If you pay close attention to your skin, you might notice that it goes through changes depending on the season. In the winter, you may experience issues like dryness, flaking, and possibly irritation and sensitivity. If you’re not sure how to effectively treat dry winter skin, we can help. In the article, we share strategies that promote a radiant, glowing complexion all winter.
What is Winter Skin?
What exactly is dry winter skin? Each person has a unique complexion, but one commonality many people experience is that their skin becomes dry in winter. Even if your complexion is usually healthy and hydrated for the rest of the year, it may become dry and flaky when colder temperatures strike.
Keep in mind that winter skin doesn’t just affect your face. Other areas like your hands and feet can become dry and irritated due to climate changes in the winter.
How Does Winter Affect Your Skin?
The main reason we develop dry skin in winter is that the air is colder. During the summer months, moisture levels in the air are high, which helps keep your skin hydrated. However, cold air isn’t as effective at sustaining high moisture levels, leading to low humidity. When this occurs, hydration levels in your skin can start to decline.
The dry air around you makes it difficult for your skin to maintain proper moisture levels, leading to dryness. You may also notice problems like dry patches on the face, and excessive dryness may cause your skin to peel and crack.
What Are the Signs of Dry Skin?
It’s essential to recognize the signs and symptoms of dry winter skin. Recall that while dryness is a common issue, not everyone experiences this problem during the winter. In addition, the symptom may have a different root cause, such as a naturally dry skin type. These are the primary signs of a dry complexion.
- Flakiness or Scaliness: As your skin dries out and loses moisture, some areas may begin to look scaly. In addition to scaliness, you may also notice your skin flaking. In more severe cases, the flaking happens alongside peeling.
- Redness: Dry skin becomes easily irritated and flaking skin even more so. For this reason, you may notice at least some redness in the areas of your skin affected by the dry, cold weather.
- Rough Texture: Another skin issue many people notice in winter is a change in texture. Your complexion might feel smooth for most of the year, but in winter, it can become rough. This occurs because your skin can’t hold onto moisture as effectively as it does during the summer.
- Itchiness: If your skin is peeling, flaking, and irritated, itchiness is a symptom you can also expect. The severity of the itchiness depends on how badly your skin is affected by the cold weather.
- Raw, Irritated Skin: If your skin becomes extremely dry and you don’t address the issue, over time it may begin to feel raw and uncomfortably irritated.
- Skin Cracking: Another relatively common issue that can happen during the winter months is skin cracking, especially if you already have a dry complexion.
- Stinging or Burning: Apart from these signs, you could experience a stinging or burning sensation on your skin.
How to Prevent Dry Winter Skin
Knowing how to treat and prevent the complications caused by dry skin during the winter months can be incredibly helpful. Following a skincare for dry skin routine can prevent uncomfortable and sometimes painful symptoms from occurring during the cold season.
In this section, we’ll look at the key product you should use to take optimal care of your complexion if you struggle with dry winter skin.
- Facial Cleanser: It’s essential to use a cleanser every day, morning and evening, but many people don’t truly comprehend the benefits of this vital skincare step. A gentle cleanser [1] removes impurities, dirt, germs, and dead skin cells. We recommend Dermpura skin balancing Cleanser, a natural, gentle formula that won’t further dry your skin.
- Body Cleanser: During winter, your entire body can feel dry, so you shouldn’t focus on your face alone. Use a good body cleanser, and wash your skin with a gentle sponge to prevent irritation.
- Facial Moisturizer: After cleansing your face, following up with a good moisturizer is one of the most important steps to keep your skin healthy in the winter. If you’re unsure which product to use, we recommend Infusoderm Deep Hydrating Daily Moisturizer. It’s a natural formula you can apply daily that won’t leave a greasy residue on your face.
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Body Moisturizer: Just as you have to cleanse your body, it’s also essential to hydrate the skin. There are several quality body moisturizers on the market but look for one free of fragrance, sulfates, parabens, and other ingredients that may cause skin irritation.
- Rejuvenating Products: When you select products for your winter skincare routine, choose formulas with rejuvenation properties because they help restore moisture and hydrate your skin. The Stemnucell Dermal Regeneration Serum hydrates, protects the skin barrier, and repairs damage.
- Sunscreen: Finally, don’t overlook the importance of sunscreen in protecting your skin during the colder months. Even though in the winter you may step outside and see clouds, it’s essential to realize that UV rays can penetrate them and harm your skin [2]
Preventing Dry Skin in Winter
In addition to learning how to combat dry winter skin, let’s consider how you can stop it from occurring. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to prevent dry winter skin and keep the radiant complexion you love.
- Adjust Your Skincare Routine For the Season: Your complexion has different needs in winter compared to summer, so consider adjusting your skincare routine in the fall. Add products to your general regimen that deeply hydrate the complexion before the cold season begins.
- Stay Hydrated: While most of your focus should be on your skincare routine, it’s also essential to drink enough water daily. This keeps your body hydrated [3], which also boosts skin moisture levels.
- Use a Humidifier: In the winter the air is often lacking in adequate moisture, so using a humidifier is an excellent way to prevent dry skin. Consider putting a humidifier in multiple rooms in your house to maximize the benefits.
- Limit Heat Exposure: While you may want to use a floor heater during winter, exposure to artificial heating sources can further dry your skin. Try to limit your use of these and other additional heating devices.
- Wear Protective Clothing: It’s important to wear clothing that protects you from the elements in winter, but buy items that use gentle fabrics like cotton that will not further irritate your skin. Wool is an example of a harsh fabric that you should avoid.
FAQs
What does my skin need in the winter?
In the winter, your skin requires adequate hydration. Use a moisturizer twice daily, and cleanse your skin with a gentle formula. In addition, try to avoid both extreme cold and artificial heat sources like floor heaters.
How can I calm my skin in the winter?
Soothing products that contain ingredients like aloe vera can help calm your skin in the winter. You can also relieve some of the stinging and burning associated with dry winter skin with regular use of a moisturizer.
What helps promote glowing skin in the winter?
If you want glowing skin in the winter, consider placing humidifiers in several rooms in your home. In addition, do not take extremely hot showers, and exfoliate regularly using products that are gentle on your skin. Apply a quality, deeply hydrating moisturizer twice daily.
Summary
Dry winter skin is a concern for many people, often leading to peeling, stinging, burning, and itchiness. If this is an issue you deal with every winter, you should take steps to prevent dryness as the cold months draw closer. In this article, we provide you with helpful treatment and prevention tips to ease dry winter skin. Our suggestions are a good place to start and should provide you with considerable relief.