6 Ways to Maintain Skin Health During Winter

A woman touching her cheek while standing in a flurry of snow.

February 26, 2024 | Tags: Preventive Care

The winter season brings cold air, cuddling by the fireplace, wearing sweaters and multiple layers of clothing. These changes combined with the dry winter air can be very damaging to your skin. Why is it important to keep your skin, the biggest organ of the body, moisturized especially during winter? 

“Your skin is first line of defense against diseases, infections, sunburn from ultraviolet rays of the sun and trauma,” said Dr. Gail Askew Medical Mutual Assistant Medical Director. “It protects us and our internal organs from injury. Our skin helps us to regulate our body temperature by preventing fluid losses as well as helping to remove excess water and salt in the form of sweat.” 

Signs of "Unhealthy" Skin

While signs and symptoms can vary with age, health status, skin tone and where the dry skin is located on the body, the main signs of “unhealthy” or dry skin include:

  • Redness
  • Itchiness
  • Skin tightness
  • Flaking, peeling or scaling skin
  • Lines or cracks in skin
  • Raw skin is visible
  • Stinging or burning sensation

How to Keep Skin Healthy

To properly take care of your skin in the winter, you need to make a combination of habit changes and product swaps, while also carefully reading ingredient labels. Dr. Askew shares six changes to make a difference in how your skin feels and looks in the winter: 

Adjust your Skincare Routine

  • Avoid soaps labelled as “antibacterial” or “antimicrobial,” as these can change the skin's normal flora. Normal flora is the bacteria that normally lives on skin and the balance of the flora is important in the prevention of infection. 
  • Use fragrance-free and alcohol-free products. Avoid using items that may dry the skin like harsh soaps or lotions that are alcohol-based with fragrance. 
  • Use products that have hyaluronic acid and ceramides. Hyaluronic acid provides deep hydration while ceramides help to strengthen the skin barrier and retain moisture.
  • Use occlusives such as shea butter or petroleum jelly-based products. Occlusives are fatty, waxy, oily substances that help seal in the skin's moisture and prevent excessive water loss.

Balanced Nutrition

To keep your skin healthy, eat a well-balanced diet that includes plenty of protein foods, fresh fruits and vegetables. It’s important to keep yourself hydrated during the winter as this decreases the chance that your skin dries out and cracks. 

Change the Temperature, Length and Frequency of your Showers

Limit your showers to 5-10 minutes while using lukewarm water. Long, hot showers can sound like a soothing and relaxing idea after dealing with winter weather all day, but they end up doing more harm than good. Hot water can not only dry out the natural oils in your skin, but it can also additionally damage your skin. 

Limit Exfoliation

While exfoliation can help remove excess dry skin, be careful as to how much and what type of exfoliant you use. Exfoliate no more than two times per week. Additionally, use a gentle chemical exfoliant rather than a physical scrub, which is more likely to break down your skin’s moisture barrier.

Moisturizing after Showering

Moisturizers are best used immediately after bathing as they help to trap the moisture in the skin. It is important to use moisturizer after every shower because showering removes your body’s natural oils. For best results, pat your skin dry with a towel, avoid rubbing the area dry and then immediately apply moisturizer.

Use a Humidifier

Humidifiers are not just useful for when you have a cold, they can add moisture back into the air and act as a natural moisturizer, which can help reduce the effects of dry winter air. Use distilled water, which has low mineral content, to prevent the build-up of scale and the dispersal of minerals and potential allergens, molds or bacteria into the air.

When Should You See a Primary Care Provider?

You may need to see your primary care provider if:

  • Your skin becomes red, inflamed and has large areas of scaly or peeling skin, open sores, oozing or drainage. These could be signs of infection.
  • Your temperature is elevated.
  • You are uncomfortable that you are not sleeping or are unable to complete your daily tasks.
  • You have tried to treat at home and your symptoms persist or worsen.

If you need help finding a provider covered by your Medical Mutual health plan, use our Find a Provider tool.

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