Winter skin tips

When the days are shorter and colder, we know it's winter. For most people, winter skin brings dry skin.

If you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, it can be hard to keep the skin moisturized without causing irritation or acne breakouts. We have some tips for you.

Use fewer anti-aging and acne products

Anti-aging and acne products can be drying to the skin. It's important to keep them in your routine, but to use them less often in the winter. 

Try different ways to wash your skin. Use a gentle wash (like Cetaphil^® or Neocutis^®) on most days. Use more intense washes (any products with salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide or hydroxy acids) only a few days per week.

This will help you take care of your skin and cause less irritation. 

Change to more gentle anti-aging products

In the winter it's best not to use a prescription Retin-A. Instead, try a less drying retinol product, such as: 

• SkinCeuticals^® 
• Beauté Pacifique Super 3 Vitamin A
• Neocutis Nouvelle 

These kinds of products help you take care of wrinkles and acne, but won't dry out your skin. 

A peel can also help with dry skin. A peel will make your skin dry and cause it to peel for three to five days. After three to five days, your skin won't be dry or peel.

Find a good moisturizer and eye cream

It's a good idea to switch to a more hydrating moisturizer during the winter. If you have skin that is prone to acne or rosacea, it can make finding the right moisturizer harder.

If this is the kind of skin you have, EltaMD^® is helpful in the summer. In the winter, Neocutis BIO GEL or Neocutis BIO CREAM (sometimes both) are helpful for extra moisture. 

Take care of your hands

We often neglect our hands until it's too late. Use a good moisturizer like CeraVe^® hand cream and Neutrogena^® Norwegian hand formula. It's a good idea to rub the cream into your nails as well. 

It's a good idea to carry a nonirritating hand sanitizer, such as 3M^™ Avagard^™ D. Some hand sanitizers are harsh on the skin. 

At night, it's a good idea to coat your hands with Vaseline^® and to rub it into your cuticles. 

In the winter, it's also helpful to not wear rings. If you get a rash under your ring in the winter, it doesn’t mean you have an allergy. A rash under a ring is more likely irritation from water and sweat trapped under the ring.

Wear your sunscreen

UV light penetrates through the clouds and can be very intense when reflecting off snow. In the winter, it's a good idea to wear sunglasses and a hat to cover your skin.

If you're doing a winter sport like skiing or outside for long amount of time, make sure to put on a high SPF sunscreen every one to two hours.

Take care of your lips

Remember to carry Vaseline with you during the winter. Be careful with deeply pigmented and long-wearing lipstick as both can be very drying to the lips.

Hydrate your body

Drinking water helps your skin. Try to drink more water in the winter. 

By Erin Moore, MD

The information provided is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to be medical advice or a substitute for professional health care. You should consult an appropriate health care professional for your specific needs.