Winter Weather Skincare Tips to Try Today

The winter season can do a number on your skin. The cold temperatures, wind, and overall lower humidity levels are the skin's worst enemies. Here are some proven tips to help you care for your skin during the harsh winter weather, as well as information on what to avoid.

Why the Winter Weather is So Hard on Your Skin

You are not alone if your skin becomes overly dry and cracked when the winter weather settles in for the season. It is not unusual for the colder temperatures and lower humidity levels to deplete the skin's natural protective barrier. Cold air does not pack as much water vapor, resulting in moisture loss from the skin.

Add indoor heating in homes and cars into the mix, and even more moisture is pulled from the skin, leaving it begging for hydration. The sudden changes between the cold air outside and the warm air indoors put more stress on the skin. Frigid winds also strip oil from the skin and make it dehydrated. Lastly, people are more likely to take warm baths and showers when it is cold outside. The hot water also works to peel away the skin's essential oils, worsening the dryness.

Older individuals typically experience amplified levels of dryness this time of the year. This is because aging skin is inherently thinner. Aging skin also does not produce as much natural oil, leaving it more susceptible to moisture loss when the rough elements of winter weather strike.

In addition to more obvious dryness and cracked skin, the severe elements may also trigger itchiness and redness on the skin's outer layer. Individuals with pre-existing skin conditions, such as eczema, are the most vulnerable to the harshness of the season.