How to Prevent Dry Skin in the Cold Winter

Dehydrated skin in the cold season is often more prone to irritation than summer skin. In particular, those with dry skin find it even more uncomfortable and tight in the cold. Therefore, you need to ensure full measures to protect the skin and prevent it from drying out and becoming sore. This in turn limits other dermatological complications.

Distinguishing dehydrated skin from dry skin

Dehydrated skin

Dehydrated skin is normal skin that is not supplied with enough water. Whether you have oily, combination or normal skin, you can still become dehydrated if you do not care for your skin properly in winter.

Dehydrated skin is often duller, more prone to wrinkles and less smooth.

To recognize whether your skin is dehydrated, you can look for the following signs:

Skin looks duller and tired, with dark spots showing clearly

More wrinkles appear

Itching symptoms may appear

In particular, dehydrated skin often lacks elasticity, so it may take longer to return to its original state if you pinch a little skin on your face. Try it on different areas to clearly gauge whether your skin is mildly or severely dehydrated.

Dry skin

Unlike dehydrated skin, although dry skin is also in a “parched” state, it is a skin type like oily, combination or normal skin. With dry skin, you need a distinct care regimen all year round. Especially in the cold season, your care routine needs to be “stepped up” beyond the daily routine, and beyond that for dehydrated skin too.

The signs of dry skin you can clearly see:

Skin feels tight and sore, dry and flaky

Easily irritated and reddened

Blackheads and other types of acne may appear

However, whether your skin is dry or dehydrated, cold-season skincare is always necessary, and the cold-season care regimen for these two skin types is almost the same.

Consequences of dry or dehydrated skin

Skin is prone to irritation, flaking, faster aging, wrinkles and crow's feet appearing sooner, dullness and dermatological conditions if it is constantly dry, tight and sore in the cold season. Therefore, to avoid premature aging, apply measures right away to prevent dry skin in the cold winter and protect your skin.

How to care for skin in the cold winter

There are 5 important measures you need to apply to protect your skin in the cold season; they are also the methods that keep skin looking fresh and radiant and prevent premature aging.

Moisturize

You can use a serum for deep hydration and to repair damage on the skin. However, dermatologists recommend using a moisturizer to lock in moisture and prevent water loss from the skin.

In addition, you should apply a hydrating mask twice a week, use a facial mist whenever your skin feels tight and sore, and remember to apply lip balm twice a day, morning and evening.

Use sunscreen

Even in the cold season, UV rays can still pass through the clouds and harm the skin. Therefore, apply sunscreen every morning before going out to protect your skin to the maximum. Sunscreen should have an SPF50+/PA++++ rating for the best protection.

Eat enough nutrients and drink enough water

Foods rich in omega-3 or omega-6 show better results in improving dry skin. Therefore, add seafood and eat plenty of fruit and green vegetables to supply your body with more vitamins. In addition, drinking enough — 2 liters of water a day — is essential to keep your skin from losing moisture from within.

Supplementing Collagen is also a way to keep skin soft and hydrated and to boost elasticity, and it has been widely applied to prevent premature aging in recent years.

Wear warm enough clothing

Keeping your body warm also means keeping your skin warm and preventing the “evaporation of water” from it. Choose materials that retain warmth well but avoid rough materials that rub harshly against the skin, because winter skin is very easily irritated due to its constant dryness and tightness.

Do not bathe too long

Although warm water can make your body feel more comfortable while bathing, it very quickly dries out and tightens the skin. This is especially serious in the cold winter, so make sure the optimal bathing time is 5–10 minutes to protect your skin and health.

Caring for skin in the cold winter is extremely important, because if the skin is “parched” and constantly lacking moisture it makes us look older very quickly, and over time it can easily lead to other skin conditions. Therefore, apply these measures right away to keep your skin healthy.