How to care for skin in winter

Why does skin get dry in winter?

Cold weather brings lower humidity, while indoor heating takes more moisture out of the air. Skin loses moisture in these dry surroundings, leaving it flaky, itchy, tight, or cracked. A richer moisturizer helps by creating a thicker barrier that holds moisture in.4

Your skin barrier is the outermost protective layer of your skin. Skin helps hold body fluids in and keeps harmful germs out; protecting it is not just about making flakes less visible. Washing gently and using moisturizer help keep skin healthy without scrubbing away at a surface that already needs care.15

How to wash and moisturize in winter

1. 1Use lukewarm water. Hot showers pull moisture from skin, even if the heat feels welcome after being outside.
2. 2Wash gently with a mild cleanser. Avoid scrubbing, and choose fragrance free soap or body wash.
3. 3Pat your skin with a towel rather than rubbing it. Leave skin slightly damp instead of drying it completely.
4. 4Apply moisturizer promptly after washing, ideally within about three minutes. Moisturizer traps the water left on your skin.

Keep showers to five to ten minutes, focusing cleansing on areas such as your armpits, groin, and feet. If daily showers leave your skin dry, try showering every other day. Frequent showers can gradually damage the skin barrier, making skin more vulnerable to irritants. Use moisturizer after every bath or shower, not just when you notice flakes.5

Moisturize when you wake up and before bed as well as after bathing. Choose products designed for the area you are treating: a face moisturizer and a body moisturizer do not have to be the same product. Frequent handwashing also raises the risk of dryness, so pay attention to your hands rather than treating winter skincare as a face only task.6

What should you look for in a winter moisturizer?

For dry body skin, choose a cream rather than a watery lotion. For your face, a lighter lotion or gel can suit skin that is not very dry; move to a richer texture if the lighter one is not enough. Face and body moisturizers can differ in texture, even though both departments belong to the same person.34

A useful moisturizer combines ingredients that draw in water, reduce water loss, and soften rough skin. Humectants, such as hyaluronic acid and urea, attract moisture. Occlusives, such as petrolatum and dimethicone, help keep it from escaping. Emollients, such as mineral oil, smooth and soften dry skin. These are different jobs, not competing promises on the packaging.5

Ceramides and cholesterol are also useful ingredients to look for because they help restore the skin's moisture barrier. Choose fragrance free moisturizers, especially if your skin is sensitive. Avoid scented products rather than assuming a pleasant smell means a gentler formula.2

Fragrance free does not mean free of every possible allergen. Botanical ingredients can also cause reactions, particularly in sensitive skin or people with allergies. For facial products, look for a noncomedogenic label, meaning the product is intended not to clog pores.5

Should you change your cleanser, retinol, or exfoliants?

Choose a facial cleanser labeled gentle and moisturizing. For the body, look for a creamy, fragrance free cleanser. If glycolic acid, salicylic acid, or retinol leaves your skin dry in winter, use it less often or choose a lower concentration. These adjustments reduce exposure to ingredients that can be harsh on winter skin; adding more exfoliation is not the default answer to flaking. If a prescription retinoid becomes too drying, discuss a winter adjustment with your prescriber rather than replacing prescribed treatment yourself.3

Do you still need sunscreen in winter?

Yes. Apply sunscreen to skin not covered by clothing, including your face, neck, ears, and hands. Choose broad spectrum protection, which covers UVA and UVB rays, water resistance, and SPF 30 or higher. A moisturizing sunscreen cream can be more useful for dry skin than a lotion or spray. If you use separate products, apply moisturizer first and sunscreen on top. Shade, gloves, and sunglasses with UV protection provide additional protection outdoors.3

What can you change at home?

Use a humidifier in the evenings to help counter dry indoor air. A humidifier adds moisture indoors, giving the heating system something other than the final word. Check laundry products as well as skincare: scented detergent and fabric softener can contribute to dryness. Choose a free and clear version instead, so your efforts do not stop at the bathroom shelf while fragranced laundry products remain in use.2

What if you have eczema?

Eczema is a condition that causes dry, itchy, inflamed skin. Cold, dry air and harsh wind can trigger flares. Petroleum jelly or thicker creams are good moisturizing options, applied straight after showering. Avoid very hot showers, scented lotions, and scented laundry detergents. A humidifier can also help with winter care.7

Cover as much skin as possible when going outside. If you expect to sweat, wear clothing that dries quickly. Avoid wool, nylon, polyester, and spandex if you have eczema. Skin affected by eczema can break open easily, increasing the risk of infection. Ask your doctor about treatment for stubborn symptoms rather than relying on moisturizer alone to manage a persistent flare.7

What should improve, and when should you see a doctor?

Moisturizers soften rough skin and help prevent cracking. Most people can manage dry skin with daily moisturizing and changes to washing habits. Watch for less tightness, itching, and flaking rather than using product price as a measure of progress. Dry skin can also change color, appearing lighter, darker, red, or purple compared with your usual skin tone.6

See a dermatologist if dryness does not go away or keeps returning. Severely dry skin can crack, bleed, and form painful sores; open cracks allow germs in and can become infected. Treat broken skin as a wound rather than ordinary flaking. Very itchy or cracking skin can need prescription treatment, which a clinician can select after assessing the cause.6