Every November the same patients arrive: skin that was fine in September now feels tight after washing, flakes around the nose and turns red in the wind.
Why it happens
Cold air holds little water, and central heating dries it further. Your skin loses water faster than it can replace it, and the thin barrier of oils that keeps it supple starts to break.
What helps
Four things, in order of how much they matter: wash with something gentle and not too hot, put on a plain moisturiser while the skin is still damp, use a richer cream at night, and keep wearing sunscreen. Winter sun still ages skin.
If your skin stings when you put on a moisturiser, the barrier is already damaged. Use less, and simpler, until it settles.
What does not
Scrubs, strong acids and foaming cleansers make winter skin worse. So does changing products every week to see what works.
When to see us
If redness lasts more than a few weeks, or the skin cracks and bleeds, it may be eczema or rosacea rather than dryness. A consultation will tell you which.
