Skin experts say do this to protect your skin in cold weather (2024)

Cold weather. It can be detrimental to our overall health if we don’t take care of ourselves, but aside from the flu viruses we need to be mindful of, there’s another thing health experts urge you to pay attention to. Dermatologists say our skin could have a difficult time during cold periods, which can lead to itchy, dry skin and even cracked lips. Related video above: Dermatologist's tips on fighting dry skin during winterThe American Academy of Dermatology Association has some tips that they shared from Dr. Elizabeth Kiracofe, who is in a private practice in Chicago, which we shared below along with some product recommendations to help you keep your skin healthy. Hands, feet and face need protectionWe know that being bundled up during cold days is good for our physical health to keep our body temperature warm, but Kiracofe says it’s also important for our skin health.“Keeping our hands, feet and face protected from the cold weather is an essential part of preventing dry skin as well as stopping it from worsening,” Kiracofe said. “We can’t hibernate inside all winter, so when you’re out and about, make sure that as little skin as possible is exposed to the elements and you protect your lips by wearing lip balm.” That means socks, hats, gloves are essential to keeping our skin safe. Here are some recommendations from our partners over at Good Housekeeping.Socks: Heat Holders crew sock was rated as the best overall warm socks by Good Housekeeping. Shop Men’s / Shop Women’sHats: Columbia’s trail shaker beanie was rated as the best winter hat for women by Good Housekeeping in 2022. For men, consider the Carhartt men’s knit cuffed beanie, which has over 90,000 five-star ratings from Amazon customers. Gloves: Good Housekeeping rated these thermal gloves as the best value heated glove you could find.Oh, how could we forget? Lip balm is essential. Here are some recommendations below, which include two Advent calendar options to capture the holiday spirit.Heavy cream is the hackSkin care routines need to fit with the season you’re in, so when it comes to colder months, dermatologists actually recommend being mindful of not using the same products you were using during the summer. “You don’t need to change every product you use, but you should switch to heavier creams when it’s cold,” said Dr. Kiracofe. “I recommend that my patients cut back on products that have alpha hydroxy acid or beta hydroxy acid. In the winter months, these products can be irritating for the skin even when combined with moisturizing creams.”Curel is a brand recommended by our friends over at Good Housekeeping. Curel’s hand cream is under $5 and is rated by Good Housekeeping as the best overall hand cream. The brand’s “ultra healing” lotion is rated as the best fragrance-free body lotion by Good Housekeeping. A humidifier can help Sleep is important, but did you know it’s also essential for maintaining healthy skin? Dr. Kiracofe says that time when we go to bed is a great opportunity for skin to recover. “(During the) winter, I recommend patients consider adding a filtered, cool-mist humidifier in their bedrooms,” Kiracofe said. “Not only can this help treat dryness, but it can be an effective tool for prevention.” Our partners at Good Housekeeping recommend the LEVOIT Classic 300S smart humidifier, but if you want year-round usage from your humidifier, they also recommend the LEVOIT OasisMist 450S smart humidifier as it’s not only a cool-mist humidifier, but can also provide a warm-mist. Bottom line: Hydration is essentialThe tips above can help maintain and relieve dry skin, but the American Academy of Dermatology also has the following tips:Apply moisturizer immediately after washing, which traps existing moisture in your skin.Use an ointment or cream because they are more effective and less irritating than lotions.Use warm water instead of hot water during baths and showers to prevent dry skin from worsening.Use only gentle, fragrance-free skin care products. Some skin care products, such as antibacterial, deodorant, or scented soaps, are too harsh for dry, sensitive skin.