Winters can be harsh on your skin, leaving it dry and irritated. When the natural moisture evaporates from the top layer of skin, it often leaves you with drier, itchier and older looking skin. And no one wants to look older!

Winter skincare is very essential if you want to keep your skin looking healthy, nourished and youthful.

• To start, one must understand that the skin needs rejuvenation from within. Drink plenty water to help retain moisture. Make sure you are eating well and nutritiously. Fruits and vegetables have a lot of water content which is released into your system, nourishing it internally. Olive Oil is also good for softening your skin.
• Skincare regimens needn't be complicated. Today, we are spoilt for choice when it comes to personal care products. However, one needs to pick a product wisely. Too many chemicals can actually end up damaging your skin.
• Since winter can dry your skin and reduce moisture, it is better to opt for mild face washes. A soap-free face wash is ideal. Look out for one with Aloe Vera, which is a good moisturizer.
• During winters we love to step into hot showers. But even though a hot shower feels great and relaxing, it is not the best thing for your skin. As soon as you step out of a hot shower, your skin begins to lose moisture. The wiser thing to do is to shower in warm water - not more than 10 minutes. Moisture your skin within three minutes to seal in the water.
• Your winter skin care routine must include a cleanser- pick one that is thick and rich in texture. Cleansers provide a protective coating for the skin and help to prevent dry itchy skin; that's why they are highly recommended.
• Even in cold weather, you need UV protection for your skin, since the rays of the sun are still present. So don't miss out on the sunscreen in winters.
• The all important moisturizer: You skin can't get enough moisturizing in winter. So be generous with the moisturizer. A good moisturizer should help in attracting atmospheric moisture to the skin, serve as a barrier between the skin and the atmosphere to reduce the rate of evaporation from skin, and at the same time allow the skin to breath.
• Before you go to bed, gently exfoliate your skin to remove all grime and environmental residue. Follow-it up with a replenishing night cream. Night creams relax and rejuvenate the skin by moisturizing and nourishing it. They also restore skin elasticity and help minimize wrinkles.
• Don't forget the feet! A lot of us take extra care of our skin during winters but tend to ignore our poor feet. Remember, winter can be cruel on your feet, leading to cracks and dry hard skin.
• Wash your feet in warm water, apply a good foot care cream and wear socks before you hit the sack. This will give your feet all-night nourishing and keep it soft.

Skin care diet for winter:
1. Drink plenty of water to keep the skin hydrated. Drinking warm water in winter prevents vitiation of vata and diseases which arise from vata.
2. Soups which are sour and salted - balance vata.
3. Include honey in the diet.
4. Avoid Consumption of junk foods, too much of sweets and oil food as these lead to weight gain.
5. Your diet must ideally comprise of Cane juice, milk and clarified butter (ghee) during winter.
6. Stay away from cold and refrigerated foods like ice creams, milk shakes as they vitiate vata.
7. Gorge on warm and heavy food to fulfill the requirement of increased body fire.

Skin care life styles for winter

1. Always wear warm clothes which are made of wool, silk and cotton.
2. When you are wearing clothes in layers wear cotton clothes next to your skin as they do not cause skin allergy. Moreover they absorb sweat. Where as synthetic clothes fail to do so. Unabsorbed sweat harbors microorganisms which cause skin infections.
3. Avoid long hot showers and bath.
4. Quick three minutes bath is advisable.
5. Twenty to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise three times a week can give your skin a healthy glow.
6. Avoid repeated washing of face. This washes off natural oils from your skin and makes the skin dry, scaly and wrinkled. Use Luke warm water instead of hot water to wash face.
7. Use an indoor humidifier to place moisture in the air.

Skin care accessories for winter

1. Massage your body with oils which are infused with vata balancing herbs.
2. Apply moisturizing lotion liberally all over the body.
3. Smear lip balm on lips to prevent chapping of lips.
4. Take care of your skin on heels with balms and moisturizing products.

During the winter period, bronchitis and sinusitis are the most common conditions especially in areas with cold climates. Patients suffering from symptoms like headaches, fever, nasal discharge, difficult breathing and cough are usually diagnosed with sinusitis or bronchitis.

These respiratory conditions can frequently heal by using homeopathic remedies, annulling the necessity of antibiotics administration. Both sinusitis and bronchitis can appear in acute forms which are temporary and in chronic forms requiring a permanent care. In acute stages they can be treated by temporary herbal medication until symptoms disappear; in chronic forms however they necessity further investigations in order to be benefic deled with.

Causes of sinusitis and bronchitis might be bacteria, viruses or fungal organisms or even different types of allergens operating in acute or chronic timing.

Sinusitis is mainly characterized by fluid or mucous nasal discharge, obstruction of the nasal passages and feeling of pressure inside the sinus cavities. Disturbing headaches and facial pains around the frontal or maxillary area are important signs in differential diagnosis with common colds or flu.

Acute sinusitis can develop high fever and chills; left untreated it can lead to the apparition of bronchitis or pneumonia as the bacterial infection spreads to the other respiratory areas.

The homeopath physician must know if the condition is acute or chronic to be able to prescribe the most efficient treatments. Major importance has the way the disease has occurred and under the influence of which environmental factors. Such factors can be stress, allergens, diets or even contact to possible contagious cases.

Actual symptoms, the order of appearance and the way they affect the patient's life are important to establish a certain homeopathic medication. In sinusitis determinant are the localization of the pains and the aspect and smell of the discharge. Homeopathic remedies base more on the symptoms than on the cause of infection because there is no real efficient treatment for sinusitis.

If the patient's complaints are connected to high pressure inside the sinuses, yellow to green coloration of the mucus and localization of the pains in point areas, the sinusitis can be treated successfully by homeopathic remedies. The most common herbal medication for sinusitis is Kali bichromicum.

Sinusitis with more fluid nasal discharge slipping down the posterior side of the throat causes cough and requires clearing of the throat. Sometimes patients accuse bad breath, sweating and a metallic taste in the mouth, they might present a thick coat on the tongue and quick sessions of cold or hot feelings. If also fever is absent the best homeopathic remedy seems to be Mercurius solubilis. Patients suffering from irritability usually use Hepar sulphuricum or Nux vomica to treat sinusitis and develop some side-effects. Milder sinusitis improves with Pulsatilla nigricans.

Persons treated with Hepar sulphuricum complain more about the symptoms and are more irritable when they are cold. They sneeze more and the respiration through the nose is stopped by dry wind or cold

Enjoy the winter with a glowing skin. I wish you a Happy winter.