How to Avoid Dry Skin in Winter

Cold weather may feel refreshing, but it often comes with a downside: dry, flaky, and irritated skin. It leaves you reapplying moisturiser or battling chapped lips. This guide breaks down the causes behind dry skin in winter, how to prevent it, and the best dermatologist-approved ingredients and routines to restore hydration, strength, and comfort.

Keynotes:

• Winter weather can leave your skin dry, itchy, and irritated.
• Low humidity, cold winds, indoor heaters, hot showers, itchy clothes, etc. can exacerbate the dryness.
• Treat dry skin in winter with humectant-rich moisturisers with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and panthenol.
• Consult your dermatologist and adapt to a hydrating skincare routine tailored for winter.

Winter affects the skin in more than one way. Winter months present cold weather outdoors, which is often paired with indoor heating systems that dehydrate your skin.

This drastic drop in humidity limits your skin's chance of absorbing and retaining water, leaving you with elevated levels of trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), a major contributor to dehydrated and dry skin in winter.

To add to it, cold winds, hot showers, and layering rough fabrics like wool dry the skin out even more, stripping the skin of the surface oils that keep it hydrated. Eventually, your skin barrier is not as able to defend itself from irritants with functional strategies, presenting symptoms such as flaking, tightness, itching, or even cracking.

Here are some common signs that your skin has begun drying out in winter:

• Rough, scaly patches

  These patches are a result of moisture loss from the upper layers of the skin, often found on areas like the arms, legs, and cheeks. The texture may feel coarse and uneven to touch.

• Dull or ashy tone

  Dry winter air strips the skin of its natural oils, leading to a lack of radiance. This gives the skin a greyish or pale appearance, especially on darker skin tones.

• Redness and inflammation

  The skin barrier becomes compromised in cold weather, making it more prone to irritation. This often results in red, blotchy patches or visible capillaries, particularly on the face.

• Itching or sensitivity

  Dry skin tends to become more reactive, and you may feel a constant itch, tingling, or burning sensation, especially after cleansing or exposure to wind.

• Cracked lips or dry hands

  The thinner skin on your lips and hands loses hydration faster, leading to painful cracks, flaking, and a tight feeling that worsens without protective care.

Fighting dry skin in the cold winter months is not about inundating your skin with products; it is about selecting the right products and remaining disciplined in your usage.

1. Use a Rich Moisturiser

   A light lotion is suitable for hot and humid summer weather, but when winter comes, skin needs thicker creams and ointments. A good winter moisturiser should include humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help draw and hold water in the skin.
   Look for emollients like shea butter or squalane to help soften and smooth the surface of the skin. Lastly, try occlusives like ceramides to create a barrier to limit moisture loss.

2. Hydrate From the Inside

   The cold winter months can lull us into drinking less water. But hydration starts from the inside. Make sure you are drinking enough water during your day, and eating plenty of hydrating foods like cucumbers will also help.
   Consider including omega-3 fatty acids from foods like flaxseed or walnuts, which may help to improve the lipid barrier of your skin.

3. Avoid Hot Showers

   Hot water is super comforting in those cold winter days, but you might be surprised how hot showers can be one of the greatest contributors to dry skin in the winter.
   Hot water will strip natural oils away and compromise the already weakened skin barrier. Opt for lukewarm water instead, and limit shower time to 10 minutes or less. Always moisturise immediately afterward.

Choosing the right ingredients is key to soothing and strengthening winter-dry skin. Here are some dermatologist-recommended actives to look for in your winter skincare:

1. Hyaluronic Acid (HA)

   A naturally occurring humectant, HA, attracts and retains moisture in the skin. It helps plump the skin from within, improving elasticity and reducing the appearance of dryness and fine lines.

2. Glycerin

   This widely used, skin-friendly humectant draws moisture into the skin and helps maintain hydration levels. It’s gentle, non-comedogenic, and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

3. Ceramides

   Ceramides are lipid molecules naturally found in the skin that help form the skin’s protective barrier. They play a vital role in preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and keeping the skin soft, supple, and resilient.

4. Panthenol (Pro-vitamin B5)

   A soothing and hydrating ingredient, panthenol is known for its ability to improve the skin's barrier function. It helps calm irritation, reduce redness, and promote healing, making it ideal for dry and reactive skin types.

5. Licochalcone A

   This is a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound derived from licorice root. It helps reduce skin redness, calms irritation, and protects the skin from environmental stressors.

Tailor your skincare routine for winter to restore hydration, reinforce the barrier, and minimize irritation.

Morning Routine

• Step 1: Gentle Cleanser

  Use a gel-based, dermatologically-tested cleanser that doesn’t strip your skin’s natural oils. Gel-based cleansers enriched with a low concentration of exfoliants work well.

• Step 2: Hydrating Toner

  Apply a hydrating toner containing lactic acid to prep the skin and enhance product absorption.

• Step 3: Serum

  Follow with a hydrating serum, preferably one that contains low and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid for multi-level hydration.

• Step 4: Moisturiser

  Use a rich cream with hyaluronic acid or panthenol to lock in hydration. If you’re experiencing dullness, try gentle brightening ingredients like Thiamidol .

• Step 5: Broad-Spectrum Sunscreen

  Don’t skip SPF in winter! UV rays are still present in the cold months and can exacerbate dryness and damage. Choose a non-comedogenic, mineral-based sunscreen suitable for sensitive skin.

Night Routine

• Step 1: Cleanse Gently

  Remove makeup and dirt with a hydrating cleanser. Avoid harsh exfoliants or foaming formulas. Follow it with a hydrating toner that cleanses and moisturizes your skin all at once.

• Step 2: Repairing Serum

  Your skin repairs and regenerates itself at night. Look for night serums with intensive overnight hydration to help repair your skin barrier.

• Step 3: Night Cream

  Apply a night cream containing antioxidants, hyaluronic acid, or panthenol to support overnight repair.

Dry skin in winter doesn’t have to be your norm. With the right ingredients, consistent care, and small changes to your lifestyle, you can maintain soft, hydrated, and resilient skin all season long. For targeted, science-backed winter skincare solutions, look to Eucerin’s dermatologically tested products.

1. How can I keep my skin hydrated in winter?

   Drink plenty of water, use a hydrating serum with humectants, and layer it with a rich moisturiser. Try to avoid long hot showers and consider using a humidifier indoors.

2. Which moisturiser is best for winter skincare?

   Opt for creams with panthenol and hyaluronic acid to aid winter skincare. These ingredients aid your skin’s repair and regeneration overnight.

3. Should I change my skincare routine in winter?

   Yes. Shift to more humectant-rich, hydrating products, reduce exfoliation, and use gentle, non-irritating cleansers. Your skin’s needs change with the season, so adapt accordingly. Talk to a dermatologist if you have dry, dehydrated skin.

4. How can I prevent my lips from getting chapped?

   Apply a lip balm with emollients multiple times a day, especially before bed. Avoid licking your lips and exfoliate gently once a week to remove dead skin.

• Nih.gov - Effects of winter indoor environment on the skin
• Nih.gov - Dry skin in the winter is related to the ceramide profile in the stratum corneum and can be improved by treatment with a Eucalyptus extract
• Nih.gov - Transepidermal water loss (TEWL): Environment and pollution—A systematic review
• Nih.gov - Moisturizers
• Aad.org - Cold weather and your skin
• Researchgate - Winter Annoyance - A Dry Skin