Why The Winter is Hard on Your Skin

For most people, winter means ice skating, snowball fights, sledding, winter coats, and hot chocolate by the fire. For others though, the winter weather gets them thinking more about the dry, rough and itchy skin that they are bound to develop during the coldest months of the year.

Dry skin in the winter months is common, but if you know what causes it and how to prevent it, you can have healthy skin and a beautiful glow all year round.

Cold air has much less moisture than warm air does. When you lose that moisture, your skin can become extremely dry. The strong winds that are synonymous with the winter months can also strip your skin of liquid and contribute to drying it out. Cover up your face to protect from the wind and apply moisturizer daily. If your skin is really dry, you can even try a thicker lotion to help your skin retain its moisture longer.

Turning on the heat in your home is essential during the wintertime, but can also be a major factor that contributes to dry skin. In addition to that, lighting a fire in your fireplace may build up dead skin. Think about purchasing a humidifier to add some moisture back into the air in your home Skipping the fire may help as well, though we know how nice it is to cuddle up in front of the fireplace on a cold day.

Winter clothing is something else that is a great contributor to dry, itchy skin. Sure you love your favorite wool sweater, but the material can cause irritation. Try to wear other fabrics such as cotton or silk, and if you can’t give up your favorite sweater, just wear something under it so it’s not directly on your skin – and hey, one more layer will make you warmer too.

There are many factors that can contribute to the changes in your skin during the wintertime. Even though we’ve only gone through a few of them, we bet if you make some of the small changes that we’ve suggested, you will see a big difference in your skin this season.

To make an appointment at Eastside Dermatology, give us a call at 614-515-5588 or visit our website. We’ll help get you on your way to beautiful skin at any time of the year.