Table of Contents
Dry skin is usually caused by cold weather and/or exposure to windy conditions. Why does this happen sometimes? What can you do to avoid it?
Cold weather often causes dry skin. The body sweats less and loses moisture from its outer layers, causing the skin to become thinner and flaky. This makes it uncomfortable when exposed to windy walking, particularly at night.
As the temperature drops during winter, the relative humidity decreases, meaning the level of water vapour in the air goes down too. Because of this, your face becomes drier than normal. Furthermore, the temperature drops, meaning your body’s capillaries constrict, further limiting your body’s ability to deliver oxygenated, fresh, new, healthy tissue to your outermost layer of dead, old, unhealthy tissue.
After such an introduction, let’s move on to our article for the question of why dry skin in winter in more detail.
Why Is My Skin Dry In Winter?
It was just an unfortunate coincidence of events. Cold weather means you spend less outdoors, so you’re not sweating, which keeps your body from producing enough moisture. But indoor environments don’t provide the right conditions for your skin either. So even if you’re spending less outside, you’re still at risk for dry skin.
Dry winter weather creates ideal conditions for causing dry skin. The outermost part of the skin is called its epidermis. The thin outer layer of the epidermis (the stratum corneum) is where most of the moisture resides.
Combining fats and dead cells forms the outer layer of the human body called the epidermis. The skin barrier protects against harmful substances by forming a protective layer between the outside world and our bodies. When the epidermal barrier gets damaged, the appearance of the affected area may be dry or irritated.
Moisturizers are necessary for the outer layer of the epidermis to function properly. During the winter months when we’re indoors, our air conditioning system keeps us cool, but it doesn’t provide enough heat for our bodies. As a result, our bodies don’t get enough warm air circulating through them, so they become drier than usual. At the same time that the cold outdoor weather, strong winds, and heavy rains can strip the outer layer of your body of its natural moisture, they can also strip the outer layer of the body of its natural oil.
Alos, hot bathing or showering can also cause the skin to dry out, which may lead to cracked skin. Furthermore, soap may be too harsh for some people’s sensitive skins. Rubbing the face vigorously after washing may cause irritation.
Genetics can play a role in determining if someone has dry or oily skins. Some people have drier skin because they don’t produce sufficient amounts of a protein called filagra, which helps form and hydrate their skins’ barriers.
Symptoms of Winter Dry Skin
Dryness that results from damage to the skin barrier during winter can lead to:
- Flaking,
- Rough patches,
- Cracks,
- Redness, in lighter skin tones,
- Itching,
- Stinging,
- A raw, sensitive-to-the-touch feeling.
People may experience several of these symptoms at the same time.
How Can You Keep Skin Hydrated During Winter?
During winter months, preventing water loss through the body is the main objective. Moisturizing your skin can help prevent further dehydration by adding an additional layer of protection against moisture loss. It’s especially important to apply the moisturizing lotion right after taking a shower. A cream is best, but it may be too thick for some people. If you don’t want the greasy feeling, use a thicker moisturizer. Oils such as vitamin E oils can help keep the moisture barrier intact, but they may not be effective if your skin is too dry.
Also the thicker the cream, the better. For dry skin, the cream needs to be able to retain its shape when you flip the container upside down. You probably won’t be able to use it during the cold months if it comes in a spray bottle because it’s too thick, but you might want to keep it in mind for the warmer weather. When buying and using skin care products, you should pay attention to the ingredients rather than the brands. You can look at the ingredient list to see if there are any useful ingredients, such as urea (a moisturizer), ceramides (moisturizers), hyaluronic acid (moisturizers)
Check out the ingredients. Right texture? Thick? Is there something in it that will help? Simple dry skin isn’t difficult to treat. Just, it takes consistency to get results.
Use as little soap as possible when treating or preventing dryness of your hands. Soap made from scented ingredients can remove the outer layer of the body’s skin. Products labelled with the word gentle are safer to be used. For example, look out for products labelled as gentle or sensitive skin cleansers.
We found our answers to the question why dry skin in winter and introduced solutions. Now let’s examine more solutions together.
