Arid climates and a lot of sunshine will conspire to take a toll on your skin if you don't follow a few basic steps to take care of it.
Lack of attention will lead to dry and chapped lips, sunburns, and itchy dry patches of skin.
Have you ever seen pictures of people who were rescued after being lost in the desert for a few days? They're usually a mess! Fortunately, you don't have to suffer through any of these discomforts if you take a few easy precautions.
I live with my wife and children in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
It's not quite a desert but, the climate tends to be hot and dry or cold and dry.
Regardless of the temperature, it's dry.
Now don't get me wrong, I feel blessed to live in the desert southwest.
We are isolated from major weather extremes, earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis so it's a tradeoff I can live with.
We are treated to spectacular sunsets, beautiful sun rises, four distinct seasons, over 300 days of sunny weather...
and only 9 inches of rain each year.
This is an arid city.
I have an active family and children who are involved in a number of outdoor sports and activities.
I soon realized I needed to take better care of my skin and their skin or we would be walking around looking like a bunch of sunburned and old baseball mitts.
Here are my recommendations to ward off dry, itchy, sunburned skin and chapped lips if you live in or plan to visit an arid climate: During the Day: To achieve and maintain great looking skin, I learned to apply liberal amounts of lotion to the areas that were prone to exposure from the sun such as my hands, arms, legs, neck, face, and ears.
My wife and I keep a bottle of hand and body lotion on our bathroom vanity.
The kids also have a bottle of lotion on their bathroom vanity.
This makes it easy to remember to apply lotion after showering or after washing hands.
We also keep a bottle in the kitchen next to the dish soap.
I quickly developed a habit of applying sunscreen on a daily basis even in the cooler months.
The elevation in Albuquerque is about 5,000 feet (1524 meters) above sea level.
The sun's rays can be very harsh on any skin type.
I recommend a broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30.
If you're fair-skinned, consider a SPF of 50+.
I apply the sunscreen over the regular lotion paying special attention to my nose and ears.
It's like two layers of defense.
My kids don't always remember to apply sunscreen so my wife and I keep a supply of sunscreen handy when we head outdoors.
We prefer the spray on sunscreen for the ease of use and even application.
Follow the manufacturers' recommendations and apply often especially after swimming or if you are working up a sweat.
Hats are a necessity if you spend any time outdoors.
A baseball style cap will help keep the sun out of your eyes but it does not provide protection from the sun for you neck and ears.
Consider a hat with a brim all the way around.
I recommend you still apply sunscreen to your face, neck, ears, and nose.
A hat may provide a lot of protection but the sunscreen will enhance your protection.
Lip balm is an absolute necessity.
I keep a tube in my pocket and apply it often throughout the day.
I recommend a lip balm that has a SPF of 15 or more.
Nighttime Before heading off to bed, I use a night cream on my face, neck, ears, arms, and hands.
Any skin that has been exposed to the sun gets a layer of night cream.
This has helped reduce the signs of wrinkles, sunspots, and other pigmentation issues.
I'll let it dry and then I apply a thin layer of hand and body lotion.
In my nightstand, I keep a jar of petroleum jelly.
Before bed, I apply a thin layer to my lips and to my fingertips, especially around my fingernails.
Petroleum jelly provides a great barrier to moisture loss and it speeds healing of cracked and dry skin.
Lastly, I drink a lot of water.
Staying well hydrated keeps your skin looking younger and healthier.
I have a large cup of water on my nightstand so I don't have to find my way to the kitchen if I wake up thirsty in the middle of the night.
Living in or visiting an arid climate can be much more enjoyable if you take the time to protect yourself.
Sunburns, chapped lips, and patches of dry itchy skin can make you miserable.
Take a few minutes each day and apply sunscreen and lotion.
Have a tube of lip balm handy.
Wear a hat when you venture outside.
And lastly, drink a lot of water! Just because it's arid on the outside, doesn't mean you have to be arid on the inside.
