The Reason Your Skin Looks Worse In The Winter (It's Not What You Think)
Many of us go through life, keeping a close eye on our skin. We want it to look great, whether we’re heading out to a party, on a date, or just meeting up with friends. Smooth, supple, and moisturized skin gives you the confidence you need to live your best life.
When the winter comes along, though, you can start experiencing skin problems that don’t bother you at other times of the year. All of a sudden, you can get dryness, itching, flaking, wrinkles, and redness. It’s a nightmare.
The reasons for these problems, however, aren’t just related to the cold weather. In fact, there’s evidence that cold air and water can actually benefit and rejuvenate your skin.
No - the real reasons for your winter skin problems are very different indeed. Let’s take a look at what is going on inside your body.
You’re Spending Way More Time Inside
While the cold weather might be good for your skin (by shocking cells into becoming healthier), spending a lot of time inside isn’t, especially if you work in an air conditioned environment.
Human skin functions best in mild humidity - around 30 percent. At this level, the skin has a constant supply of moisture from the air. Modern HVAC systems, though, take out moisture and, therefore, damage the skin.
If you work in an office over winter, therefore, you can often find dry patches appearing. The areas most prone to flaking are your knuckles, ankles, the corners of your nose, and the space between your eyebrows. You can, however, experience dryness anywhere.
Cold Temperatures Have Destroyed You Skin’s Natural Barrier
While short spells of exposure to cold temperatures can be a good thing, more extended periods aren’t. Eventually, the cold strips the skin of its natural protective layer, revealing the raw skin cells underneath. These cells then become inflamed, leading to redness.
If you’ve ever wondered why artists always depict Santa with rosy cheeks, this is the reason. Flying about on a slay in freezing winter conditions delivering presents to millions of children is enough to overcome the defenses of even the healthiest of skin!
So, what's the solution?
One pro tip is to make sure that you’re keeping your skin moisturized and topping up the protective barrier it and the outside world. Commercial moisturizers work for some people, but you're best sticking with natural products, like essential oils.
Your Have Reduced Circulation To Your Skin, Making It Appear Dull
When your body gets cold, it tends to reduce the amount of blood flow to peripheral areas, like the skin. It does this because it wants to preserve as much heat as possible and conserve energy.
As you might imagine, this creates a problem for the skin. When there is less blood flowing to the skin, it loses out on nutrients and starts to look dull and lifeless - nothing like it does in the summer.
Fortunately, there are ways around the problem. This article by Happytans talks about the benefits of tanning and how it can be GOOD for your skin.
Another pro tip is to wrap up warm and encourage blood to flow throughout the whole of your body. If you’re cold at night, it could explain why you’re waking up with a face like death in the morning.
Reduced Water Intake Increases Fine Lines And Wrinkles
Most people naturally drink less in the winter than in the summer. Lower temperatures mean less evaporation from the surface of the skin and, therefore, less sensation of thirst.
Drinking less water, though, creates problems for your skin. When it dries out, it naturally starts to shrivel up, making any existing wrinkles appear more pronounced. And the fewer fluids you consume, the worse it can get.
A lot of people, though, don’t want to drink in the winter. It’s too cold to glug on a giant tumbler of water just before you go outside into the icy weather. So what can you do?
The trick here is to make hot drinks a part of your daily schedule. Your body will soon learn that they warm you up and make you feel great. Try if you can to focus your consumption around herbal teas. Not only will they hydrate you, but they also provide a host of phytochemicals that will make your skin appear more supple and robust.
You’re Cleansing Too Much, Leading To Further Breakouts
During the winter, you may notice one or two spots appearing, especially if you’re prone to oily skin. When the skin detects that the cold weather is stripping away its protective barrier, it tells pores to go into overdrive to produce more sebum. The pores naturally obey and begin churning out more of these protective oils, but there’s a problem. The more oil that you have on your face, the more likely you are to experience a breakout.
Many women, therefore, find that they have to wash their faces more often during the wintertime to fight back against zits. And this then causes further dryness and a corresponding increase in sebum production.
The trick here is to stop trying to fight the problem from the outside in and instead focus on what’s happening inside your body. If you’re a big consumer of dairy, stop. There’s now plenty of evidence that dairy is bad for your skin, even if the industry doesn’t want to admit it. Also, focus your diet around fruits and vegetables if you can. These contain factors that can help you control your acne and reduce redness and swelling. Some people find that simple dietary changes can make all the difference. During wintertime, you’ll want to eat more bean casseroles and fewer roast dinners and meat pies.
The winter, therefore, can be a challenging time for your skin. It’s not just the cold weather that is the problem, but all the lifestyle changes that come with it. You spend more time indoors, eat different foods, and often change up your skincare routine. It can all make a big difference in how your skin appears.