The winter season is especially tough on the skin because of low humidity levels in the indoor and outdoor air. Without humidity, moisture gets stripped away from the outer layer of skin, weakening its protective barrier and causing persistent dryness and irritation.
Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics specializes in medical and aesthetic treatments to support your skin’s health.
Board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, FAAD, also prioritizes preventive care to protect the long-term health of your skin. Our team caters to your skin type and customizes care plans to manage a range of acute and chronic skin conditions.
If you’re bothered by itching, irritation, and other severely dry skin issues, he can recommend high-quality skin care products you can use to provide your skin with the moisture and nourishment it needs to stay healthy.
Low humidity is a chief factor in extremely dry skin during the winter months. When your skin’s natural protective barrier becomes weak due to a lack of moisture, it can no longer retain enough water to support healthy skin.
In climates that experience extreme temperature changes, skin can lose its natural oils and become increasingly dry, rough, and painful.
Skin dryness can also be attributed to popular wintertime activities, such as soaking in a hot tub or bath. Too long of a soak can deplete the natural oils of the skin, leaving it dry and flaky.
Additionally, the need to wear more clothing layers to stay warm can be irritating to skin that's already dry and sensitive.
The best way to protect against dry winter skin is to take action when dryness occurs. Planning ahead makes it easier to give your skin what it needs to stay healthy.
Here are five proactive tips to protect your skin through the winter and all year long:
Locking in moisture is essential to dry skin prevention. Invest in a high-quality, thick moisturizing cream that fortifies your protective skin barrier and is free of perfumes, dyes, and preservatives.
Be sure to apply the moisturizer all over your body once or twice a day, especially after showering and before going to bed. Reapply extra cream to your face, hands, and other areas frequently exposed to cold and dry air.
Winter sun, even on cloudy days, can penetrate the skin’s moisture barrier and increase risk factors for excessive dryness, premature skin aging, and skin cancer.
Protective sunscreen is meant to be applied in all seasons, not just summer, to protect against damage caused by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Apply an SPF 30 or higher to sun-exposed areas like the face, neck, and hands following your daily moisturizing routine.
A humidifier adds much-needed moisture to the air of your home to prevent skin dryness that’s triggered by indoor heating.
Keep a filtered, cool-mist humidifier in your bedroom and other spaces where you spend a lot of time. Monitor indoor humidity levels to ensure they range between 30% and 50% to keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
Exposure to cold winter temperatures and harsh winds can quickly dry out the skin and increase risk factors for frostbite.
Wear a protective face covering and gloves when you go outdoors to stay warm and to protect your skin from the elements. Choose soft, breathable materials that won’t scratch or irritate your skin.
You don’t have to wait until your skin is cracked or bleeding to schedule an appointment with our board-certified dermatologist David A. Bushore, MD, FAAD. In fact, it’s best to schedule a routine skin evaluation before the winter cold sets in if you’re prone to dry, itchy, or irritated skin.
Dr. Bushore can recommend high-quality skin care products that suit your skin type to protect against winter dryness and damage. He can also prescribe medications and other therapies if the root cause of excessive skin dryness is psoriasis, eczema, or another chronic skin condition – and not the cold winter weather.
Call Balcones Dermatology & Aesthetics in Austin, Texas, today to schedule a skin consultation or book an appointment online.
