3 Tips to Prepare Your Skin for Winter

Winter is known for its ability to drain your skin of moisture. Harsh winds, low humidity, dry indoor heat, and cold winter air can all leave your skin dry and flaky. Plus, activities you can do to warm up like sitting next to a roaring fire or taking a hot shower can dry out your skin even more.

Our team at Integrated Dermatology of 19th Street located in Washington, DC, has some tips on how you can retain as much skin hydration as possible this winter.

1. Take care when washing your skin

Because illnesses such as the common cold and the flu run rampant during the winter months, you’re probably going to be washing your hands, face, and body a lot more often. 

However, when you wash your skin, you strip it of its natural oils, leaving it even drier than before. So, there are a few things you can do to ensure cleansing your skin isn’t going to leave you with miserably chapped skin.

The first thing to do is to turn down the temperature of the water. Hot showers might be comforting during the cold months and warmer water might seem more effective at killing germs. However, water that’s too hot will wreak havoc on your skin. If the water leaves your skin red, it’s too hot.

After you finish washing your skin, make sure to pat yourself dry rather than using a rubbing motion. This technique helps retain moisture much more effectively.

In addition, whenever you shower or wash your hands, you should always moisturize afterward. Keep a bottle of your favorite non-scented moisturizer on your bathroom counter so you remember to moisturize often.

2. Don’t eliminate sunscreen

While it may seem like sunscreen is no longer necessary in the winter months since the days are shorter and the sun shines much less, sunscreen is still vital during this cold season. Harmful UV rays are still able to penetrate through those dark, gloomy clouds, and, in addition, they can bounce off the snow and intensify your sun exposure.

We recommend adding a daily sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher after your moisturizer. 

3. Adjust your skincare routine as needed

If you feel like your skin is especially dry and flaky, you may have to cut down on some skincare products and boost the usage of others. 

Your skin has to be well hydrated to effectively take products such as serums and toners. So, you may have to strictly use moisturizer, sunscreen, and a gentle cleanser until you feel like your skin barrier is restored. Then you can re-introduce products that may be a little harsher back into your skincare routine, such as retinoids.

In addition, during the winter, you may want to look into using a rich moisturizer that comes in a jar or tub for your body such as petrolatum, squalene, or shea butter. These tend to be much thicker and more moisturizing than a simple lotion. 

If you’d like more tips on how to keep your skin rejuvenated and hydrated this winter, feel free to reach out to our team with any questions you may have. We can also recommend skincare products to protect your skin against the cold.

You can contact us by giving us a call at 202-955-6995 or you can set up an appointment by using our online scheduler today.