9 Tips for Common Winter Skin Conditions, According to a Celeb Dermatologist

As the weather turns colder, there are a few things you can count on – hot chocolate, warm coats and, unfortunately, your skin rebelling against the conditions.

In the winter, “our skin tends to be drier and the skin barrier becomes compromised,” explains New York celebrity dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, who is the medical expert behind Hailey Bieber’s Rhoda line and counts Martha Stewart among his patients. “With the change in weather, conditions like eczema, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis tend to get worse.”

If you’re someone who experiences these skin changes in the winter, don’t worry—Dr. Bhanusali has tons of tips to help you take care of your delicate skin during the cold months and keep these conditions under control.

dr. Bhanusali with Hailey Bieber.

Dhaval G. Bhanusali, MD FAAD/Instagram

First, let’s pull back the curtain on why winter can be so difficult for people with eczema, psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a condition that causes itchy, dry skin. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition in which the body produces skin cells too quickly, creating scaly, inflamed patches of skin. Seborrheic dermatitis causes itchy skin that flakes (often on the scalp, so-called dandruff). All three of these conditions can worsen when the temperature drops because cold weather dries out the skin.

“Given the lack of hydration, a damaged skin barrier can lead to increased flaking and dryness. This is common in both eczema and psoriasis,” explains Dr. Bhanusali.

Eczema in particular can be sensitive to this weakened barrier—it’s much harder for the skin to protect itself from bacteria and other irritants, he says. Dryness is (perhaps obviously) a big trigger for dandruff flakes, and cold, dry conditions are also a common trigger for psoriasis.

Some other conditions, such as rosacea, the long-term redness of the face, sometimes get worse in the winter, though Dr. Bhanusali says it’s much more common for rosacea to be affected by what you consume—think spicy foods, caffeine, or alcohol.

Skin problems can increase in winter.

Getty

But just because it’s expected for this time of year, it doesn’t mean you have to deal with itchy, blotchy, flaky, and uncomfortable skin all winter long. With some smart changes in your routine, you can protect your skin from the cold and dry weather. (Of course, if your skin condition is moderate to severe and it’s affecting your quality of life, see a doctor—a few extra moisturizers and a moisturizer probably won’t make much difference. But if it’s milder and triggered by time, this can definitely help.)

First, says Dr. Bhanusali, “it’s important to have a good routine with consistent use of moisturizer.” This can also mean using seasonal. “People are switching to thicker moisturizers instead of lotions and gels/creams,” he says of patients at his Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery practice.

When looking for a moisturizer for winter, Dr. Bhanusali recommends looking for soothing ingredients like niacinamide and azelaic acid to help prevent breakouts. You might even want to step up your moisturizing game to twice a day if your eczema or psoriasis is really bothering you.

Another addition to your routine that might help: “I also encourage using a humidifier to supplement the change in humidity during the colder months.”

These are the 15 best facial moisturizers for dry skin in 2023, tested and reviewed

Take these steps to help your skin get less damaged in the winter.

Getty

Some changes to your shower routine could also affect your skin; for example, don’t use your favorite summer skin scrub in the cold months, says Dr. Bhanusali, unless you have very oily skin — “even then, less is more.”

And while a long, hot shower can be tempting when the temperature outside is chilly, avoid it as much as you can.

“Showers should last five minutes or less, with medium-temperature water,” he says. “Hot showers can remove good oils from the skin and cause the condition to worsen [like eczema and psoriasis].”

When you’re done with a quick shower, pat dry (this is important – you don’t want to accidentally exfoliate by scrubbing wet skin!). Then immediately apply a winter moisturizer while your skin is still a little wet. “This is optimal for absorption and can really make a difference,” he says.

We’ll take any skin-care tip that Martha Stewart got too—and extra points if our skin stays glowing and we feel good all winter long!

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education