Windburn is caused by exposure to cold winds, which can strip oils from the skin and cause dry, cracked, and red skin. It can be confused with sunburn, which can still occur on cloudy days. To prevent both, use sunscreen and cover exposed skin, wear sunglasses or goggles, and use moisturizing lotion. If symptoms persist, see a doctor to rule out other conditions. Mild pain relievers and eye drops can help with discomfort.
Windburn is a condition caused by exposure to strong and often cold winds for long periods of time. Wind can strip oils from the top layers of skin, creating dry, cracked skin that feels hot or burned and may appear red or swollen. Windburn can be confused with sunburn, and people may attribute “burnt” skin on cloudy days to the wind rather than the sun. In fact, cloudy days are still likely to cause sunburn, particularly if you’re on mountaintops where your exposure to the sun is greatest. Both wind and sunburns should be avoided whenever possible, although wind tends to produce much less long-term skin damage.
To prevent sunburn, you should wear sunscreen, but the emphasis should be on covering exposed areas of your face. Sunscreen won’t protect you much from the condition, but it should still be used to avoid sunburn. To get full protection, wearing sunglasses or preferably goggles can help keep the wind from irritating the skin around the eyes. These should have UVA and UVB protection. Also, it can help to wear items like balaclavas, which will cover most of your skin, leaving very little exposure to the wind. Hands should be gloved as they can also be affected by wind burn.
When you suffer from sunburn, common sense would suggest getting the moisture back into your skin. It can help you not expose yourself to extreme heat too quickly. Don’t take a hot shower at first to relieve the problem and keep your face away from the heat of fires or heaters.
Instead, most doctors suggest using a gentle skin lotion. However, you should expect your skin to be peeling, red, and feeling hot just like with sunburn. Some people recommend using a little aloe vera or chamomile and noni tinctures to help reduce the discomfort associated with sunburn.
If symptoms persist beyond a few days and you haven’t had repeated exposure to wind or sun, you may have another condition. Rosacea, especially in its early stages, can commonly be misdiagnosed, especially in the home setting. When symptoms persist, you may want to see a doctor to rule out other conditions.
For more severe cases, sometimes doctors may want to prescribe a mild pain reliever. It usually only takes several days to overcome, and most over-the-counter pain relievers will help with the discomfort. If your eyes are particularly irritated, consider using “red eye” eye drops or even artificial tears to reduce the itch.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
