Can Cold Weather Cause Skin Problems?

The seasons have turned - and so has your skin! What’s going on with cold weather that can make skin dry, itchy and extra sensitive?

Cold weather in autumn and winter can have dramatic effects on your skin; even if you’ve been happily free from any problems all through the summer, the changing of the seasons can often be felt in dry, rough or itchy skin.

But what’s causing the sudden change and why does cold weather make you itch? Let’s take a closer look at all the different factors that can affect the skin in wintertime.

The temperature drops, and colder air causes the skin to lose more moisture
Humidity also drops, which has the same dehydrating effect on skin
Cold wind also strips water from the skin
Both overly hot central heating and fan heaters can evaporate moisture from the skin
Long, hot baths to warm you up after a cold day can strip oils from the skin, impairing the skin barrier function, increasing moisture loss and making the skin more sensitive
Thick winter clothes can overheat the skin and cause itching or flare-ups
Abrupt changes in temperature (ie moving from cold outside to a heated house) can dehydrate the skin
There’s less sunlight, so your vitamin D intake is reduced; vitamin D is essential for skin health

The result? Drier, more fragile, more sensitive skin, because without adequate moisture, the skin’s resilience is impaired. The skin barrier, which protects you from the outside world, can get damaged and ‘leaky’. The more leaky the barrier, the more moisture is lost, and skin can end up in a vicious circle of dryness, damage, inflammation, itching and more damage.

In fact, the change in humidity and temperature can necessitate a whole new skincare regime, designed to lessen the effect of the colder, drier air.

What can you do to help your skin in winter?

Dry skin needs moisture! You can help your skin retain moisture in various ways, but the most successful technique is to use a moisturiser regularly throughout the day.

A good oil-based moisturiser will act as a second skin over a dry or damaged epidermis, protecting it from losing water through a leaky barrier. If your skin is really dry or cracked, choose an ointment or balm over a cream or lotion, as these have a higher oil content and will be more effective to protect skin from further dehydration, and allow the skin to repair itself under a layer of oil.

It might also help to put away fragranced creams, beauty treatments, scented soaps and shampoos until the spring. Make over your regime so you’re only using simple, natural and nourishing products.