Winter skincare for dry, sensitive skin

Why does skin get dry in winter?

Cold weather brings lower humidity, so there is less moisture in the air and your skin loses water more easily. Indoor heating keeps rooms warm while making the air drier, which is an unhelpful second job for a furnace. Dry skin can feel tight or itchy, look flaky and develop cracks. A face that feels tight after washing needs moisture, not more washing.23

What skincare is best for dry skin?

Choose a cream or ointment rather than a lotion: these are more effective and less irritating for dry skin. Very watery moisturizers dry too quickly to offer much soothing relief; richer ones create a thicker barrier. You do not have to replace every product for winter. Start by changing the moisturizer and reducing products that irritate.12

Look for moisturizers containing ceramides. Other useful moisturizing ingredients include glycerin, hyaluronic acid and petrolatum. Choose a gentle cleanser instead of regular soap, and avoid antibacterial, deodorant or scented soaps, which can be too harsh for dry, sensitive skin. Cleansing should remove what needs washing away without adding scrubbing.134

Look specifically for "fragrance free," not just "unscented." Unscented products can contain fragrance whose smell has been masked; fragrance free means no fragrance, including fragrance you cannot smell. The distinction is particularly useful when shopping for a child with eczema, whose skin can react to products that touch it.5

How to care for your skin each day

1. 1Wash gently with warm water. If you shower, keep it to 5 to 10 minutes and avoid scrubbing. For body washing, concentrate cleanser on the face, underarms, genital areas, hands and feet rather than soaping every patch of skin.
2. 2Pat your skin dry, leaving it damp, then apply moisturizer. After a shower, aim to apply it within three minutes so it can trap moisture before the dry air evaporates it.
3. 3Continue moisturizing 2 to 3 times a day, or as often as needed. Use morning and evening as practical opportunities, and reapply when your skin needs it rather than saving all your moisturizer for bedtime.
4. 4Before going outside, wear sunscreen and protect exposed skin from cold air. Sunscreen still matters in winter because skin cancer risk is not limited to summer.

Bathe no more than once a day. If you have not become sweaty or dirty, skipping a shower for a day is also an option. Long, hot showers and excessive scrubbing remove protective oils and make dryness worse. For an itchy area, moisturizer and a cool compress can help.34

What should you cut back on?

Reduce alpha hydroxy acid and beta hydroxy acid products, which exfoliate the skin. They can irritate winter skin even when you also use moisturizer. Do not treat every visible flake as a reason to exfoliate: exfoliation can remove moisture and oils, leaving skin drier and itchier. Retinol can also be too drying for daily winter use. Acne medicines containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide can contribute to dryness; discuss changes to prescribed treatment with your clinician.14

Protect your skin beyond the bathroom

A bedroom humidifier adds moisture to the air, giving the room a skincare job without giving it a shelf of serums. Choose a filtered, cool mist humidifier and aim for indoor humidity of 30% to 50%. Indoors, warmer clothes and blankets are alternatives to turning up the heat. Outdoors, cover up with gloves, a scarf and a hat or hood, and protect your lips with lip balm.14

For dry hands, apply moisturizer frequently. At bedtime, petroleum jelly covered with cloth gloves can help protect them. Wear gloves for washing dishes or working with cleaning products as well as for cold weather. If skin is raw, choose soft fabrics such as cotton or silk and fragrance free laundry detergent to reduce irritation from clothing.14

What if your child has eczema?

For a child with eczema, ask their dermatologist about suitable products or look for the National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance. Reactions can appear hours or days after using a product, not necessarily straight away. Choose mild, fragrance free cleansers and fragrance free, dye free detergent. If you suspect an allergy to preservatives or dyes, testing through a dermatologist can identify what to avoid.5

When does dryness need medical care?

See a clinician if home care does not relieve dryness and itching, itching keeps you awake, you itch without a visible rash, or scratching causes open cuts or sores. You do not need to wait for bleeding knuckles or cracked lips. Persistent inflammation or dryness can need prescription treatment rather than another change of moisturizer.13