A sudden chill in the air is always a cause of excitement because it signals the arrival of winter. Winter is a delightful time of the year; it brings cozy sweaters, delicious warm drinks, the holiday season, and so on.
However, not all is warm and fuzzy. For many people, the start of winter can wreak havoc on their skin. Winter brings dry and cold winds and causes exposed skin to lose moisture and become chapped, dry and flaky.
As a result, many people battle dry skin and its discomfort during winter. It is especially challenging for people with sensitive, already dry skin, and their chapped skin can become painful and even start bleeding.
Keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized is key to enjoying winter. While you might have a regular skincare routine, it might need to be switched up for winter to accommodate the increasingly dry skin.
Similarly, you might need to follow certain habits to ensure that your skin’s moisture remains locked in. Winters can be harsh on your skin, but if you follow specific tips, you might emerge out of the season with even more glowing skin than usual. Extra care for your skin’s moisture during winter can help you achieve the glowing, flawless skin you have always wanted.
Read on to find five ways to prevent dry skin this winter and keep your skin’s moisture on lock. These tips also include changes you can make to your daily routine and do not involve buying expensive skincare products. Therefore, these tips are suitable for everyone and also accessible.
Why Do You Get Dry Skin in Winter?
Many people associate dry skin in winter with low humidity. While that is one of the primary reasons many people suffer from dry skin in winter, other factors supplement the low humidity and cook up the combination needed to make your skin itchy, scaly, and uncomfortable.
Here are three reasons your skin is drying out every winter despite your best efforts to avoid it.
1. Long Hot Baths and Showers
One of the great delights of winter is soaking in a steaming bath. However, some people might be too overzealous with it and expose their skin to scalding hot water for longer than needed. These hot showers can rob your skin of moisture and lead to dry skin during winter.
2. High Indoor Temperatures
Winter temperatures mean you probably spend a lot more time inside than usual. However, a mistake many people make is cranking up the heat higher than necessary. Spending time indoors in high temperatures can make your skin too dry.
3. Less Water Intake
Staying hydrated is essential to maintain your skin barrier and its moisture. Winters do not make you sweaty or thirsty. Therefore, many people forget to keep up with their regular water intake. Drinking less than the recommended amount of water can also dry out your skin.
5 Tips to Prevent Dry Skin During Winter
Now that we have established the habits that can worsen your dry skin issues during winter, we can now focus on the changes you can make to ensure you do not encounter problems with dryness in the winter. These tips include skincare products but mainly endorse lifestyle changes that will help you maintain a glowing complexion and supple, hydrated skin.
1. Consider Investing in a Humidifier
As mentioned before, the primary reason for dry skin in winter is the low humidity levels, aka water vapors, in the air. Installing a humidifier in your home will make indoor air more humid than the dry air outside; therefore, it will be gentler on your skin and help you avoid dryness and flakiness. Keeping your indoor heating lower will also help combat any dryness in the air.
2. Try Slugging Before Going to Bed
Slugging is a name for lathering a heavy-duty moisturizer before sleeping. Many people use petroleum jelly for slugging and wake up to glowing and moisturized skin. Dermatologists approve slugging, and most recommend using petroleum jelly since it is non-comedogenic and does not clog up pores.
On top of that, petroleum jelly also acts as a protective barrier and locks in moisture. Slugging can be done on every part of the body and is immensely helpful in combating dry skin in winter.
3. Exfoliate with a Gentle Cleanser
While some might think exfoliation can worsen dry skin since it’s too harsh, the actual story is different. Gentle exfoliation will help you eliminate the dry, dead skin cells and help rejuvenate your skin. Avoid any cleansers with physical exfoliants and go for one with natural ingredients, such as oatmeal. This will help your skin absorb moisturizers better and lock in the water content.
4. Use Plastic Wrap
This might seem ridiculous, but plastic wrap works wonders when trying to lock in moisture in the skin. If there’s a patch of dry skin you want to protect and moisturize, apply moisturizer after showering and enclose it with plastic wrap for a few hours. This will help the moisturizer absorb inside the skin and provide much better results.
5. Incorporate Season-Appropriate Moisturizers into Your Skincare Routine
A moisturizer is always the last step in a skincare routine, and some might argue the most important one. However, keeping your routine flexible according to your environment is essential. Your skincare needs may differ vastly, according to the season. The moisturizer you use throughout the year can be insufficient for winter.
It is wise to incorporate heavier moisturizers for winter into your everyday routine. Look for moisturizers that do not clog up pores and are light in feel but include heavy-hitting ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, which can help prevent dry skin and lock in moisture.
Final Thoughts
Dry skin in winter is one of the most common skin issues. Thankfully, there are steps you can take and products you can use to prevent it from happening. However, some skin conditions related to dry skin, such as eczema or psoriasis, need a doctor’s intervention to be resolved, and these tips can only be used as a supplement.
SunCoast Skin Solutions Dermatology offices are located in Tampa / Hillsborough, St. Pete / Pinellas County, Brandon, Lutz, Winter Haven, Largo, Hudson, Leesburg, Riverview, Brooksville, Clearwater, Ocala, Palm Harbor, Daytona Beach, Sarasota, Punta Gorda, Seminole, Florida. Contact us at 1-844-786-3376 or click here.
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