Apply an antioxidant serum
Serum is the one product that doesn’t need to be replaced during the colder months. As long as it’s free from any kind of alcoholic ingredients, an antioxidant serum is ideal for use throughout the year. Regardless of the weather, skin gets attacked by free radical damage, which causes wrinkles, the breakdown of collagen and premature fine line formation. To avoid the damage, apply a Vitamin C cream as a first layer in your skin in the mornings, before applying heavier creams. Make sure you use sunblock every day, whether it’s sunny out or not. A daily dose of SPF30 will protect your skin from burning.
Use a heavier moisturizer than usual
Ceramide cremes are often better at keeping your skin hydrated than lotions because they contain ceramics, which help keep moisture locked into your skin. Ceramide aids in preventing the skin’s barrier from breaking down during the cold season. For people who suffer from severe chapping, use a lot of ceramide products. Use them every day before bedtime.
Get into a nighttime routine
Before going to bed at night, follow a regular skincare routine that will help your skin look its best when you get out of bed in the morning. Next, after applying your face serum and moisturizing, use an eye cream that contains ingredients like avocado extract. To protect against chafing, use an ointment called Aquaphor. It seals in the moisturizer and prevents against inflammation.
To ensure that your skin stays soft and supple, use a thick moisturizer, such as CeraVe,and apply Aquaphor to cuticle and lip areas before going to bed. For those who feel overly dry, a hydrating face mask may be a good option once a week before bed. Avoid any masks containing activated carbon (charcoals) or clays. May your skin be healthy, hydrated, happy, and free from acne.
Bathe like a newborn
A warm bath during cold weather feels good, but hot water can cause irritation and remove natural moisture from the skin. Set your bathroom thermostat to the temperature appropriate for bathing a newborn.
When taking a shower in cold weather, don’t let the warmth from the shower last too long because it could actually be drying out your skin even more than when you’re just outside. Instead of using an irritant soap bar or harsh cleansing product, use a creamier cleanser, like BANILA CO Clean It Zero. Apply a thick moisturizing lotion within minutes after taking a shower. Look for products with minerals, lanolin, ceramides, or oils to help keep your hands and face soft and supple.
When drying your body after taking a bath or shower, be sure to use a towel that doesn’t leave any residue behind. Instead of vigorously rubbing your skin with a rough cloth, use a gentle cloth to gently pamper yourself. In this way, you also allow your skin to moisturize itself.
Make sure your laundry gets winterized
If you’re prone to having dry skin during cold weather, consider switching your laundry detergent. Look for laundry detergent products that don’t contain any dyes or fragrances which might cause skin irritation. Even if you’ve used the same brand for many months, this may not always be true. Dryer sheets are often blamed for causing winter skin conditions. If you’re going to use dryer sheets at all, stick with a brand that’s manufactured from a paper sheet rather then a composite fiber sheet.
Use a humidifier
A humidifier helps to bring moisture back into the air by adding humidity to the air. It’s especially useful during the colder months when indoor heaters are turned up high. Moisture in the atmosphere can help act as a naturally occurring moisturizer for your skin, preventing and relieving dry skin.
A good way to keep your skin hydrated throughout the year is by using a humidifier set at 60% during the colder months.
Use gloves
Glove use is an effective way to protect your hands from drying out. Wear warm gloves when going outside in the winter and wash your hands using a pair of silicone gloves. I suggest this product: Dimore 3 Pairs Winter Gloves for Women Girls With Touch Screen Fingers Warm Thick Texting Bulk Wholesale
Keeping your hands moisturized by limiting the exposure to dry heat and cold can help prevent them from becoming rough and cracked.
Choose non-irritant fabrics
When it comes to treating any skin condition, avoid using harsh products. Dry skin is no different from any other type of skin. If your body has an excess of dryness, wear loose, comfortable, natural clothing to minimize the risk of extra physical discomfort.
Wash your laundry using natural soap instead of conventional detergent. Look for products designed specifically for sensitive skins, which will likely be chemical-free and fragrance-free.
After washing moisturize immediately
When you wash your face, hand, or any part of your skin, you remove its natural oil. Because these essential oil blends help to lock in moisture in your skin, it’s important to use them regularly. That’s why it’s important to use a moisturizing lotion anytime you wash your face, especially during cold weather.
To help remind yourself, stock a small container of moisturizer near your sink and carry a smaller size with you when you’re out and about.