Are hot showers making my winter dry skin worse?

Why does it get worse in winter?

Dry skin develops when skin loses too much water. Low humidity draws water from the top layers of skin, and indoor heating adds to the problem. Hot water removes protective oils and can make skin more sensitive. A steaming shower feels luxurious in cold weather, but luxury and useful skin care are not the same department.14

How should I shower instead?

1. 1Turn the water down to lukewarm and keep the shower to five to 10 minutes. You do not need to replace a hot shower with a cold one.
2. 2Wash gently with a fragrance free cleanser. Avoid vigorous scrubbing, which can remove protective oils. For your face, choose a cleanser labelled gentle and moisturizing.
3. 3Pat your skin with a towel rather than rubbing. Leave skin slightly damp instead of drying it completely before moisturizing.
4. 4Apply moisturizer promptly, ideally within three minutes of getting out. Cover the dry areas while moisture is still on the skin so the moisturizer can help trap it.

If you have not become sweaty or dirty, skipping a day of showering is also an option. The goal is less stripping of protective oils, not more washing to remove every visible flake.2

Which moisturizer should I use?

Choose a fragrance free cream or ointment rather than a light lotion for very dry skin. Creams and ointments hold more moisture in the skin. Ceramides and cholesterol help restore the skin barrier, the outer layer that keeps moisture in. Glycerin, petrolatum and shea butter are other useful moisturizing ingredients. More expensive skin care is not necessarily more effective, so the price tag is not a hydration setting.345

Reapply cream or ointment throughout the day if your skin is extremely dry. At bedtime, apply petroleum jelly to particularly dry patches. Moisturizing is not reserved for shower days.46

What else helps if shorter showers are not enough?

Use a humidifier in the bedroom at night to add moisture to dry indoor air. Keep indoor humidity between 30% and 50%; excessive humidity can encourage mold. Avoid trying to scrub away dry flakes with extra exfoliation. Retinol, glycolic acid and salicylic acid can also be too drying in winter, so reduce how often you use cosmetic products containing them or choose a lower concentration.1236

How can I wash my hands often without drying them out in winter?

Keep up hand hygiene, but use tepid water. Wet your hands before adding soap, rinse thoroughly, and pat them dry instead of rubbing. Apply a fragrance free moisturizer after washing and regularly during the day. At home, moisturizer under cotton gloves overnight can help rehydrate your hands. Wear protective gloves for washing dishes or handling cleaning products, and gloves outdoors in cold weather.27

How soon should it improve, and when should I get help?

When home care works, dry skin tends to improve within two weeks. See a dermatologist if dryness persists or worsens despite these changes. Red, itchy skin can indicate eczema or dermatitis rather than dryness alone. For cracked or bleeding hands, seek advice from a pharmacist or doctor; broken skin increases infection risk.467