4 hints for keeping your ears warm during winter

Failing to keep your head and ears warm in the winter can lead to discomfort and cold chills for your entire body. Here are 4 hints for keeping your ears, and thus the rest of your body, toasty warm in cold weather.

Thermal headbands are designed to be wrapped around a person's head, insulating the wearer's ears, temples and forehead. They are made out of fleece, wool or another warm material.

• Thermal headbands are excellent at trapping the heat that your body produces while keeping the cold out.
• A thermal headband is a great choice for winter because it stays on easily and allows you to be active – you don't have to worry about it falling off, even if you're exercising.

If you usually wear metal earrings, consider taking them off in the winter time. This can help keep your ears warm because metals conduct cold quickly – and if they're exposed to low temperatures, they may quickly cool down your ears and surrounding body parts.

• If you have to wear earrings, leave the metal ones at home and make sure you choose plastic ones, since they will not conduct or enhance cool temperatures.

If you get caught in the cold and don't have your ears covered, you may experience some pain or slight damage from cold temperatures. However, the quickest way to reverse that damage is to go inside a normally heated space.

• Ears can heat themselves quickly, so normally you don't need to seek medical attention for cold ears that are a bit painful.
• However, if you think you might have frostbite, seek medical attention immediately. One sure sign of frostbite on your ears is if they turn black.

Going outside with wet hair can increase the effects that cold temperatures have on your ears. Wet hair freezes when it is exposed to temperatures below freezing, creating an ice-like effect on your head and near your ears.

• Before heading out into a cold winter's day, check to ensure that your hair is completely dry.
• Either schedule your shower for a time when you won't be leaving the house or invest in a good hair dryer.

When winter rolls around and the weather turns chilly, do your body a favour and follow these common sense tips for keeping your ears warm.