Your skin struggles more during the cold, dry winter months, but any change in seasons—or even the weather—can cause sensitivity.
How does a change in seasons affect the skin?
“During the winter, our practice is flooded with patients experiencing skin sensitivity due to cold weather,” says Jacqueline G. Goldminz, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
The primary culprit is the drop in humidity. When this happens, water evaporates more easily from the skin, stripping moisture from its outermost layer, says Dr. Goldminz. This can lead to dryness and itchiness and worsen any skin issues you may already have. Add in icy winds—which can cause micro tears on the skin’s surface—and dry indoor heating that zaps more moisture from your complexion, and skin can start to crack, literally.
Weather-induced skin problems aren’t limited to winter, though. As the seasons change, fluctuating humidity levels and seasonal allergies can cause people with underlying skin issues like eczema or atopic dermatitis to experience flare-ups, says Dr. Goldminz.
Summer’s sizzling temperatures, high humidity, and increased sun exposure can exacerbate conditions like eczema and rosacea. And swimming in chlorinated pools or salty ocean water—both of which are drying to skin—can cause irritation, even in people who don’t typically experience skin sensitivity.
And if you’ve noticed that your skin has become more susceptible to temperature changes as you’ve gotten older, you’re not alone. “As we age, our skin produces less oil, which can make it more reactive,” says Dr. Goldminz. Compounding matters is that by the time women reach perimenopause and menopause, declining estrogen levels make it harder for the skin to retain enough moisture.
Of course, you don’t have to move to a different climate to weather the weather—or at least its effects on your skin. Just follow these dermatologist-vetted tips to keep everything n check.
Apply antioxidants daily
You may have heard that applying an antioxidant serum every day helps protect skin against environmental damage. But did you know that antioxidants can also help your skin become more resilient to seasonal weather changes?
“Antioxidants bind up free radicals and fight oxidative damage, which reinforces the integrity of the skin barrier,” explains Dr. Goldminz. The skin barrier is the outermost layer of skin that holds in moisture and keeps irritants out, so anything that helps it stay strong and healthy will make skin less vulnerable to weather-related sensitivity.
Serums tend to have higher concentrations of antioxidants than moisturizers, so get your daily fix from a serum that contains well-researched, high-performance antioxidants such as ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and resveratrol, the latter of which also has skin-calming properties.
Choose a rich moisturizer
When your skin feels dry and itchy due to cold or arid conditions, reach for a thick face cream and slather it on often.
“Look for a formula that contains three types of ingredients: humectants, like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which hold a significant amount of water in the skin; emollients, like ceramides, which soften and soothe irritated skin; and occlusives, like petrolatum or shea butter, which create a barrier to seal in moisture and nourishing ingredients,” says Dr. Goldminz.
Using a rich face cream daily will keep skin hydrated and help strengthen the barrier to be more resilient to weather fluctuations.
Avoid these 3 ingredients
If you’re experiencing skin redness or sensitivity, take a break from using any products that contain alpha hydroxy acids (such as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and citric acid), beta hydroxy acids (like salicylic acid), and retinoids. While these ingredients do great things for your skin, when it’s irritated or acting up, anything that encourages exfoliation could make matters worse, so hold off on these ingredients until your skin is calm again for at least several days, advises Dr. Goldminz.
To help it recover, use a product that contains niacinamide, which is a form of vitamin B3. “Niacinamide is a wonderful, soothing anti-inflammatory ingredient that can reduce inflammation and help your skin barrier,” notes Dr. Goldminz.
And if you are using a retinoid product, one that also contains niacinamide can help offset irritation. Cottonball VX.1 Advanced Anti-Aging & Repair Complex and VX.2 Wrinkle-Smoothing and Prevention Complex have both tretinoin (a prescription retinoid) and niacinamide.
Lower your shower temperature
Yes, steamy showers and baths feels great, but they’re not doing your skin any favors. Repeated hot water exposure can break down the skin barrier, making it easier for irritants to enter. Often, when sensitive skin acts up, it’s because the barrier has been weakened.
“I advise my patients to stick to short, lukewarm showers and moisturize as soon as you step out to lock in the water on your skin,” says Dr. Goldminz.
Invest in a humidifier
If you’re pumping the heat indoors, one of the best things you can do for your skin is buy a good humidifier, says Dr. Goldminz. “It’s especially helpful to keep it where you sleep, but also in any room where you spend a significant amount of time to combat the dryness in the air.” (Just be sure to clean your humidifier every few days and fill it with distilled water rather than tap water for a purer mist.)
Skip the scents
When your skin is irritated, fragranced skincare can worsen things—but so can other aromatic items around the house. Scented candles and room sprays, air fresheners, and fragranced laundry detergent and fabric softeners “are all ways that fragrance can get introduced into your environment, which can impact your skin barrier, especially when it’s already compromised,” says Dr. Goldminz.
Hold off on the scented stuff until your skin calms. And keep in mind that products labeled “unscented” can still contain fragrances to mask odors. Look for items specifically marked “fragrance-free.”
Change your clothes
It’s not just your face that can react to changes in the temperature and humidity. Your body skin may react too, and certain clothing fabrics can disrupt the skin barrier even further.
“If you wear wool sweaters in the winter, protect your skin with a layer of cotton or silk underneath,” says Dr. Goldminz. During the summer’s high heat and humidity, wear loose-fitting clothing and avoid synthetic fabrics, which can trap sweat and bacteria on your skin. Instead, choose airy fabrics like cotton and linen.
Feed your skin from within
Research indicates that drinking plenty of water can help the skin stay healthy, so when it’s feeling dry and irritated, it’s wise to also load up on foods that are high in water content, like grapes and cucumbers, says Dr. Goldminz.
All the things that improve overall health—like getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and limiting alcohol consumption—are also good for your skin, the body’s largest organ. “Exercising helps the heart’s ability to pump blood to the skin efficiently and fuel it with what it needs,” says Dr. Goldminz.
While no one can predict the weather, following the advice here will better equip your skin to handle whatever nature throws your way.
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