How The Cold Affects Your Skin and Joints (And How To Beat It!)

Getting out of bed on a frosty winter morning is hard enough without stiff knees adding to the struggle! 

If the colder days are wreaking havoc on your joints, you’re not alone. Scientists have found that people with certain joint conditions struggle more during winter, possibly due to greater sensitivity in areas with reduced cartilage.

And if it’s not your joints, it’s your skin! Lower temperatures during winter means less moisture in the air, causing trans-epidermal water loss. In other words: dry, flaky skin. Sitting under a heat pump indoors only makes matters worse.

We can’t hit the delete button on winter for you, but we CAN make the chilly season a little easier on the body! We’ve got some great products to support ailing joints, dry skin, and other winter health issues. Read on! 

Omega 3 essential fatty acids 

Omega-3 fatty acids are a special combination of fats and oils that make up the membranes around your cells. The three most important omega-3 fatty acids are docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). These are known as ‘healthy fats’ because they’re required by your body for dozens of processes, from supporting your eyes and blood vessels to balancing the fats in your blood, and even helping your brain cells communicate.

When the temperature drops, your joints and skin need even more of these essential fatty acids. And here’s why!

• Omega 3 for joints
  Studies show that plenty of ‘good fats’ support joint health and function, and may help to support cartilage maintenance. Omega 3 has also been found to support joint comfort.
  
  
• Omega 3 for skin health
  Fatty acids support your skin’s barrier, helping skin cells to retain moisture. This is exactly what you want during those harsh, dehydrating days of winter!
  Healthy skin starts from within, so eat plenty of healthy fats like salmon, avocado, and nuts to keep your skin looking hydrated and fresh.
  
  

With so many fish oil products around these days, it can be hard to know how to choose a good one. The best place to start is by checking that the fish oil has been tested for mercury and heavy metals, and comes from wild-sourced fish. Good Health Omega-3 Fish Oil 1500 mg is a high-potency oil from unfarmed, cold water fish. It also has 50% more EPA and DHA than a standard fish oil capsule. Ethical Nutrients High Strength Omega-3 is also sourced from ocean fresh wild fish and undergoes molecular distillation for quality and purity. Ethical Nutrients fish oils are available in both capsules and liquid formulas and provide some of the highest EPA and DHA content of any product. 

Nutrients for joints

Glucosamine and chondroitin may sound like characters out of a sci-fi movie, but they’re actually vital components of joint cartilage. Glucosamine is a building block for the molecules that make up cartilage structure, while chondroitin supports cartilage’s resistance to compression. 

It’s very difficult to get glucosamine and chondroitin from diet alone. ,
As such important cofactors of joint function, glucosamine and chondroitin are very popular joint health supplements, and you’ll often see them together. 

Sanderson Glucosamine and Chondroitin contains both glucosamine sulphate and chondroitin sulphate along with key minerals to support healthy cartilage and joint mobility. Nutralife Joint Care contains glucosamine and chondroitin plus zinc, selenium, and other nutrients to support healthy joint function. Two great products to help you through the cold months! 

Nutrients for skin

As a child, were you told that eating your bread crusts would make your hair curl? Well, that wasn’t quite true… but there are lots of nutrients that DO support your hair, skin, and nails! One of those is biotin, a B vitamin that supports the enzymes in your skin and also the formation of those important fatty acids we mentioned above. Good Vitamin Co Biotin is a yummy chewable that contains biotin to support skin health every day. These fruity little gummies also contain natural pectin to support healthy digestion and balanced blood sugar levels.
Vitamin C is another valuable skin nutrient associated with collagen production and reducing damage caused by free radicals. It works well with silica, a mineral often referred to as ‘the beauty mineral’ which also supports collagen synthesis and helps with skin elasticity. 

My Health Hair Skin Nails combines biotin, vitamin C and silica along with collagen, zinc, selenium, and grapeseed for healthy skin from within. 

Dry skin relief

Dry skin can be uncomfortable, itchy, and annoying - even when it’s covered by layers of clothes. That’s why winter skin needs a two-pronged approach. 

Along with taking the right supplements to nourish your skin from the inside, you can bring relief to those raw, flaky areas with a good moisturiser. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient is a fragrance-free body cream moisturiser that feels divine on dry, sensitive skin. This gentle cream is formulated with a prebiotic triple oat complex to hydrate and soothe those parched skin cells. Aveeno Dermexa Daily Emollient also contains ceramides, a type of fatty acid that helps support the skin's protective barrier.
For a product that’s truly stood the test of time, you can’t beat E45 Moisturising Cream. This heavy-duty moisturising lotion was first released in 1952 and it’s still going strong! Dermatologically tested and non-greasy, E45 cream is designed to bring relief to a wide range of dry skin conditions by sealing in moisture. Top tip: E45 is most effective when applied to damp skin after a bath or shower. It’s available in tubs, pumps, and bottles to suit every lifestyle (and bathroom shelf!)

Pop into your local Bargain Chemist and check out all the great products that can help make winter a little easier on the body. Your knees and elbows will thank you! 

Always read the label and use as directed. If symptoms persist see your healthcare professional.