Don’t let cold weather rob your skin of beneficial oils. Follow these 6 head-to-toe tips to maintain a healthy glow.

 

Forget dropping temps and blustery forecasts. You know winter’s arrived early when your skin starts to dry, chap, itch and turn red.

“The damaging effects of winter often begin the momentpeople have to switch on the heat in their homes,” says Melissa Piliang, M.

D., a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic. “The combination of cold outside air and heated indoor environments dries out your skin and exacerbates many common skin problems, like eczema and rosacea.”

The fact that your pesky birthday keeps rolling around doesn’t help either. In your 40s, skin begins to thin and produce less natural oil; in your 50s, there’s a sharp drop in the production of collagen and elastin, which means you’re contending with skin that has a noticeably different texture and volume. “As we get older, our skin’s protective barrier simply doesn’t recover as well from things like cold, dry air,” says Dr. Piliang, who’s a member of the American Academy of Dermatology, which is recognizingNational Healthy Skin Month throughout November.

Ready for more bad news? Many of your favorite cold-weather comforts, like long, hot showers, fluffy socks and all those wonderful-smelling lotions lining the bathroom countertop only serve to complicate matters.

But Dr. Piliang maintains that your skin can be saved from winter’s wrath. These six protection strategies will help keep you looking your best all season long.

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Switch up your shower routine.

 Stepping into a hot shower or bath washes away the skin’s natural protective oils, which are there to lock in moisture and guard against environmental damage. “Think of butter on a knife,” says Dr. Piliang. “If you hold the knife under cold water, the butter stays on, but under hot water the butter slides right off. Your skin’s natural oils act just like butter.” She suggests turning the water all the way up to hot before you get in, allowing the room to get steamy. Then lower the temperature to warm when you step in. And don’t linger—wash, rinse, get out.

Pare down your pampering. Along with taking shorter warm showers, you should also switch to a mild, fragrance-free soap—at least for the cold season. Soaps labeled "safe for sensitive skin" and/or "moisturizing" are best. Heavily scented soaps and lotions, on the other hand, typically contain fewer moisturizers. Also, reconsider lathering up from head to toe. “You really only need to soap up your armpits, groin, feet, hands and face,” says Dr. Piliang, who notes that men tend to be especially tied to harsh soaps that speed up the loss of those beneficial oils.

Your face-washing routine needs a few tweaks, too. If you normally wash morning and night, skip the a.m. lather—a quick splash with warm water is all you need. At night, make sure you’re using a gentle, unscented cleanser. Rub it in with your fingertips—not a washcloth or scrub—and rinse with tepid water.

Stock up on different creams. Winter is not the time to be faithful to one moisturizer. For your body, you’ll want to find a fragrance-free lotion that’s rich and that ideally contains ceramide, an ingredient that strengthens your skin barrier and helps replace lost moisture. “The word 'Ceramides' should be front-and-center on the label,” Dr. Piliang says. Since you’ll likely be washing your hands more often (to avoid colds and flu), a fast-absorbing hand lotion is something you’ll want to apply several times a day. But at night, switch over to a thick hand ointment.

Your face—no surprise—requires slightly different care. Many people who can get away with a light moisturizer in the spring and summer may find they need to try a heavier cream when the seasons change. You may even want to try wearing a so-called “night” cream during the day. Products with ceramides will help your skin retain moisture better. And don’t skip the sunscreen; continue using an SPF 30 on your face, lips and any exposed skin.

Rethink your anti-aging products. Many of the potions we’ve come to treasure for the ways they hide fine lines, skin discolorations and other real-age giveaways can be more drying in the winter. If you’re using products that contain ingredients like tretinoin, retinol or alpha hydroxy acids, you may need to switch to a milder formula for the next few months.

Use anti-dandruff shampoo. Even if you don’t have the telltale flakes, an anti-dandruff shampoo can help soothe an itchy, dry scalp that flares up in the brutal cold. “Your instinct may be to shampoo less, thinking that all that washing is contributing to the dryness,” says Dr. Piliang. “But in fact it’s important to keep the scalp clean.” Just how frequently depends on your hair type and how you style it—once a week is usually enough for thick or coarse hair types; daily or every other day for hair that’s more fine and straight. A good hair stylist or dermatologist can recommend a shampoo schedule that’s right for you.

Invest in “smart” socks. While your hands and face are forced to bear the full force of winter, stuffing your cold toes into thick, fluffy socks and heavy boots can lead to another problem: sweaty feet. And odor isn’t the only thing you’ll need to worry about. The sweating coupled with the hot environment can lead to skin infections, eczema, athlete’s foot and more. To keep your feet dry, wear socks made from a material that pulls moisture away from the skin. You’ll see various performance fabric names and blends on sock labels; what you should look for is something that says "moisture-wicking" or "moisture management."

 

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