Smooth Skin in Winter

(CARLSBAD, CA) – Exercise is supposed to be the fountain of youth. So, why the dry, scaly skin in the winter time?  It seems that winter workouts in dry air, both indoors and outdoors, wreak havoc on skin, creating an appearance that is anything but youthful.

Fitness aficionados, take heart. Winter time workouts are not synonymous with dry, cracked skin. Jazzercise Founder and CEO Judi Sheppard Missett gives these suggestions to fight-off seasonal dryness, so that your fitness glow can shine through all winter long.

• Take shorter showers. No more singing the National Anthem while basking in the steam of a hot shower. Hot water actually dehydrates your skin by removing its normal, protective oils. Take a shorter shower (no more than 10 minutes) to keep your skin from drying out. When you exit the shower, apply lotion immediately, while your skin is still warm and damp, to seal in the moisture.
• Switch facial cleansers. Use a creamy cleanser instead of a gel cleanser during the winter. Also, switch to a richer formula of facial moisturizer.
• Run a humidifier. Dry, indoor heating strips the air – and your skin – of moisture. Prevent flaky and cracked skin by running a humidifier at night to keep the air moist.
• Apply hand cream liberally. We tend to wash our hands more often in the winter, in the interest of fighting off colds and flu. Unfortunately, public restroom soaps and antibacterial hand sanitizers dry out your skin. Use hand cream throughout the day to hydrate your skin.
• Drink water. Dry, chapped lips are often a sign of dehydration. When it’s cool outside, we often drink fewer fluids, which results in chapped lips. Try to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day to keep your skin nourished with fluids.
• Moisturize pre-workout. The high sodium (salt) content of perspiration can be drying to your skin. Apply moisturizer before you workout. The moisture will seep into your pores, which naturally open during exercise, and offer a protective barrier against the sodium and bacteria.
• Exfoliate. Keep your skin vitalized by removing dead skin cells 2-3 times per week. Products that contain loofah or jojoba offer natural exfoliation without irritating your skin.
• Avoid Tanning. The heat and UV rays from tanning salons dehydrates your skin and accelerates aging. If you can’t face the world without a sun-kissed glow, try a tinted moisturizer instead.

Judi Sheppard Missett, who turned her love of jazz dance into a worldwide dance exercise phenomenon, founded the Jazzercise dance fitness program in 1969.  Judi and Jazzercise Executive Vice President Shanna Missett Nelson have advanced the business opportunities of women and men in the fitness industry by growing the program into an international franchise business that today, hosts a network of 7,500 instructors teaching more than 32,000 classes weekly in 32 countries.

The workout program, which offers a fusion of jazz dance, resistance training, Pilates, yoga, and cardio box movements, has positively affected millions of people worldwide. Benefits include increased cardiovascular endurance, strength, and flexibility, as well as an overall "feel good" factor.  Additional Jazzercise programs include Junior Jazzercise, Jazzercise Lite and Personal Touch. For more information on Jazzercise go to jazzercise.com or call (800)FIT-IS-IT or (760)476-1750.