Being stuck indoors during lockdown is playing havoc with our skin, resulting in dry, blotchy areas, and flakiness.  

Combine that with the blasts of cold air whenever we are outside, and you have the perfect storm for “radiator face”.  

“The skin’s outer layer, the stratum corneum, acts as a barrier to keep bacteria out and moisture in,” explains Dr Preema Vig, Medical Director and skin expert. “Very dry air can cause gaps to form in the cells’ protective later, known as trans-epidermal water loss, which can increase inflammation, dryness, and compromise skin.  

“Additionally, extreme temperature changes due to switching from indoors to outdoors can cause the delicate blood vessels in the skin to expand and contract, causing swelling, redness and further irritation.”  

To combat this, try to inject moisture into the hot air in your home by investing in a humidifier or by simply putting a bowl of water by your radiator. 

Dr Preema also recommends the iS Clinical Reparative Moisture Emulsion, which is formulated with pharmaceutical-grade botanicals, peptides, and powerful antioxidants to hydrate and help strengthen the skin barrier.  

If you’re a fan of getting professional treatments, once beauty salons reopen you could also check out Profhilo, an injectable moisture treatment containing ultra-pure hyaluronic acid that stimulates the skin receptors to improve tone and texture, or a Hydrafacial, which exfoliates away dead skin cells on the surface, before massaging moisture back into the skin with HA and proteins to help rebuild its barrier. 

“As hyaluronic acid absorbs 1,000 times its weight in water, there’s an instant injection of hydration and the effects last four to six weeks,” Dr Preema adds. 

– Cover Media