Have you ever noticed how the seasons affect your skin’s appearance? If so, you may have observed that the colder winter months tend to make your skin appear drier and flakier more frequently.
Your skin can get dehydrated as a result of the strong winter winds, dry indoor heat, low humidity levels, and cold air. Your face, hands, feet, and other exposed regions of skin may all start to look much less luminous than usual as a result of this.
Even when temperatures drop and there is no way to avoid the dry, chilly air of winter, there are things you can do to keep your skin looking healthy.
What symptoms indicate dry skin?
Among the most typical warning signs and symptoms of dry skin are:
- the scaliness or flakiness
- redness
- abrasive texture
- itchiness
- inflamed, raw skin
- Your skin is cracked.
- stinging or scorching.
Xeronic is the medical name for dry skin. The damaged area of your body will determine the type and degree of your symptoms.
How to avoid dry skin in the winter
Dry winter skin is not always the case. You might be able to keep your skin looking soft, smooth, and vibrant all winter long by making a few adjustments to your skin care routine and habits and utilising the proper products.
Let’s take a deeper look at 11 tips that may help you increase the health of your skin throughout the colder months of the year.
1. After washing, moisturize right away.
Your skin loses its natural oils whenever you wash your hands, face, or body. Replace these oils frequently because they aid in retaining moisture. Because of this, it’s crucial to hydrate your skin after every wash, especially in the winter.
Try keeping a bottle of moisturizer next to your sink as a handy reminder and carrying a travel-size moisturizer with you when you’re out and about.
The following moisturisers are very effective on dry winter skin:
Caravel’s daily moisturizing lotion was developed by experts and contains three essential ceramides as well as hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin and maintain its moisture barrier.
Ultra Facial Cream from Kiehl’s This lightweight facial moisturizer was created with glacial glycoprotein and squalene from olives to help your skin resist cold, dry environments.
Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme contains vitamin E and jojoba oil, which are both included in this nourishing hand and body treatment. It may swiftly penetrate your skin thanks to its lightweight formulation.
2. everyday use of sunscreen
It can be tempting to skip using sunscreen in the morning due to the shorter winter days and less sunlight, but resist the urge. Even in winter, damaging UV rays can still stress your skin’s moisture barrier, which is crucial for maintaining skin health and hydration.
After using a moisturiser in the morning, try adding a layer of sunscreen.
Use of sunscreen with at least SPF 30 is advised by the American Academy of Dermatology.
3. Utilize overnight remedies.
The best way to revive or prevent dry skin is with overnight treatments. Emollients work incredibly well to moisturize. They can, however, take longer to sink into your skin because they are a heavier type of cream.
Your skin will have the time it needs to absorb the therapy and for the emollient to replenish your skin with the moisture and oils it needs if you apply an emollient overnight.
Applying an ointment to your hands or feet while wearing gloves or a plastic bag will help you avoid getting the emollient all over your bed sheets or blankets.
You might want to take into account the following emollients:
Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream is a rich nighttime moisturiser that can be used on your hands, feet, face, or any other area that feels rough and dry.A little bit is often enough.
cream for intense moisture repair from Aveeno Skin Relief Oat flour, oat oil, ceramides, and rich emollients are present in this moisturiser, which can deeply hydrate the skin on every area of your body.
Cutemol Skin Cream is emollient. This moisturising lotion, which contains beeswax and rich emollients, is especially beneficial for repairing skin that has been harmed by regular handwashing.
4. Modify your skincare regimen.
You might want to think about temporarily streamlining your skin care regimen if the dry winter air is making the skin on your face feel particularly sensitive or irritated.
Remember that for serums, toners, and other beauty treatments to work effectively, your skin’s moisture barrier must be in good condition.
Additionally, inflamed skin may be more sensitive to substances like alcohol and fragrance. This implies that cosmetics that would typically feel wonderful on your skin could become irritating.
Try to make your skin care regimen straightforward. Consider using a light cleanser with a moisturiser in the morning and only a moisturiser and sunscreen at night.
