Let’s level for a second: Winter can be a rough time for your complexion, especially if you have sensitive skin (like eczema,
acne, or moderate-to-severe psoriasis) that’s easily exacerbated
by less-than-favorable conditions like dry air and chilly temps.
So, how exactly can you keep your face and body feeling
nourished and dewy, despite the cold weather? It starts by
checking in on your skin’s season-specific needs, which is why we asked board certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD,
to share her winter skin-care tips.
“Arid seasons draw moisture out of our skin, and impairs the natural barrier that keeps our skin protected from the outside environment, which can lead to flares of many irritating and inflammatory skin conditions,” Dr. Nazarian says. “Checking your skin for early signs of flaring, or irritation, allows you to treat it earlier, treat it easier, and often avoid uncomfortable skin conditions.”
Below, she breaks down exactly what to check for on the areas that are most prone to winter-induced irritation, so that you can keep tabs on them and stay dewy all season long.
Face
The easiest way to implement a seasonal skin check?
Dr. Nazarian recommends a self-scan once a month. Simply
stand in front of a full-length mirror (with a hand mirror for those hard-to-see spots), observe and track any changes. Even better, align your annual skin checks with your derm alongside your yearly physical to stay on top of your well-being.
The two most common cold-weather complaints Dr. Nazarian hears? Chapped lips and windburn, both of which can be combated with a few key ingredients.
To avoid windburn, stock up on moisturizers with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. For chapped lips, apply an emollient (like medicated lip balm) at least twice a day to lock in hydration, Dr. Nazarian says, and avoid licking your lips at all costs. Pro tip: Whenever you get the urge to lick your lips, take a sip of water instead. The extra hydration will help you avoid chapping.
If your legs hibernate in sweatpants all winter long, hear this:
Lack of exposure to the sun can be a primary culprit of your skin’s winter woes, especially if you have moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
“Psoriasis improves with exposure to the sun, so many people notice flares in the wintertime: a combination of more clothing
(so less skin sees the sun), and less sunlight in general during the winter,” Dr. Nazarian says. “This can make psoriasis flare more aggressively, and affect areas not normally affected during other times of the year.”
If you can’t book a vacation somewhere sunny to break out your shorts, focus on adding as much extra hydration as possible. Whether you’re dealing with dry skin from toes to hips, cracked heels (foot cream with ammonium lactate or urea is your friend,
Dr. Nazarian says), or psoriasis flare ups on your knees, the
common thread is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. And, wear comfy clothes to reduce friction, Dr. Nazarian says. (Sweatpants wearers, rejoice.)
Legs
Derm Tip
Know your skin type: dry, oily, or combination. Your winter regimen is best suited to your skin type and treatments come in many forms: serums, creams, lotions, ointments, and gels. Dryness? Go for cream or lotion. Oily or combination?
Opt for gels and solutions.
Derm Tip
Extra handwashing this time of year can dry out skin, fast. To help, Dr. Nazarian recommends applying hand creams immediately after every washing session (keep a bottle of lotion right next to the hand soap in your bathroom for easy access!), and if you need a more intensive treatment, try this addition to your nighttime routine: “Apply a hydrocortisone cream, then cover with cotton gloves right before bedtime, for three to four nights,” Dr. Nazarian says.
And if you’re dealing with psoriasis plaques on your hands or elbows, Dr. Nazarian recommends using lighter lotions and serums that penetrate the skin well, in addition to checking with your doctor on the types of treatments that might be available to you,
like biologics.
“Thankfully, treatments for psoriasis have evolved greatly in the past few years,” she says. “We have wonderful options now to treat mild, moderate, and severe cases. …Speak to your board-certified dermatologist for the best treatment options, and…remember, treatment options are safe and convenient and can be tailored to your comfort level.”
Arms
You might not even consider your scalp when setting up your
skin-care regimen, but it is actually one of the areas that can benefit most from some extra love in the winter time.
Dry air can dry out your scalp, which can lead to moderate-to-severe psoriasis flare ups (if that’s something you deal with) along with itching, flaking, and/or an overproduction of oils, which can lead to greasy roots and more dry shampoo use—exacerbating
the cycle.
Dr. Nazarian recommends a hard reset by using a shampoo containing salicylic acid before or in place of your regular shampoo to decrease scaling and flaking (specifically for people with psoriasis), and then leaning on overnight, leave-in conditioning treatments to help fortify the scalp while you snooze.
Scalp
A super-hot shower might feel like just what the doctor ordered on a sub-freezing day, but it’s definitely not what
the dermatologist recommends.
“Keep shower water temperature lukewarm to prevent stripping of natural oils that keep skin protected and calm,” Dr. Nazarian says. “[And] use non-foaming, gentle,
unscented cleansers in the shower.”
Back
The two most common cold-weather complaints Dr. Nazarian hears? Chapped lips and windburn, both of which can be combated with a few key ingredients.
To avoid windburn, stock up on moisturizers with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. For chapped lips, apply an emollient (like medicated lip balm) at least twice a day to lock in hydration, Dr. Nazarian says, and avoid licking your lips at all costs. Pro tip: Whenever you get the urge to lick your lips, take a sip of water instead. The extra hydration will help you avoid chapping.
If your legs hibernate in sweatpants all winter long, hear this: Lack of exposure to the sun can be a primary culprit of your skin’s winter woes, especially if you have moderate-to-severe psoriasis.
“Psoriasis improves with exposure to the sun, so many people notice flares in the wintertime: a combination of more clothing (so less skin sees the sun), and less sunlight in general during the winter,” Dr. Nazarian says. “This can make psoriasis flare more aggressively, and affect areas not normally affected during other times of the year.”
If you can’t book a vacation somewhere sunny to break out your shorts, focus on adding as much extra hydration as possible. Whether you’re dealing with dry skin from toes to hips, cracked heels (foot cream with ammonium lactate or urea is your friend, Dr. Nazarian says), or psoriasis flare ups on your knees, the common thread is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. And, wear comfy clothes to reduce friction, Dr. Nazarian says. (Sweatpants wearers, rejoice.)
The two most common cold-weather complaints
Dr. Nazarian hears? Chapped lips and windburn, both of which can be combated with a few key ingredients.
To avoid windburn, stock up on moisturizers with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, which help hydrate and strengthen the skin barrier. For chapped lips, apply an emollient (like medicated lip balm) at least twice a day to lock in hydration, Dr. Nazarian says, and avoid licking your lips at all costs. Pro tip: Whenever you get the urge to lick your lips, take a sip of water instead. The extra hydration will help you avoid chapping.
A super-hot shower might feel like just what the doctor ordered on a sub-freezing day, but it’s definitely not what the dermatologist recommends.
“Keep shower water temperature lukewarm to prevent stripping of natural oils that keep skin protected and calm,” Dr. Nazarian says. “[And] use non-foaming, gentle, unscented cleansers in the shower.”
The easiest way to implement a seasonal skin check? Dr. Nazarian recommends a self-scan once a month. Simply stand in front of a full-length mirror (with a hand mirror for those hard-to-see spots), observe and track any changes. Even better, align your annual skin checks with your derm alongside your yearly physical to stay
on top of your well-being.
Derm Tip
Know your skin type: dry, oily, or combination. Your winter regimen is best suited to your skin type and treatments come in many forms: serums, creams, lotions, ointments, and gels. Dryness? Go for cream or lotion. Oily or combination?
Opt for gels and solutions.
Derm Tip
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Arms
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Face
Derm Check: Fall Edition
