As many of you will notice, skin can become drier and more sensitive in winter, especially on the face, lips, and hands, which can cause a feeling of tightness and discomfort. Here are four simple recommendations that may be useful:
1. Moisturize your skin thoroughly.
Dry indoor air and the use of heating contribute to our skin feeling tight, rougher, dry, itchy, and sometimes even cracked. To prevent this, there is nothing simpler than applying moisturizer to the entire body every day. Although it seems obvious, many of us forget to do so. It is not necessary to use the most sophisticated and expensive products, but simply to be consistent in applying them. Dry lips are also common, as they crack in the cold. Remember to moisturize them too (lip balm, petroleum jelly, etc.).
In some cases, the degree of dryness is such that dry/xerotic eczema may appear, i.e., a rough, reddish area with cracked skin that itches a lot. This is common in older people who do not usually use moisturizing creams. In these cases, treatment with a topical corticosteroid cream is necessary. If you have any areas of “rough” skin that do not improve with moisturizing creams, it is a good idea to consult a dermatologist.
2. Use sun protection
We usually pay attention to sun protection in summer, because that’s when the sun shines on our whole body. But we shouldn’t underestimate the effect of UV rays on the skin of our face during winter. The gradual accumulation of sun exposure throughout our lives not only increases the risk of skin cancer but also causes the skin to look older (less lustrous, dry, with wrinkles and spots). From both an aesthetic and cancer prevention point of view, it is advisable to get into the habit of using sun protection in winter too.
Fortunately, there are now lots of sunscreen creams (SPF 30+) with excellent cosmetic properties (they come in liquid form, as sprays, for oily skin, for dry skin, with more color, in makeup format, etc.). Just pop into your local pharmacy and ask :)
Protecting yourself from the sun also prevents wrinkles.
What about those of you who are skiers and mountaineers? The reflection of UV rays on snow considerably increases their harmful effect, which can cause first- and second-degree sunburn. So don’t forget to use extreme protection on your face and lips, reapplying it throughout the day while skiing.
3. Do you have spots on your face? Winter can be a good time to treat them.
The relationship between facial spots and the sun is clear. Spots become more noticeable in the summer, and it is at this time of year that we tend to worry about them most. However, most treatments for spots cannot be done in summer (either because of the medication used or because of the risk that the spots will darken even more due to the sun) and it is better to do them in winter.
There are different types of spots on the skin (solar lentigines, seborrheic keratoses, melasma, etc.), each with a different treatment.
It is advisable to have them assessed by a dermatologist to determine the appropriate treatment in each case (cryotherapy, laser, depigmentation creams, peels, etc.). It is advisable to have them assessed by a dermatologist to determine the appropriate treatment in each case (cryotherapy, laser, depigmentation creams, peels, etc.). In any case, to prevent any of them, it is essential to protect yourself from the sun with SPF 50+ daily, even in winter.
4. Do you have acne? Winter is the best time to treat it.
If you have acne, you may have noticed that it usually improves in the summer. The sun tends to “dry out” pimples, so when winter returns, you generally feel like it’s worse. Winter is a good time to start treating your acne because some of the treatments used (isotretinoin, doxycycline) can make your skin more sensitive to the sun, and therefore their use in summer (although possible) becomes much more uncomfortable.
