Dryskinandhairare common problems when the weather gets colder. Many people produce less sebum (oil) to naturally lubricate their skin as the air gets cooler and drier. Other contributing factors include lessvitamin Dfrom sun exposure and irritation from cold wind in the face. Indoors, the air gets drier as the heat comes on, and a closed-up home can lead to mold and toxin exposure, both of which can contribute to skin problems.
Other problems that can develop in the fall and winter months includedandruff, chappedlips, and aggravation ofeczema. Some people further develop scaling, dull skin and hair, and even cracking and painful skin. Much of the damage to dry skin occurs because of disruption of the normal epidermal (skin) barrier, allowing skin moisture to evaporate out, and irritants and allergens to get in more easily.
There are several ways to protect yourself against the skin damage that cooler weather brings. These remedies include things you can do both internally and externally.
Bathe Less in the Colder Months
Perhaps the most important way to prevent dryness is to spend less time in the bath or shower, less often, and with less hot water and soap. When you do bathe, use acleansing barwith extra oils added, to leave moisture on the surface of the skin.
Use the Right Moisturizer
Moisturizing wet skin after bathing withcreams or oilsis essential. No matter what product you use, it’s important to apply it when skin is still wet or damp, to lock moisture in.
If you tend towardseczema, products withceramidesin them may be more helpful in restoring the barrier. Numerous skin repair creams are available withantioxidants, to give your skin extra nourishment.
When choosing a cream to soothe yourskin, it’s important to pay attention to the ingredients in it. All creams include a detergent to keep oil and water mixed, and a preservative to keep bacteria and fungus from growing. These components, along with fragrance and other ingredients, can cause allergic reactions in some people, especially when put on irritated or inflamed skin. Many creams contain the same ingredients, so it might take some detective work to figure out what your skin can and can’t tolerate. Generally speaking, some ingredients to avoid in creams include:
Formaldehyde releasers, likeDMDM hydantoinImidazolidinyl ureaQuaternium-15Parabens
Formaldehyde releasers, likeDMDM hydantoin
Imidazolidinyl urea
Quaternium-15
Parabens
For those with sensitive skin, using apure oilinstead of a formulated cream might be a better way to moisturize without irritation. You’ll need to reapply every few hours to keep skin hydrated. The thicker the oil, the longer it will stay on and keep working.Olive oilthickened withbeeswaxandshea butterare two examples of longer-lasting applications.
If your skin reacts negatively to one oil, you can try another. Allergic reactions can be immediate, from antibodies, or delayed, from the reaction by lymphocytes. Some of the less common oils are beneficial not only because of properties they have but also because you may never have been exposed to them before, so they are less likely to have caused an allergic reaction in the past.
Some oils you may want to try moisturizing with include:
Almond oilSafflower oilCoconut oilOlive oilJojoba oilArgan oilShea butter
Almond oil
Safflower oil
Coconut oil
Olive oil
Jojoba oil
Argan oil
Shea butter
Internal Remedies for Dry Skin
Drinking more water—at least four glasses per day in addition to what you drink with meals—is important for combating dry skin in cold weather. Addingomega-3sto your diet can help to keepskinhydrated as well.
Haircan become dull if overwashed, especially in cold weather when the skin makes less oil. People with dandruff and seborrheicdermatitismay find that their scaling increases during this time. Taking omega-3fish oilsor eatingflaxseedcan help with both dry skin and hair. Flaxseed contains alpha-linolenic acid, an omega-3 oil which a small study from Germany showed can improve many aspects of skin barrier function. Omega 3 essential fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and protective of the skin barrier, which may help to improve numerous inflammatory skin disorders.Before taking omega 3s, you should discuss it with your doctor if you have frequent belching, are planning to get pregnant, or have bleeding issues.
Cold weather skin care can be a challenge, because it means changing habits, and because some products may cause irritation in damaged skin. Finding the right balance of internal and external products can help prevent the cycle ofinflammatorychanges that comes from a disrupted skin barrier and enhance your appearance throughout the fall and winter.
