By Rachael Sarcione

The student parking lot at NECC’s Haverhill campus may not seem very far from the Spurk building or Bentley Library, but in bitter cold temperatures, the time it takes to walk from the car to the classroom is long enough to cause significant damage to your skin.

Many college students are aware of how dangerous prolonged exposure to the sun can be, but according to licensed aesthetician, Kim Cooper, of Haverhill keeping your skin hydrated in the winter can protect more than one’s outer beauty.

“Even the smallest break in your skin can lead to serious health problems,” said Cooper. “Think of that little crack on your knuckle as a neon ‘Vacancy’ sign for millions of bacteria that want nothing more than to invade your bloodstream.”

Besides being a breeding ground for germs and infection, chapped and broken skin can be very uncomfortable and itchy.

NECC student, Melissa Dow of Amesbury, attends night classes and has to walk from the student lot all the way to the science building.

“I’m kind of doomed with my sensitive skin,” said Dow. “My face gets so cold but if I wrap a scarf around it, I break out in a rash. So I just put on like a pound of moisturizer in the morning and hope for the best.”
Tyler Ksypka juggles classes at NECC and his work schedule at Walgreens.
“I definitely see more sales in moisturizing products during the winter,” said Ksypka. “We keep the shelves well stocked.”

Aside from topical products such as lotions and creams, there are steps you can take, internally, towards proper skin hydration.

“Proper nutrition is a key benefactor in maintaining healthy skin,” said Teri Catalano, of North Andover, a nutrition advisor and dietary aid. “My patients are sick of me telling them to drink more water and eat more fruit.”