If you live in a cold part of the world, you know that freezing temperatures can wreak havoc on your skin, both on your face and body. It becomes dry, scaly, and sometimes even cracked, which can be painful or itchy.
In order to find the best way to protect our skin, we asked the best dermatologists for their best advice on how to keep our largest body organ healthy and hydrated during the cold months.
1. Keep Hydration in the air
As Dr. Angela Lamb, practice director of the Westside Mount Sinai School of Dermatology in New York City, told HuffPost, our skin “is the barrier that keeps water inside your body, so when it’s dry and cold, water evaporates from the surface faster and easier.
To prevent dryness, Lamb recommended using a humidifier and suggested “drinking a glass or two of extra water”.
Dr. Michele Farber, a dermatologist with the Schweiger Dermatology Group, echoed Lamb’s advice, explaining that humidifiers are an excellent way to rehydrate your home, especially if you tend to blow out the heat.
When it comes to cleansers and moisturizers, the gentler the better;
When it comes to cleansers and moisturizers, the softer, the better.
2. Use gentler products
“The key is to use gentle cleansers,” said Lamb, who is also director of dermatology at the Institute of Family Health and assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Icahn School of Medicine. “I LOVE Dove Body Foaming Gel. It is very moisturizing and does not remove moisture from the skin”.
“For your face, you could use a blander cleanser, something like Cetaphil,” he said. “For the body, you can normally use a scented shower gel in the summer, but in the winter you may need to switch to a milder product like Dove, Cetaphil or Vanicream,” he said.
If you also have rashes, Farber said to use only water on those areas. Otherwise, she recommends using products containing ceramides (CeraVe products are a common example) and glycerin (The Ordinary’s Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA Moisturizing Serum contains both glycerin and ceramides) to repair and protect your skin’s moisture barrier.
3. Avoid hot baths and showers.
“During the winter months, taking hot showers and not moisturizing can create cracks on the surface of the skin. Warm water evaporates quickly, and if the skin is not immediately moisturized, the cracks in the skin leave the nerves of the skin exposed to the air, giving the sensation of a lot of paper cuts and eczema, or “the itch of winter,” explains Dr. Purvisha Patel, certified dermatologist and founder of Visha Skincare.
4. Enhance your moisturizer and use it often.
This may seem obvious, but it is essential to keep your skin moisturized to keep it hydrated throughout the winter.
“Applying a very thick moisturizer as soon as you get out of the bath or shower, and then once more daily, will help keep your skin nice and smooth,” said Lamb, “Sometimes applying an oil to the face and body before a moisturizer helps lock in moisture.
“Before taking a bath, I always recommend body oils. I really like coconut oil because it can moisturize your skin and protect your barrier before you take a hot bath,” Farber said. “Apart from coconut oil, which is very good for the body, essential oils are kind of the new thing that is really great. There’s argan oil, tea tree oil, rose oil, rosehip oil, rosehip oil which are good for the face and are a little easier to use for people who are a little more prone to acne”.
5. Don’t go out in the cold with wet skin.
“A lot of people will run outside after washing their hands or finishing a chore to walk their dog or take out the garbage, but if your skin is wet and you go out in the cold, it’s going to chapping much more frequently,” Isaac said. “[It’s] like when your lips are dry and you lick them more, it makes the problem worse.”
6. Exfoliate less
As Mr. Jaber explained, when it comes to exfoliating, the answer to whether or not to exfoliate is not the same for everyone.
“If your skin is really, really dry, then you certainly don’t exfoliate,” he said. “But if it’s good, then you can do it. You’re definitely going to exfoliate less than usual, because your skin barrier is going to be a bit compromised because of the dryness and the cold air.
