Spring is the perfect time to renew your dull, dry skin and switch up your routine in preparation for summer. For some of us that are less fortunate, the change in season can signal the return of certain skin issues and the arise of totally new ones. There are a couple of common factors that could be affecting your skin, and sometimes just a natural and simple change in products or lifestyle can make all the difference.
The first and foremost factor is airborne allergens, like pollen, that can cause an allergic reaction. Personally I've always struggled with allergies, whether it be environmental or dietary, and it always impacts my skin first. When the skin is exposed to airborne allergens it can release histamine in some people, which dilates blood vessels and can lead to inflammation. High levels of histamine can cause the skin to be extra sensitive, which commonly triggers inflammation, eczema and psoriasis. I've never had any luck using steroid creams or medications, but I have had a lot of success dealing with allergy skin by investing in a good moisturizer like our body butter, making small dietary changes, and drinking a lot of water. Histamine production increases when your body is dehydrated, drinking plenty of water can help prevent production and can alleviate some symptoms. I also recommend eating local honey because your are ingesting local pollen, and overtime can become less sensitive. When all else fails, take some antihistamines. A few other things you can try are adding in nettle leaf, turmeric, kombucha, probiotics, and/or vitamin D into your diet.
For those who have oily and acne prone skin, the change in seasons can result in an excess of sebum. The dry and cool climate of winter causes the skin to be dehydrated, which signals the over production of the natural oils to try and compensate. There are a few other factors at play here, but as the humidity and temperature rises during spring, the skin is still overproducing, leading to excess oiliness. This is a perfect time to switch it up by exfoliating and adding a face mask into your routine. It is also important to use a moisturizer that's high in linoelic acid, like our Balancer, which is a deeply penetrating, light-weight and non-comedogenic (won't clog the pores). I would also recommend maybe adding an omega 3 (EPA-DHA) supplement if you haven't already, and eating a hormone-balancing foods.
A few other common problems that you could experience are dryness, dullness, and redness. First line of defence is to hydrate, 8 glasses of water a day isn't a suggestion, it's vital! Next is to invest in a good moisturizer, and it's not a bad idea to add in a face mask to help reduce inflammation, detox, exfoliate and keep the pores clean.
For all spring related skin problems, my product recommendations are the Elixir facial serum (for dry skin), Balancer facial serum (for oily and acne prone), Pink Clay mask (all skin types), and the Rose body butter.
Questions? Email noni@lavami.ca