Hello SPRING SKIN!

Get your glow going again after the ravages of the colder weather, with this expert advice

- TANYA PEAREY

The winter can be hard on our skin. It comes under attack indoors and out, with the harsher, colder weather outdoors, and the drying central heating and lack of ventilation indoors - plus the shift in temperatures as we move between the two. 'This can lead to dry, dull skin,' says skin specialist Dr Unnati Desai*, 'making conditions such as eczema and psoriasis worse.'

Dry skin

It's important to hydrate your skin back to life now. Increase your use of skin emollients and soap substitutes to help keep your skin hydrated. 'Wellhydrated skin is less likely to flare up,' says Dr Desai, 'and if a flare-up does occur, it may be less severe if the skin is well hydrated. The greasier the better for the skin, but for many this doesn't always feel great on a daily basis, so it's best to use a cream in the day and a greasier emollient at night.' Try cleansing your skin with a soap substitute - it will help clean the skin without stripping it of its natural oils.

Spring cleansing routine

It's important to clean your skin to get rid of infection-causing bacteria, says Dr Desai. 'But cleaning too often can remove the protective oils that prevent your skin from drying out, leaving it vulnerable to infections.'