this article, I’ve put together some simple guidelines that will enable you to have fun in the sun safely this summer.

First, it is important to understand the real risks associated with excessive sun exposure. For example, studies show that if your child gets one bad sunburn, her chance of getting melanoma – the most dangerous form of skin cancer – doubles. Even if your child tans easily and rarely burns, she is still at risk from the sun. While a darker-skinned child has a lower risk of skin cancer than a fair-skinned child, even African Americans can get skin cancer. In fact, reggae legend Bob Marley died of melanoma.

So, what can you do to protect your children from getting skin cancer? Quite a lot, actually. Your child will get more than 50% of his lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Clever sun protection through childhood can decrease your child’s risk of skin cancer by up to 80%. Read on for some Clever Tips on protecting your child this summer.

1. Apply more sunscreen than you think you need.
Most people simply apply too little sunscreen to get good protection. You should apply a thick layer of sunscreen, like icing on a cake. Don’t forget to reapply every two hours and immediately after swimming. Even if your sunscreen says “waterproof” or “lasts all day,” most sunscreens wear off in the sun and in water. And since children model parent’s behavior, make sure your child sees you applying sunscreen to yourself too!

2. Choose a “broad spectrum” sunscreen with Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide or Avobenzone.
These ingredients protect you from both UVA (”aging” rays) and UVB (”burning” rays). Zinc Oxide and Titanium dioxide are physical blocks (as opposed to chemical blocks) and are my favorite for younger children with more sensitive skin.

3. Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going out in the sun.
Sunscreen needs time to absorb into the skin to work best. Apply it half an hour prior to exposure for maximum protection. Also, if you put sunscreen on your child before putting on her suit, you’ll be less likely to miss spots.

4. Limit your child’s time in the sun.
Sometimes, we can get a false sense of security by simply applying sunblock. Just because your child is wearing sunscreen doesn’t mean it is safe for her to stay out in the sun all day. Keep your child out of the sun between the hours of 10am and 2pm, when the sun’s rays are at their peak.

5. Use Sun-Protective Clothing.
Sunscreen is only one aspect of skin-cancer prevention. Make sure your child wears a hat and protective clothing too. You can now buy clothing made with special fabric that blocks the sun’s rays. Look for clothing with a “UPF” rating – Ultraviolet Protection Factor. Land’s End Kids and LL. Bean Toddler carry UPF clothing.

6. Talk to your children about the risks of too much sun.
Young children are like sponges, absorbing so much of what we teach them. Take advantage of this special time (believe me it will end once they hit 13!) and explain to them that too much sun is bad for their skin. They’ll carry the sun-protective habits that you’ve instilled throughout their lives.

Happy Summer!
Karen

Clever Parents is excited to announce a new column, ‘Hey Beautiful’ with Karen Albright, mom of three and president of BodyLase Skin Spa, a medical spa in Raleigh and Cary, North Carolina. ‘Hey Beautiful’ will feature ideas, products and treatments to look and feel younger.

A lawyer by training, Karen Albright practiced law for several years prior to having children. “Although I enjoyed it, after having children I knew that I could not work in a large law firm because of the demands,” said Karen. “I went into teaching for a few years, and taught at Case Western Reserve Law School, the University of North Carolina School of Law and Duke Law School where I was a member of the Legal Writing faculty.”

How did a successful attorney shift gears and start a medical spa business? “I love going to spas and my husband is a physician,” Karen said, “so it was a project that we could both work on together.”

Karen has always wanted to own her own business. “When I was home with children, I did various “home businesses” such as Creative Memories,” she said. “I liked being my own boss and not having to answer to anyone else, particularly when I had children and wanted flexibility in my schedule.”

We caught up with Karen to talk about common skin mistakes people make, three skin products she can’t live without and what kind of articles readers can look forward to in her column.

Clever Parents: What are some of the most common mistakes that people make when it comes to caring for their skin?
Karen Albright: The biggest mistake people make when it comes to skincare is not realizing the incredible damage that the sun does to their skin. Even in the winter and on cloudy days, the sun’s UVA rays are strong and damaging to the skin. It is imperative to wear sunscreen every single day. I don’t think people realize that 90% of wrinkles are a result of photo damage from the sun.

CP: If you had to go on a trip for one week and could take only 3 skincare products, what would you pick and why? What 3 make-up items would you choose?
KA: My three products would be Sunscreen (crucial!), Vitamin C serum (a wonderful anti-oxidant that counters free radical damage) and Retin-A (the only topical cream FDA approved for reducing wrinkles). As for makeup, I would choose mascara, eyeliner and lipstick.

CP: In your opinion, what has been the greatest breakthrough in the medical spa industry in the last 10 years?
KA: The greatest breakthrough in the medical spa industry in the last 10 years is Botox. It is truly a miracle treatment and actually completely eliminates wrinkles around the eyes (”crow’s feet”) and the forehead. It is amazing!!!

CP: What kind of articles/topics can our readers look forward to in your column?
KA: Stay tuned for articles on the best beauty products and treatments; the latest in aesthetic lasers; how to look years younger without plastic surgery; and many more!

How does Karen balance business and family? “I balance the business/family life by delegating as much as I can (cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping, etc) to my wonderful nanny and protecting my weekends so I can spend them with my family.”