Flaky skin in winter: what helps?

Why does winter make skin flaky?

Dry skin loses too much water and oil. Cold wind, low humidity and indoor heating make the problem worse, while long baths, hot showers and some soaps add to it. Indoor heating gets the room comfortable without doing the same favour for your skin. Roughness, tightness, scaling and itching can follow; severe dryness can cause cracks and bleeding. Hands, legs and the face are common places to notice it. Frequent handwashing, outdoor work and older age increase the risk. Certain medicines and health conditions can also cause dryness, so flaking that persists beyond winter deserves attention rather than an automatic seasonal explanation.34

How should you wash and moisturize?

1. 1Keep your shower or bath brief and use lukewarm water. Avoid extra bathing that your skin does not need.
2. 2Wash with a gentle cleanser without dyes or perfume. Avoid harsh soaps, antibacterial soaps and scrubbing. For eczema prone skin, use a cleanser without soap.
3. 3Pat your skin with a towel instead of rubbing it. Leave some dampness rather than drying every patch completely.
4. 4Apply cream or ointment while your skin is still damp to help retain that moisture. On the body, smooth it in the direction of hair growth.
5. 5Apply moisturizer again in the morning and before bed, and reapply when your skin feels dry. Continue after the flaking improves rather than stopping as soon as the surface looks better.
6. 6In the morning, apply sunscreen after moisturizer to exposed areas such as your face, neck, ears and hands. Choose water resistant, broad spectrum protection with SPF 30 or higher; broad spectrum means protection against both UVA and UVB rays.

Should you use lotion, cream or ointment?

Petroleum jelly helps seal water into the skin and works best on damp skin, though its sticky texture can mark clothing. If you enjoy a facial oil, layer a thicker moisturizer over it in winter instead of relying on oil alone. A pleasant finish and lasting moisture are not necessarily the same job.2

Which ingredients are useful?

Look for a formula that attracts water and helps keep it there. Humectants are ingredients that attract moisture, including glycerin, hyaluronic acid and urea. Occlusives form a protective layer that reduces water loss; petroleum jelly and mineral oil are examples. Many moisturizers combine both types. Choose fragrance free products and a formula intended for the area you are treating. Facial skin is thinner and more sensitive than body skin, so one product need not serve both.124

Should you exfoliate the flakes?

Do not scrub dry skin to remove the scales. Some moisturizers containing urea or lactic acid can help with scaling as well as hydration, but winter flaking does not automatically call for a stronger exfoliating routine. Reduce how often you use glycolic acid, salicylic acid or retinol, or choose a lower concentration if these products are drying your skin. Hyaluronic acid is moisturizing, not exfoliating. If a prescribed retinoid becomes too drying, discuss changing the routine with your prescriber. Avoid products that cause stinging or itching rather than repeatedly applying them to irritated skin.167

What else helps at home and outside?

• Use a humidifier to add moisture to dry indoor air and reduce evaporation from the skin.
• Avoid overheating your home and limit time directly in front of a fire, where heat can dry your skin.
• Wear gloves outside to protect your hands from cold, dry air.
• Choose loose, breathable layers. Excessive layering can cause sweating and irritation, while coarse wool can irritate eczema prone skin.
• If clothing or laundry products irritate your skin, choose detergent without fragrance, use a small amount and rinse clothes thoroughly.
• Wear protective gloves when handling detergents or cleaning chemicals. If you wash your hands with soap, rinse it off thoroughly.
• Keep using sunscreen in winter, including during skiing or snowboarding, and reapply during the day.

Could the flaking be eczema or something else?

Winter weather can worsen eczema, an inflammatory skin condition, because dryness adds to an already weakened barrier. Hot water, soap, low humidity and high indoor temperatures can make eczema harder to control. Regular moisturizer helps skin retain moisture, but follow your existing eczema treatment plan rather than replacing it with cosmetic products. Flaking alone cannot distinguish ordinary dryness from another condition. Contact dermatitis, an irritation or allergic reaction to something touching the skin, can cause dry, itchy patches. Seborrheic dermatitis can cause flakes on the scalp, face and chest. A clinician can assess recurring or persistent patches and choose treatment for the cause.47

How long does winter flaking last?

There is no fixed recovery time for a winter rash. It can persist until the skin is properly cared for or humidity rises. Moisturizers soften rough skin and help prevent cracking; most people can manage dry skin with daily moisturizing and less exposure to drying heat and irritants. Keep the routine going through cold weather. If regular moisturizing and changes to your environment are not helping, arrange a medical assessment instead of waiting for spring.246

When should you see a doctor?

Seek medical care if itching wakes you at night, or your skin is weeping, crusting or swelling, or you have a fever. Cracks that become open sores need wound care because broken skin can allow infection. Dryness that does not go away or keeps returning also warrants assessment. Very inflamed, itchy areas sometimes need a prescribed topical steroid, a medicine that reduces inflammation, rather than moisturizer alone. Treatment can also need to address an underlying health condition or medicine contributing to the dryness.346