How Does the Holiday Season Affect Our Skin?

Even if you’re not exposed to freezing temperatures, snow, and wind, winter festivities can put your skin through the wringer so that by the time the New Year comes around, you’re having to deal with the terrible effects of a post-holiday complexion. Between getting together with friends and family, indulging in rich holiday foods, and perhaps going on an exotic vacation, we often let our healthy habits fall to the wayside when we get busy. This makes acne breakouts, irritation, and dry, dull skin more likely. A lack of quality beauty sleep deprives our skin of its chance to repair itself, all of the sweet treats cause inflammation to spike, stress harms our skin barrier, too much alcohol produces free radicals that break down skin fibers, and our normal skin care routine may get put on the backburner when things get hectic. At Western Dermatology Consultants, we provide a range of cosmetic treatments—including lasers and microdermabrasion—for Albuquerque patients to revive their skin by removing the buildup of dull and damaged skin cells that block the surface. 

Along with in-office procedures to restore more vibrant, healthier skin, we recommend that patients follow these tips for helping their skin survive the holiday stress. 

Avoid Certain Holiday Foods

Some high-glycemic and processed foods are believed to be linked to skin breakouts. Eggnog is something you’ll need to avoid because it contains plenty of inflammation-inducing saturated fats along with alcohol that will dry out your skin. Sugar cookies can also be detrimental for your complexion because of all the white sugar and white flour they contain. Trade in eggnog for water or hot chocolate or have a slice of antioxidant-rich pumpkin pie instead of cookies. 

Be Consistent 

Consistency is the key to healthy skin, so remember to follow the same skin routine—including wearing sunscreen—throughout the colder months. 

Don’t Sleep with Makeup On 

You’re likely to be wearing more makeup for holiday parties, but even if you feel too exhausted to remove it before bed, make a habit of at least using micellar water to cleanse your skin. Forgetting to take off your makeup results in blocked pores and bacteria. 

Explore options for cosmetic skin resurfacing procedures like microdermabrasion from Albuquerque, NM’s The Spa @ Western Dermatology Consultants. Call 505-855-9267 or submit a contact form to schedule a consultation if you need advice on skin care.