Effects of cold weather on the skin

During winter, rain, snow, wind and many harsh conditions can seriously affect the health and appearance of our skin. The cold weather causes a number of skin reactions that need to be dealt with if you want to have a glowing and healthy complexion all winter long.

SKIN DAMAGE

No matter how many layers of warm clothing you wear, when the temperature drops, the moisture in your skin drops along with it.

Dry skin is the most obvious consequence of cold weather. While the high summer temperatures make your skin produce more oil, the cold weather has the opposite effect. Low temperatures are accompanied by lower outdoor humidity and a dry environment caused by indoor heating and heat sources. This temperature fluctuation, wind can cause skin irritation and inflammation. To all this we have to add the fact that we drink less water in winter. The result is poor skin hydration, which means dry, flaky and itchy skin.

On the other hand, the microcirculation of the skin is also affected by cold. At low temperatures, skin capillaries constrict to reduce blood flow through the skin. This helps to maintain the body temperature, and the capillaries return to normal after a while. Nevertheless, these changes in skin microcirculation can cause facial flushing, telangiectasia or skin angioma. The effect of the mentioned external stressors and the friction of clothes against the skin can damage the hydrolipidic barrier in the long run.

This hydrolipidic barrier, also known as the acid mantle, is a layer made up of naturally occurring oils and lipids that are necessary to maintain the skin’s balance and protect it from external stressors. Damage to the acid mantle makes the skin more vulnerable to all winter stressors, leading it into a spiral where the skin will be less able to recover from constant aggression and moisture loss.

SKIN CARE IN WINTER

To minimize the effects of winter on the skin and avoid the inherent dryness, we highly recommend adapting your skin care routine to the new season.

Here are some tips:

Use a gentle skin cleanser.

Try to use a light skin cleanser with milder surfactants and less fragrance to maintain the hydrolipidic barrier, which becomes thinner and more fragile in winter. Due to the skin of the hands, nowadays it is necessary to clean them often with a hand sanitizer. To reduce the drying effect of alcohol-based disinfectants, moisturize your hands more often.

2. Increase skin moisture. Boost your skin’s moisture in your daily skin care routine. In winter, you can use a thicker day cream, add a moisturizing serum to your regimen, or apply a moisturizing mask more often. The options are endless. We recommend increasing the amount of vitamin C in your diet or using special cosmetics with Vitamin C. It will prepare your skin for the cold season. Remember to moisturize your lips often and drink plenty of water!

3. Humidify the environment. For air drying caused by heating devices, use an air humidifier at home. This will make the environment more tolerable for your skin.

4. Avoid showers that are too hot. We know you want to enjoy a hot shower after a walk in the cold weather, but enjoying a hot shower for a long time is not good for your skin. Hot water damages the acid mantle and weakens the skin barrier. This can cause dry skin or worsen the condition if you already have it. It is much more advisable to use lukewarm water

5. Apply sunscreen all year round. Don’t forget that solar radiation can damage the skin even on cloudy days and cause photoaging. In addition, snow reflects up to 80% of the sun’s rays – much more than sand or water on the beach – so use stronger sunscreen if you’re heading into the mountains.