13 Tips to Prevent Dry Skin in Winter

As soon as the temperature drops, many start to notice a tight and stretched feeling on the face, flaking and peeling on the knees and elbows, and even cracking on the hands and feet.

For some people, the problem is even worse than just a general tight and dry feeling; they get skin so dry that it results in inflammatory conditions such as eczema flare-ups and negatively affects the day-to-day quality of their lives.

If this sounds familiar, continue reading to learn 13 practical tips to help you prevent dry skin in winter and relieve discomfort caused by the harsh weather.

13 Skincare Tips to Prevent Dry Skin in Winter:

Use a Gentle Cleanser

Using a harsh cleanser that contains irritating ingredients, such as drying alcohol and stripping surfactants, can worsen dry winter skin.

This can happen because some ingredients strip the skin’s acid mantle, a protective layer made of sweat and oil that prevents trans-epidermal moisture loss and makes the skin inhospitable to pathogens. 

Once the acid mantle is damaged, the hydration from the deeper layers of the skin will evaporate, leaving it dry, tight, and uncomfortable while also increasing the risk of pathogenic overgrowth, which, when paired with excessive dryness, can lead to eczema, an inflammatory skin condition that has been linked to the overgrowth of the Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on the skin.

To combat this, choose a gentle cleanser that doesn’t contain known irritants, and instead, look for products that have a creamy or lathery rather than foamy texture and contain hydrating and skin-nourishing ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, green tea extract, niacinamide, panthenol, etc.

Best cleansers for dry skin in winter:

• La Roche-Posay – Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser, $15
• Vivant Skin Care – Cleansing Milk, $25

Use a Hydrating Serum

A good hydrating serum is essential for dry skin in winter as these products aim to deliver a potent mixture of revitalizing and moisturizing ingredients to relieve dryness, soothe irritation, and minimize discomfort.

Serums have a light consistency and a formula packed with active ingredients that can penetrate deeply into the skin and deliver their hydrating and nourishing benefits.

Serums can also be fantastic tools for targeting specific skin concerns, such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, which can be exacerbated by dryness and irritation.

Apply a Rich Moisturizer

Your moisturizer may keep your skin soft, plump, and hydrated in spring and summer; however, as the weather conditions change, so does your skin.

Therefore, consider switching to a moisturizer that is slightly thicker during the winter months, as this will help protect your skin barrier by creating a protective layer on the skin’s surface to help it better retain moisture.

When choosing a moisturizer for dry skin in winter, consider opting for products that contain nourishing ingredients such as ceramides, squalane, urea, shea butter, vitamin E (tocopherol), etc.

Exfoliate Gently and Less Often

If you suffer from unbearably dry skin in winter, you should consider incorporating a gentle exfoliating agent, such as lactic acid, into your skincare routine.

Lactic acid is a mild exfoliating acid that will gently shed away accumulated dead skin cells and reveal a brighter, smoother, and even skin tone without harming the skin barrier.

Additionally, lactic acid is a powerful humectant, which means it will improve the skin’s moisture levels.

This makes it a fantastic option for dry skin in winter.

Don’t Forget Sunscreen

Not only do sunscreens protect the skin from harmful UV rays, which are present even on dark, cloudy days, but they can also fortify the skin barrier and relieve dryness and discomfort during winter.

Many sunscreens contain components such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, zinc, and ceramides to help hydrate the skin, aid healing and create a layer of protection against harsh environmental factors.

Also, many sunscreens come in cream or lotion forms, which inherently provide moisture to the skin.

So, by using sunscreen with these ingredients, you’re not only protecting your skin from sun damage but also keeping it nourished even when the potential for damage seems low.

Remember, even on cloudy days, over 90% of the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate the skin and affect cellular function, so it’s important to apply sunscreen every day, regardless of the weather.

Care for Your Lips and Extremities 

In addition to the face, lips and extremities are also likely to suffer from dryness during winter.

Lips can easily become dry, cracked, and chapped due to exposure to harsh winds and cold temperatures, which may cause them to bleed and increase the risk of infections and cold sores.

To keep them hydrated, use a lip balm that contains a blend of humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin, and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, or beeswax.

This combination of humectants, which add moisture to the area, and occlusives, which help seal it to prevent it from evaporating, will leave your lips plump, soft, and thoroughly hydrated.

In addition to your lips, make sure to take care of your hands, feet, and especially elbows and knees, as these areas can easily become dry and cracked and affected by inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema.

To keep them soft and moisturized, apply a rich cream or balm before bed and wear gloves or socks overnight to seal the moisture.

