[Protection from the cold. A further useful preventive measure]

One of the functions of the skin is perception of heat and cold and passing on of information to the regulatory centre of the brain. Variation of blood flow through skin and muscles is the response to the respective air temperature. Whether strong UV radiation has an additional negative effect on the vascular system has not been investigated so far. Exact heat conduction figures of skin, surrounding air and ingredients of a cold air protection cream are of importance for establishing the formulation of an ideal protective product. Cold air protection for the skin is of vital importance for winter sports or at high altitudes. But it can also be of importance for people staying in the water for a long time, or for swimming in very cold water, or for exposure to water and strong wind, e.g. when surfing. Tests show that the skin will lose 20% less heat in cold water when it is greased. Hyperaemising substances should only be used for cold air protection products in well-defined doses (indication of a skin blood supply factor) in order to avoid functional disturbance of the skin. Combined application of a hyperaemising product and a cold air protection cream doubles the duration of the protection and allows for an extension of the warming effect to the muscles. This improves functional capacity and coordination.