Fun Facts
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Longer days, cold winds, and snowstorms are all things that happen every winter. As the weather changes, so do your body’s needs. One of the most important is dealing with dry, flaky skin.
In the winter, dry heat inside, wind chills below zero, and low humidity can all make your skin look less moist and healthy than usual. Different weather factors may pull away moisture from your skin, leaving it dry, red, flaky, itchy, cracking, peeling, and bleeding on your face, hands, feet, legs, and other vulnerable areas.
“Wind and dry air remove the oils that the top layer of skin needs to maintain its healthy protection function. Joshua Zeichner, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and the head of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, told LifeTechTales that as the skin loses water, tiny cracks appear in the top layer.
Dr. Zeichner said that the good news is that using the right products and making small changes to your skincare routine may help calm your skin, stop it from getting irritated, and keep it moist.
The following are the 7 Best Winter SkinCare Tips for Glowing Skin This Winter to keep your skin protected from dryness and flakiness.
Contents
- 1 Top 7 Best Winter SkinCare Tips for This Winter
- 1.1 1. Reduce the Length and Temperature of Your Showers
- 1.2 2. Apply moisturizer quickly after a bath.
- 1.3 3. Drink Plenty of Water
- 1.4 4. Stay away from allergens and irritants.
- 1.5 5. Use a Humidifier
- 1.6 6. Apply Sunscreen — Even on Gray Winter Days
- 1.7 7. Dress in Comfortable, non-irritating, and Appropriate Clothes
- 2 The Bottom Line
- 3 FAQs
Top 7 Best Winter SkinCare Tips for This Winter
1. Reduce the Length and Temperature of Your Showers
Experts say that taking long, hot showers can make you feel better when it’s cold outside, but the water can also dry out your skin by removing its natural oils.
Suzanne Friedler, MD, a board-certified fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology who specializes in both medical and cosmetic dermatology, says, “Keep showers short, anywhere from five to ten minutes.”
During a shower, people should also think about turning down the water temperature to warm or lukewarm. Dr. Zeichner said, “The water temperature should be what you would expect a heated pool to feel like in the summer.”
2. Apply moisturizer quickly after a bath.
Immediately after showering, bathing, or washing your hands, Dr. Friedler advised applying a moisturizer such as cream, ointment, or washcloth to prevent further dehydration of the epidermis. This action facilitates retaining moisture while the epidermis is still damp and prevents moisture evaporation.
Right away after your shower, while there is still a trace amount of moisture remaining on your body, apply a cream or ointment to seal in that moisture,” she advised.
In place of lotions, use creams or ointments containing hydrating and barrier-repairing constituents such as ceramide 3, squalene, and glycerin, according to the board-certified dermatologist at Art of Skin, Melanie Palm, MD, who advised LifeTechTales. This is due to the fact that few lotions contain water, an essential ingredient for retaining hydration.
Moisture-Boosting Ingredients In addition to these components, the following may also help retain moisture in the skin:
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3. Drink Plenty of Water
Another thing that Dr. Palm said will help your face stay healthy and hydrated is to drink “plenty of water” every day. Making sure you drink enough water every day is good for your health and keeps your skin hydrated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) agree with Dr. Palm. They say that water helps the body keep its temperature normal, keeps joints smooth, and gets rid of waste. Increasing your water intake can make a big difference in the health of your skin, especially if you normally don’t drink enough water.
4. Stay away from allergens and irritants.
Dr. Palm said that people with dry skin, itching, and mild eczema flare-ups can often control their symptoms at home by staying away from irritants such as soaps, scents, fabrics, and other scented items. Deodorant soaps and other perfumed or scented items, as well as those that contain alcohol, can dry out the skin and make it more sensitive.
Dr. Friedler says that you should use gentle moisturizers, soaps, laundry detergents, and fabric softeners instead of these kinds of goods. Reading the label of each item’s ingredients before putting it in your shopping cart can help you find ones that meet these standards.
Aside from that, stay away from bath sponges, scrub brushes, wool, and other rough fabrics that can hurt your skin.
5. Use a Humidifier
You might want to use a fan if you live in a dry area. This is because the humidity in cold places drops with the temperature in the winter. “That makes your skin dry out, too,” Dr. Friedler said.
A humidifier can help add moisture to the air during the winter when many people turn up their thermostats inside. This extra wetness may stop the skin from drying out, itching, and other skin irritations or make it better. Research has shown that even a 30% drop in air can change the way skin works.
6. Apply Sunscreen — Even on Gray Winter Days
The Skin Cancer Foundation says that on sunny winter days, snow reflects the sun’s rays, which makes your UV exposure longer. A report from the American Cancer Society says that UV rays can cause skin cancer, sunburn, and early aging of the skin with lines, leathery skin, and liver spots.
So, it doesn’t matter if you’re skiing, playing in the snow, or rushing through a parking lot—sunscreen is still important.
Even when it’s cold and dark outside, don’t be fooled. The Skin Cancer Foundation says that up to 80% of the sun’s dangerous UV rays can still get through clouds and hurt people.
The Skin Cancer Foundation says that whenever you go outside, you should cover all of your skin with a broad-spectrum sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or higher, is water-resistant, and has hydrating ingredients like lanolin or glycerin.
7. Dress in Comfortable, non-irritating, and Appropriate Clothes
Many fabrics made for cold weather can make dry skin worse in the winter. Stein Gold says, “Avoid putting wool and rough clothes right on your skin.” “This might rub dry skin the wrong way and make it itch.”
Instead, wear light layers against your skin that are made of soft, flexible materials like cotton or silk. The AAD says to put on your heavier, warmer coats after that.
Wear gloves or mittens to keep your hands warm in the winter. Wesley says to try leather gloves if wool ones are too annoying.
The Bottom Line
After applying the above-mentioned healthy skin guidelines, Stein Gold proposes the use of an over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream if dryness, discomfort, redness, and irritation persist. Stein Gold advises, “Consult your doctor if you do not observe improvement within days.” According to the AAD, dry skin could indicate a skin condition that requires attention or necessitates the use of a prescription-strength moisturizer to counteract the dehydrating effects of winter on the skin.
FAQs
- Why does winter weather affect the skin negatively?Winter weather, characterized by dry heat indoors, sub-zero wind chills, and low humidity, can strip away moisture from the skin, leading to dryness, redness, flakiness, itching, and other discomforts.
- How can I protect my skin during the winter?Follow these tips:
- Reduce the length and temperature of your showers.
- Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid allergens and irritants.
- Use a humidifier.
- Apply sunscreen, even on cloudy days.
- Dress in comfortable, non-irritating clothes.
- What moisturizing ingredients are recommended for winter skincare?Use creams or ointments containing hydrating and barrier-repairing constituents such as ceramide 3, squalene, glycerin, cocoa butter, shea butter, rosehip oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and petroleum jelly-based products like Vaseline.
- Why is it essential to apply sunscreen in winter, even on cloudy days?Snow reflects the sun’s rays, and UV exposure can still occur on cloudy days. Sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, water-resistant, and hydrating ingredients is recommended to prevent skin damage, including skin cancer and premature aging.
- When should I consider seeing a dermatologist for winter skin issues?If skin irritation persists after two weeks of home treatments, it may be time to consult a dermatologist for professional advice and solutions.