Winter Skin Care Cold, dry air can easily irritate the skin. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to combat the causes of dry skin in winter and keep your skin soft and supple throughout the season.
While this article details ten approved tips for winter skincare, and we highly recommend that you read the entire article, here are the key points we’re going to focus on:
Table of Contents
What Happens to Your Skin in the Winter?
Filaggrin, one of the essential proteins in our skin for maintaining barrier function and natural moisturizing factors, decreases during the winter. It also decreases with age and hormonal changes. It, combined with cold, dry weather, low humidity, and indoor heating that dehydrates our skin, leads to dryness and worsening skin conditions in many people.
Follow these Tips to Take Care of your Skin in Winter :
- Especially if you suffer from any dermatosis. Hydration is essential to take care of our skin and prevent it from looking dry. You can use moisturizing or mild exfoliation creams.
- It also moisturizes the lips. It is one of the parts of the body that suffers the most in winter, and do not forget to protect them from ultraviolet light.
- Take care of your hands. Hand care at this time of year is essential, especially for the nails, since the cold weather makes them more fragile and tend to break. Use creams with karate.
- Watch out for some fragrances or lotions. Using products that may be too aggressive for the face and body is not advisable. Choose soft products.
- Do not shower with boiling water or very cold. The idea is lukewarm water.
- Protect yourself from the sun. Yes, also in winter, especially if you are going to ski in areas with snow.
- Try to avoid sudden temperature changes, as this increases the possibility of the appearance of spider veins.
- Take the opportunity to do an intensive facial depigmenting treatment, such as a medical peel. At the Salute Aesthetic Medicine Center, we are specialists in peelings.
- Take care of the food. Increase your intake of vitamin C and antioxidants. Drink between 1.5 and 2 litres of water a day and avoid tobacco and alcohol in excess.
5 Common Winter Skin Issues
Controlling skin hydration is one of the key elements to maintaining skin health during the winter. Between the cold air, strong winter winds, and dry indoor heat, it’s easy for skin conditions to flare up. Here are five common winter skin problems that can get worse during the winter.
1. Eczema
Eczema is a common skin condition affecting more than 31 million Americans—characterized by red, itchy and inflamed patches of skin. It is caused by immune system activation, environmental triggers and stress. Cold, dry weather can trigger eczema flare-ups in the winter.
2. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a long-term disease that causes red, itchy, scaly patches of skin that recur for a few weeks or months before disappearing or going into remission. The most common sites of psoriasis are the knees, elbows, trunk, and scalp. Although there is no cure for psoriasis, your dermatologist can design a treatment plan to help you manage your condition. Cold weather and reduced sunlight can make psoriasis worse in winter.
3. Rosacea
Rosacea is a common skin condition that causes flushing or redness in the face and eyes. It can reappear for weeks or months before disappearing or going into remission. If left untreated, rosacea can cause permanent damage to the skin and eyes. Cold weather is a common trigger for many.
4. Keratosis pilaris (“chicken skin”)
Keratosis pilaris, also known as “chicken skin,” is a common, harmless skin condition that causes dry, rough patches and small bumps on the skin. These flesh-coloured or reddish bumps can appear on the arms, legs, or buttocks. These are usually more pronounced when dry skin, such as in winter.
5. Raynaud’s disease
Raynaud’s disease, which affects 5-10% of Americans, occurs when blood vessels in the fingers and toes constrict in response to cold, stress, or emotional upset. It leads to decreased blood flow, which makes fingers or toes cold, white and numb, and can be a troublesome problem during the winter.
Importance of Winter Skin Care
You don’t need a significant overhaul of your skin care regimen during the colder months. However, you should focus on more hydrating varieties of your products and reduce irritating effects to combat the dryness that winter inevitably brings.
1. Moisturizer frequently
Thick moisturizers that contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and petroleum jelly will help retain and seal moisture into the skin. Choose thicker creams instead of lighter lotions – the more comprehensive the moisturizer, the better. CeraVe Moisturizer, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, and good old Vaseline are some favourites.
2. Switch to Moisturizing Cleansers
During the winter months, avoid harsh cleansers on the face. Generally, any cleanser that leaves you feeling “sparkling clean” robs the skin of its natural moisture. Use gentle, moisturizing, fragrance-free cleansers for daily cleansing and makeup removal. CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser, BMD Gentle Cleanser, and LaRoche Posay Toleraine Hydrating Cleanser are great options for keeping skin hydrated and clean.
Conclusion
As a result of the above, the skin experiences a feeling of tightness. As a result of the layer formed by dead cells, the sebaceous secretion reaches the surface with more difficulty in lubricating and nourishing the epidermis, leaving it dry and sensitive.
Also Read: Self-Care – Definition, Types and More
