Tight cheeks, cracked lips and that stinging feeling when you step indoors. Winter has a way of showing up on your face before anywhere else.
As temperatures fall, your skin works harder to defend itself. But one common habit may be making things worse.
Claus Zachariae, chief physician and dermatologist at Gentofte Hospital, says cold air and wind weaken the skin barrier. Lower humidity draws moisture out, leaving skin dry, irritated and more reactive.
Why it happens
When the air is dry, the skin loses its protective oils more easily. Wind removes the thin layer of warm air that normally sits close to the surface, causing it to cool faster.
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The result can be redness, flaking and itching. In vulnerable people, winter may aggravate eczema. Prolonged exposure can even contribute to frostbite and, over time, more visible wrinkles and broken capillaries.
Children need special attention, Zachariae notes, as they lose heat faster due to their body proportions.
The common mistake
Many people reach for light lotions. That, he warns, can backfire. Products with high water content may freeze on the skin in very cold weather, worsening damage during long periods outdoors.
Instead, he recommends rich, ointment-based creams with a high fat content to reinforce the skin barrier. Lip balm is also essential.
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His advice is simple: apply a thick layer before going outside and again when you come back in. Dress in windproof layers and limit time in extreme cold.
Small adjustments, he says, can make the difference between resilient winter skin and weeks of irritation.
Sources: Illusteret Videnskab
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