Winter Skincare: Keep Your Skin Healthy Through the Cold, Dry Weather

Winter is notorious for drying out skin. The harsh winds, low humidity, and freezing temps zap moisture from your epidermal tissues. In addition, dry indoor air and activities that you do to warm up — such as sitting next to a roaring fire or taking a hot shower — only serve to dry out your skin even more. 

As the winter temperatures come into full swing, it’s important to know how to change your skincare routine to match the weather. Otherwise, you might be left with skin that’s dry, red, flaky, and itchy for the entirety of the season. 

At Butterfly MedSpa and Wellness in Spring and The Woodlands of Houston, Texas, Dr. Ben Cilento and our team are passionate about skincare routines and how they can help protect and maintain your skin barrier. Here, we offer a few practical ways to keep your skin healthy and hydrated during the cold winter months. 

Be extra careful when washing your skin

Illnesses such as the common cold and flu run rampant during the winter, so you’ll most likely be washing your hands (and the rest of your body) a lot more often. However, when you wash your skin frequently, you strip it of its natural oils and dry it out. So, it’s important to follow a few important steps while cleansing your skin to avoid making it unbearably dry and chapped. 

Warm, not hot

One of the best things you can do is turn down the temperature of the water. While hot water can feel good when you’re cold, and warm water may seem more effective at killing germs, water that’s too hot can wreak havoc on your skin. If your skin is red after cleansing, the water temperature is too high. 

Pat, don’t rub

After you finish washing your hands or taking a shower, gently pat yourself dry and avoid any rubbing motions. That small amount of added friction can irritate drier skin and make it feel worse.

Moisturize often

As soon as you finish cleansing your skin, always apply a moisturizer. Keep a bottle of your favorite non-scented product on your bathroom counter so you remember to moisturize often.

Change your skincare products as needed

If you notice that your skin is especially dry and flaky, you may need to examine your skincare routine. There may be some products you need to cut, and some you need to use more often. 

Repair your skin barrier

Your skin has to be well-hydrated for a lot of different serums and toners to be effective. So, for a while, you may need to strictly use moisturizer, sunscreen, and a gentle cleanser to rehydrate your skin and restore its barrier. Once your skin has more moisture, you can re-introduce products that are a little harsher, such as retinoids. 

Up your moisturizing game

You may also want to consider switching to a richer moisturizer that comes in a jar or tub, such as petroleum, shea butter, or squalene. These tend to be more hydrating than a simple lotion. 

See our team for skincare product recommendations

At Butterfly MedSpa and Wellness, we offer a wide range of skincare products, including ones you can get exclusively at our practice. If you’re still struggling with dry skin, our team can examine your current routine and recommend products that can help rehydrate your skin. 

To learn more about winter skincare or try out some of our medical-grade skincare products, call or click online to schedule a visit at your nearest Butterfly MedSpa and Wellness office in Spring or The Woodlands of Houston, Texas, today.