Once you’re certain that the moisture barrier on your skin is sound, you may gradually add other treatments and substances back into your regimen.
5. Employ a humidifier.
When indoor heating is turned up in the winter, humidifiers can be extremely beneficial for replenishing moisture in the air. More moisture in the air can serve as a natural moisturizer, preventing and alleviating skin dryness in the process.
In the winter, a humidifier set at 60% can restore moisture to the top layer of your skin, according to Harvard Health Publishing.
6. Lower the thermostat.
After a chilly winter day, taking a hot shower or bath might feel particularly comforting. However, you might want to keep the water temperature closer to lukewarm to keep your skin nourished.
According to the Baylor College of Medicine, hot water might potentially harm your skin and remove its natural oils more quickly than lukewarm water (which is normally around 98.6 °F or 37 °C).
Additionally, use caution when drying your skin after a bath or shower. Use a soft towel to softly pat your skin instead of violently rubbing it to help some of the moisture nourish the top layer of your skin.
7. Use scrubs and exfoliants sparingly.
Exfoliation, which helps remove dead skin cells from the skin’s surface, can help maintain the smooth, youthful appearance of your skin. However, if you exfoliate your skin too frequently or with the wrong products, you risk overdoing it.
Consider using a gentle chemical exfoliator rather than a physical scrape if your skin appears dry or flaky. Scrubs with larger particles that are harsher may have a higher chance of damaging your skin’s moisture barrier.
It can be advisable to wait until your skin has healed before exfoliating if it is cracked, raw, or irritated.
8. Consider including occlusive in your routine.
Emollients can smooth and heal your skin barrier, as we described earlier. However, if you discover that emollient compounds aren’t helping your dry skin recover sufficiently, you might want to think about including occlusive ingredients in your skin care regimen.
Ingredients that are occlusive create a physical barrier to keep moisture in your skin. Occlusive ingredients include, for instance:
- cocoa butter
- coconut oil
- Jojoba oil with rosehip oil
- items containing petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline and Aquaphor.
Applying these products once or twice a day after moisturizing is the easiest way to include them in your routine.
9. Drink internal water.
Making sure you stay hydrated throughout the day is another essential step to maintaining healthy, luminous skin. Your skin can look different and become more prone to drying out if you don’t drink enough fluids.
In addition to staying properly hydrated, you may also want to focus on consuming foods that are high in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids.
Both of these nutrients can help your body produce healthy cells, including skin cells, and shield your cells from damage caused by the environment.
10. Select non-irritating materials.
A solid tip when dealing with any skin problem is to avoid wearing abrasive materials. Dry skin is also not an exception. To lessen the chance of additional physical irritability, try dressing in loose, comfortable, natural fabrics if the skin on your body is particularly dry.
Don’t wash your items with conventional detergents either. For detergents that won’t include harsh chemicals or strong fragrances, look for those made for sensitive skin.
11. Put on gloves.
The best physical defense against environmental elements that can dry out the skin on your hands is a pair of gloves.
Wear thick gloves when going outside in the chilly weather, and use a pair of silicone gloves when doing the dishes to protect your hands.
Keeping your hands smooth and well-hydrated can be achieved by limiting the amount of hot and dry air that contacts your skin.
When should I see a doctor?
While there are many at-home treatments for dry skin, it’s vital to consult a dermatologist or healthcare professional if your symptoms worsen or don’t go away.
They will offer suggestions for over-the-counter and prescription medications tailored specifically to your symptoms.
The conclusion
In the winter, it’s typical to have dry, flaky skin that affects not only your face but also your hands, feet, and other exposed body parts.
The secret to maintaining good skin is to moisturize it frequently with the correct products. Additionally, it’s crucial to use hot water, exfoliating scrubs, and other skin care products sparingly.
Your skin can also be protected by using a humidifier, donning nonirritating clothing and gloves, and drinking enough water.
Consider following up with your healthcare physician for the appropriate course of action if you find that your dry skin isn’t getting better with at-home solutions.