Stay Hydrated

Besides the lack of oil, which is the main cause of dry skin, the winter months are also notorious for giving you dehydrated skin, which means a lack of moisture or water.

Therefore, keeping your body hydrated by drinking enough water is crucial in managing winter skin.

Staying hydrated will help replenish tissues and increase their elasticity, effectively hydrating the skin from the inside out and providing moisture across the epidermal layers.

Moreover, water also helps flush out toxins and waste from your body, which can improve your overall skin health and complexion.

Eat Skin-Nourishing Foods

Nourishing your skin from the inside out is another key component of an effective skincare routine.

Dry skin can benefit from a healthy dietary intake that includes an adequate amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which encourage healthy barrier function by aiding in the formation of lipids and ceramides to prevent trans-epidermal moisture loss and ward off pathogens.

Therefore, consider incorporating foods such as salmon, trout, and tuna into your daily menu, as well as snacks such as flax seeds, sunflower seeds, and walnuts to strengthen the skin barrier and mitigate dry and dull winter skin.

Keep Moisture In The Air

Your skin is the barrier that keeps water inside your body.

However, water evaporates from the surface faster and easier when the air is dry.

This can also happen with the frequent use of air conditioners and heating when you are inside the house.

When examined at high magnification, researchers found that dry and artificial air (such as the one coming from the AC) can make the outermost layer of skin cells shrink, which leads to that dry, scaly texture.

Therefore, if heating is turned on most of the winter, consider investing in a good humidifier to keep moisture in the air.

Placing two or three of these around your home will help humidify the dry air and prevent the skin from drying out and becoming cracked, damaged, and itchy.

Limit Hot Showers

When cold weather arrives, hot showers can become incredibly appealing but can also harm your skin’s health.

Hot water can disrupt the skin’s balance of lipids, which are essential fats that provide a protective layer and help the skin retain moisture.

When this lipid layer is stripped away due to exposure to hot water, the moisture from the deeper layers of the skin will evaporate through the skin’s surface more easily, leading to dryness and irritation.

Therefore, it’s best to opt for showers with lukewarm water or shorter showers that would be immediately followed up by applying a rich moisturizer while the skin is still damp to lock in hydration and prevent moisture loss.

Nourish Eczema-Prone Skin

If you have eczema-prone skin, winter can be especially challenging as the cold weather and low humidity levels can further aggravate your condition.

To combat this, make sure to use gentle skincare products that don’t contain known dermatitis triggers, such as fragrances, alcohol, harsh surfactants, dyes, or preservatives.

In addition, keep your skin hydrated by using a moisturizer with humectants and occlusives, and consider using a cling film or wraps made from moisture-retaining materials, like cotton, to keep the skin’s surface damp and encourage absorption.

Best products for eczema-prone skin in winter:

Use Fragrance-Free Products

Products with fragrances can be especially irritating during winter due to the skin’s heightened sensitivity and compromised barrier function in cold and dry weather.

Interestingly, when the skin’s barrier is compromised, fragrance compounds, both natural and synthetic, are most likely to trigger allergic reactions, contact dermatitis, and other forms of skin irritation that can become permanent.

Therefore, if you’re dealing with dry, parched, and irritated skin during winter, make sure that your products are as fragrance-free as possible, especially those that you may be using in eczema-prone areas, like the knees and elbows.

Protect Your Skin From Harsh Weather Conditions

It’s essential to take extra steps to protect your skin from direct exposure to harsh weather conditions as much as possible during winter.

Therefore, make sure to wear protective clothing, such as hats, scarves, and gloves, when going out, along with using a humidifier to add moisture back into the air and avoiding prolonged exposure to cold temperatures as much as possible.

Additionally, make sure to regularly apply moisturizer throughout the day, especially after washing your hands or spending time outside.

By taking these precautions, you can help prevent further dryness and damage to your skin during the winter season.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Does The Skin Get Dry Skin In Cold Weather?

Dry skin in cold weather occurs mainly because of reduced humidity levels and the skin’s exposure to harsh environmental elements, which disrupt the skin’s lipid balance, leading to moisture loss and a compromised skin barrier.

Does Drinking Water Help Dry Skin?

Staying hydrated helps replenish skin tissues and increase their elasticity, effectively hydrating the skin from the inside out by distributing moisture across the epidermal layers.

How to Fix Dry Skin in Winter?

To fix dry skin in winter, it is crucial to maintain a routine that includes gentle cleansing, frequent moisturization with thick creams or ointments, and a humidifier to counteract the drying effects of indoor heating.

Additionally, minimize exposure to harsh weather by covering up and using protective clothing.