How to Combat the Winter Dry Skin Epidemic [the science + solution]
Anyone else feeling chalky under those layers of warm clothes? Dry skin, or more formally termed xerosis, is a frustrating winter epidemic that we want, quite literally, to wash our hands of.
What is it about the winter months that causes dry skin?
Conditions of low humidity and temperature are a culprit to our skin’s vitality. Composed of multiple layers, our skin looks and feels its best when hydrated. When the humidity is low, water is lost from the outermost layer, causing a rough and irritated surface. Ahhhh, so that’s why they call it moisturizer! Cold temperatures only exacerbate this effect, breaking down that outermost layer and causing the scaley, rough sensation we know as dry skin.
And (you guessed it!) these conditions are amplified in the winter months, when holiday spirits are high but moisture in the air is quite low.
How do we combat dry skin?
Dry skin operates in a cycle, triggered by the dehydration and/or breakdown of our skin’s vulnerable outermost layer. This cycle involves everything from daily damage to the release of different chemicals and nutrients to help repair and restore that suppleness you missed so very much from Labor Day weekend - or, if we’re being real, birth. Intervening in this cycle is key to how we combat the dry skin.
This is what you’re essentially trying to do when applying lotion by the hour. Maybe it works...until you wash your hands or step outside. Lotions, body creams, and other products are a great tool to effectively combat dry skin, but there are more things we need to consider: which products we use, what they do for our skin, and how to prep our body so they can be more effective.
What to look for in skincare products to maximize dry skin resilience:
Not all moisturizers are created equal. Different skincare products contain different active ingredients, all of which achieve different restorative skin #goals. Here’s what to look for:
Sunflower Seed Oil - composed of multiple fatty acids, helps restore functionality of our skin’s outermost layer, blocks water loss, and prevents further breakdown.
Great for: combatting skin roughness and flakiness, routine skin smoothing
Try it out: Seed Phytonutrients Body Moisturizer combines oils from camilina, sunflower, and safflower seeds in a lightweight formula to add to your daily skincare routine!
Honey - as a lightweight hydrophobic substance, helps maintain skin hydration by attracting water molecules and preventing water loss.
Great for: combatting skin irritation and redness, repair damaged skin, regular usage
Try it out: Wedderspoon Manuka Honey Renewing Body Lotion combines the restorative effects of seed oils and honey for daily hydration!
Chia Seed Oil -contains high levels of phytonutrients, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids that act against inflammation for long-term skin nutrition and restoration.
Great for: combatting skin irritation, promoting long-term suppleness
Try it out: Boscia Chia Seed Moisture Cream combines the nutritional and smoothening properties of chia seeds to restore dry skin all over the body for long-term radiance!
Additional ways to combat dry skin this winter season:
“But the lotion isn’t working!” you say. I promise, there’s hope.
Regular (but not obsessive!) use of selected products can support skin hydration, repair, and overall radiance by intervening at various points of the dry skin cycle. But - sometimes you STILL aren’t feeling relief. These additional practical habits can help prevent the epidemic from coming on to begin with.
Reduce shower time: We knowwwww the hot warm water is just so comforting after a long day of work, but cutting back can do wonders for our skin (and the environment!). Steamy showers model a period of prolonged water loss, hence the crinkly fingers and temporary redness. Cutting back on shower time and moisturizing directly after can provide hydration while preventing further water loss.
Exfoliate: A huge reason your products may not seem to be doing the job? They can’t get penetrate your skin due to a buildup of dead skin cells. Exfoliating once a week will help keep skin clear so your moisturizer can do its thing.
Carry a Reusable Water Bottle: Studies have proposed that staying hydrated can positively impact water balance throughout the body. Along this line of reasoning, drinking water might just restore balance and hydration in the layers of our skin! What better way to make hydration a daily and sustainable habit than keeping a reusable water bottle always on deck?
Eat Your Beauty Plate: Drinking water isn’t the only way we stay hydrated! Many fruits and vegetables have high water contents, including but not limited to leafy greens, berries, and cucumbers. Aiming for foods dense in the same nutrients that help restore our skin can provide additional benefits for achieving a natural glow! Grilled salmon and whole nuts (both high in omega-3’s) for instance offer indirect nutrition for our skin, as well as consuming seeds and honey themselves.
So grab your water bottle, a dry brush, and your new favorite moisturizer and you’ll be glowing all season long.
Sources
Rawlings, A. V. & Matts, P. J. (2005). Stratum Corneum Moisturization at the Molecular Level: An Update in Relation to the Dry Skin Cycle. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 124(6), 1099-110. doi:10.111/j.1523-1747.2005.23726.x
Sethis, A., et al. (2016). Moisturizers: The Slippery Road. Indian Journal of Dermatology 61(3), 279-287. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.182427.
Palma, L., et al. (2015). Dietary water affects human skin hydration and biomechanics. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol, 8, 413-421. doi:10.2147/CCID.S86822.
Written by Samantha Sette
Photo by Alida Zimmeran