The winter months are perfect for soft, cozy sweaters, hot cocoa, and lounging in front of a television to watch holiday movies. Unfortunately, it’s also the time of year that brings dry, itchy skin to your life.
Commonly known as “winter itch,” this irritating skin condition is something that can affect pretty much anyone during the colder months of the year. Whether winter itch happens due to irritants coming into contact with your skin, or the cold winter air and dry heat inside your home, itchy skin is nothing to laugh at!
We hope this blog will help you gain a better understanding of how to prevent winter itches, but also how to treat it to make sure your skin stays healthy and feels great all winter long.
Understanding Winter Itch: Causes and Symptoms
Itchy winter skin can be caused by several things. First, the colder weather, along with the brutal winds outside can be harsh on your skin. Second, indoor heat can cause the natural oils in your skin to be stripped away due to lower humidity. When you have to deal with both the cold air outside, and the indoor heating system, your skin can be left feeling dry, irritated, and tight.
This dryness leads to itchy skin. Winter itch can cause redness, flaky skin, and an unbearable itch. Being able to understand what causes itchy winter skin, and taking steps to protect your skin will help you lower the chance of having a terrible itch this winter.
How Cold Weather and Indoor Heating Affect Skin Health
When temperatures drop, the cold outside and indoor heating work together to harm your skin. The lack of humidity indoors dries out your skin, while outdoor winds strip your skin’s natural oils. This combination makes it harder to keep your skin hydrated.
Skin dryness isn’t just uncomfortable; it can lead to long-term irritation. Using a humidifier indoors can help maintain optimal humidity levels and prevent skin irritation during winter months.
Tips to Prevent Winter Itch Before It Starts
Preventing winter itch starts with good skincare practices. Following these tips can help protect your skin:
- Use a fragrance-free moisturizer daily to help lock in moisture.
- Avoid using harsh soaps that can strip your skin of essential oils.
- Pat your skin dry with a towel after bathing instead of rubbing.
Moisturizing immediately after a lukewarm bath or shower ensures your skin stays hydrated. Don’t forget to apply sunscreen, even during winter, as UV rays can still damage your skin.
The Role of Moisturizers and Creams in Skin Health
Nothing beats finding a great moisturizer for your skin. This is especially true in the winter because you need a line of defense to protect your skin from the harsh elements that cause itchy skin. When you’re looking for a good moisturizer this winter, try products that have ingredients like hyaluronic acid or ceramides in them.
These are great ingredients that help keep moisture in your skin, and they’ll also help repair skin if it’s affected by the elements. If you apply your moisturizer when your skin is still damp from a shower or bath, it will help lock that moisture into the skin.
Be sure to apply a thick layer of moisturizer to help prevent your skin from becoming dry during the day. A good moisturizer will help make sure your skin feels soft all winter long.
Best Skincare Practices for Winter Weather
Now that you know that moisturizers are great for your skin, you should know that it takes more than just a layer of cream to keep your skin in good condition during the winter.
You need to avoid taking hot showers because the hot water can strip the natural oils from your skin.
You also need to use a gentle skin cleanser. Harsh soaps can cause skin to become very dry.
Bathing in lukewarm water is best for the skin. As soon as you get out of the bath tub, be sure to apply a thick layer of moisturizer while your skin is still wet.
You also need to stay hydrated, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. This will help keep you hydrated from the inside out.
Failing to stay hydrated can cause a simple skin rash to worsen when you start moving between the cold outside, and the dry air and heat inside your home or office.
Protecting Sensitive Skin During Winter Months
Sensitive skin can be particularly itchy during the winter. It’s important to use fragrance free products to help prevent your skin from becoming dry and irritated. Seeking the advice of a dermatologist is a good way to find skincare products that are best for your skin type. Areas of the body including the hands and face are usually very vulnerable to cold weather. It’s a good idea to grab a pair of gloves and make sure you use a good cream on your hands as well as your face before you venture outside in the winter.
