Hey there! 😷
It’s getting cold, isn’t it? It’s getting harder to get out of bed in the mornings to face the slight chill and we want to burrow under our blankets for just “5 mins” longer. 🛌🏻 And right on cue, the Department of Health (DOH) dropped their Amihan-season reminder last October, calling out the usuals: flu, colds, allergic rhinitis, pneumonia, and our good ‘ol dry, irritated skin. The challenges of Amihan season. 🫣
Why Does Amihan Trigger So Many Symptoms?
Cold, dry air pulls moisture from our skin, throat, and sinuses faster than we can replenish it. 💧 When our barriers dry up, allergens sneak in, our immune system gets more burdened, and before we know it, we’re dealing with runny noses, scratchy throats, tight chests, or flaky patches. This season exposes every weakness—respiratory, skin, or otherwise.
What Are the Early Signs Our Body Reacts to Amihan?
If we start sneezing more, feel that tightness behind the nose, notice our skin cracking around the sides of the mouth or knuckles, or experience that “coming flu” heaviness behind the eyes, those are THE symptoms to pay attention to. Our bodies saying, we need a lil more TLC. 🥰 Though sometimes even emotional irritability can show up when breathing feels restricted or sleep is interrupted by stuffy nights. So those mood swings? May be the start of them too. 🤔
How Do We Stay Healthy During Amihan Season?
The DOH already laid down the essentials: wash hands, hydrate, stay home when symptomatic, and moisturize consistently. 🧼🧴 Totally solid. But might I suggest upping our strategy to combat it? Especially when dryness and inflammation largely drive the discomfort.
Dry skin goes beyond appearances; it weakens the barrier, inviting inflammation, redness, and irritation. Our goal? Protect, replenish, and ease the body’s inflammatory burden so respiratory symptoms, skin issues, and seasonal irritations don’t flare up as intensely.
Oleia Oils for Amihan Season:
🍃 Peppermint — cooling, clarifying, supports chest and sinus comfort.
🪻 Lavender — calms bedtime tension, hydrates flaking skin, restores sleep.
🌼 Chamomile — gentle relief for redness, eczema patches, and reactive skin, especially for children.
⚪ Pure (Unscented) — deep hydration without fragrance, perfect for ultra-sensitive skin.
By reinforcing the skin barrier and lowering inflammation, we give our body the stability it needs to handle the cold, dry air. Respiratory comfort improves when our inflammatory load is low. Mood stabilizes when the skin isn’t irritated. And our overall seasonal resilience skyrockets.
So yes—the air’s cooling, Christmas is basically tapping on the window, and Amihan is absolutely here. 🎄 But with smart routines, hydration, rest, and some of our tried and true topical support, we can move through this season calm, moisturized, and fully functional. After all, we will all need it once December hits. 🎉
Show me your bottle and I’ll show you mine. ’Til next time! ❄️
xo, L.
References:
https://www.facebook.com/DOHgovPH/posts/1281852853981484