Skincare in winter: what the skin needs now
Cold, heated air and hot showers stress the skin barrier. How to adapt your care in the cold season.
In winter the skin feels tight and flaky for many people – even those who otherwise have no problems. There are good reasons for this.
Why the skin suffers in winter
Below about 8 degrees Celsius the skin largely stops producing sebum. At the same time, dry heated air draws out moisture, and the constant switch between cold and warm places additional strain on the barrier.
Richer, but not indiscriminately
Switch to a care product with a higher lipid content. Sensible ingredients are ceramides, urea in low concentration, glycerin and panthenol. Important: pure fatty ointments without a moisture component seal the skin but do not nourish it.
Rethink showering
Showering hot and long feels good and is unkind to the skin barrier. Shorter, lukewarm and with re-lipidising wash syndets instead of classic soap – and afterwards moisturise the still slightly damp skin.
The face needs a different strategy
On the face, care that is too rich leads to blemishes in some people. Here the rule is: support the barrier without burdening the pores. Those who use retinoids or acids often do better to reduce the frequency in winter.
Don't forget sun protection
In snow in particular, the UV exposure from reflection is high. For winter sports, sun protection belongs on the face, ears and lips.
When it is more than dry skin
If redness, itching or scaling persist despite consistent care, an assessment is worthwhile – eczema, atopic dermatitis or a fungal infection can be behind it.