Common Skincare Mistakes to Avoid in Winter
Everyone has their own personal skincare routine. There are some habits that you may want to avoid to help cut down on the chance of having unhealthy skin. Here are a few things to consider:
- Using harsh soaps that irritate and dry out your skin.
- Taking long, hot showers that strip your skin of moisture.
- Skipping sunscreen, which leaves your skin unprotected from harmful UV rays.
When you avoid these things, you can maintain healthy skin even in the harshest winter conditions.
Relieving Itchy Skin: Quick Tips for Comfort
Now that you know how to prevent itchy winter skin, what can you do f your skin is already feeling itchy? You’ll be happy to know that there are ways to relieve your itch and start feeling better about your skin.
Something as simple as adding a cup of baking soda to your bath water can help give you temporary itch relief. For itches that just won’t go away, a visit to the dermatologist is a good idea.
They can check your skin to make sure you don’t have an underlying dermatitis such as eczema or psoriasis that is causing your skin to itch. Another thing you can do is make sure you wear skin protection including gloves when you have to go outside when it's cold.
Apply a cream to your hands before you put your gloves on to help keep your hands soft during the winter.
Why Hydration Matters for Winter Skin Health
Making sure that you keep your skin hydrated from the inside out is very important. When you drink plenty of water throughout the day, and use a humidifier at home, you can prevent dry skin.
Using products that have glycerin in them will attract moisture and can also help keep your skin hydrated. Keeping your body hydrated not only prevents dry skin, but it also helps to improve the health of your skin.
The lack of moisture in the air during colder months often causes winter itch, leaving skin dry and uncomfortable. When you follow the right steps to keep your skin hydrated, you’ll find that it’s easier to maintain soft, healthy skin all year long.
Skincare Products Recommended by Dermatologists
Dermatologists will usually recommend products that are fragrance free and designed for dry skin. It’s a good idea to use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, even in the winter, as it will help protect your skin against UV rays. Using a cream or moisturizer that has ceramides will help repair your skin if the winter weather or indoor heating cause it to be dry or itchy.
Dermeleve® is a product that is not only recommended by dermatologists, but it was created by dermatologists to use on dry, damaged skin. It contains ceramides as well as shea butter and hyaluronic acid to keep your skin moisturized and soft all day long. Dermatology experts can help take care of your skin with effective treatments for persistent itchy winter skin.
When you choose the right skincare product for your skin, and stay consistent with your routine, you’ll find that your skin can stay soft, healthy, and feel great all winter long.
A dermatologist can help you create a personalized plan to maintain healthy skin throughout the winter. If you want to treat winter itch and keep your skin moisturized and healthy all year long, you can try Dermeleve® and see how soft and healthy it makes your skin.
It's formulated for dry skin and with the shea butter and ceramides, it's perfect for keeping skin soft and itch free on every part of the body, especially when you're outside in the winter air.
Important Tips to Keep Your Skin Healthy in Winter
Winter weather can be especially tough on skin, especially if you have sensitive skin or are prone to conditions like eczema. Dermeleve® is the perfect treatment for itchy, irritated skin during the winter, and all year round. Here’s some more tips for keeping your skin soft and healthy this winter season:
- Winter itch is caused by cold weather and indoor heating stripping your skin of natural oils.
- Use fragrance-free moisturizers and creams that are made for dry skin.
- Avoid hot showers and harsh soaps.
- Be sure that you pat your skin dry with a towel and moisturize immediately after you bathe.
- Dermeleve® is perfect for those who have a skin disease like eczema, and it will help keep skin itch free and soft.
- Drink plenty of water throughout the day.
- Use a humidifier in your home to keep moisture in the air.
- Protect sensitive skin with gloves and dermatologist-recommended products.
Be sure that you follow these steps to help prevent winter itches and keep your skin healthy. It's important to moisturize your skin this time of year when the weather is cold outside, and it's dry and hot inside. You can use Dermeleve® skin care products for itching, and to prevent and treat dry, irritated skin this winter, and all year long.