Lack of attention will lead to dry and chapped lips, sunburns, and itchy dry patches of skin.
Have you ever seen pictures of people who were rescued after being lost in the desert for a few days? They're usually a mess! Fortunately, you don't have to suffer through any of these discomforts if you take a few easy precautions.
I live with my wife and children in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
It's not quite a desert but, the climate tends to be hot and dry or cold and dry.
Regardless of the temperature, it's dry.
Now don't get me wrong, I feel blessed to live in the desert southwest.
We are isolated from major weather extremes, earthquakes, volcanoes, and tsunamis so it's a tradeoff I can live with.
We are treated to spectacular sunsets, beautiful sun rises, four distinct seasons, over 300 days of sunny weather...
and only 9 inches of rain each year.
This is an arid city.
I have an active family and children who are involved in a number of outdoor sports and activities.
I soon realized I needed to take better care of my skin and their skin or we would be walking around looking like a bunch of sunburned and old baseball mitts.
Here are my recommendations to ward off dry, itchy, sunburned skin and chapped lips if you live in or plan to visit an arid climate: During the Day: To achieve and maintain great looking skin, I learned to apply liberal amounts of lotion to the areas that were prone to exposure from the sun such as my hands, arms, legs, neck, face, and ears.
My wife and I keep a bottle of hand and body lotion on our bathroom vanity.
The kids also have a bottle of lotion on their bathroom vanity.
This makes it easy to remember to apply lotion after showering or after washing hands.
We also keep a bottle in the kitchen next to the dish soap.
I quickly developed a habit of applying sunscreen on a daily basis even in the cooler months.
The elevation in Albuquerque is about 5,000 feet (1524 meters) above sea level.
The sun's rays can be very harsh on any skin type.
I recommend a broad spectrum sunscreen with a SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 30.
If you're fair-skinned, consider a SPF of 50+.
I apply the sunscreen over the regular lotion paying special attention to my nose and ears.
It's like two layers of defense.
My kids don't always remember to apply sunscreen so my wife and I keep a supply of sunscreen handy when we head outdoors.
We prefer the spray on sunscreen for the ease of use and even application.
Follow the manufacturers' recommendations and apply often especially after swimming or if you are working up a sweat.
Hats are a necessity if you spend any time outdoors.
A baseball style cap will help keep the sun out of your eyes but it does not provide protection from the sun for you neck and ears.
Consider a hat with a brim all the way around.
I recommend you still apply sunscreen to your face, neck, ears, and nose.
A hat may provide a lot of protection but the sunscreen will enhance your protection.
Lip balm is an absolute necessity.
I keep a tube in my pocket and apply it often throughout the day.
I recommend a lip balm that has a SPF of 15 or more.
Nighttime Before heading off to bed, I use a night cream on my face, neck, ears, arms, and hands.
Any skin that has been exposed to the sun gets a layer of night cream.
This has helped reduce the signs of wrinkles, sunspots, and other pigmentation issues.
I'll let it dry and then I apply a thin layer of hand and body lotion.
In my nightstand, I keep a jar of petroleum jelly.
Before bed, I apply a thin layer to my lips and to my fingertips, especially around my fingernails.
Petroleum jelly provides a great barrier to moisture loss and it speeds healing of cracked and dry skin.
Lastly, I drink a lot of water.
Staying well hydrated keeps your skin looking younger and healthier.
I have a large cup of water on my nightstand so I don't have to find my way to the kitchen if I wake up thirsty in the middle of the night.
Living in or visiting an arid climate can be much more enjoyable if you take the time to protect yourself.
Sunburns, chapped lips, and patches of dry itchy skin can make you miserable.
Take a few minutes each day and apply sunscreen and lotion.
Have a tube of lip balm handy.
Wear a hat when you venture outside.
And lastly, drink a lot of water! Just because it's arid on the outside, doesn't mean you have to be arid on the inside.
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