Winter days can significantly impact the health and beauty of the skin. The cold, dry winters can leave the skin dull and flaky due to weakening of the skin barrier. And that calls for proper hydration, a tailored winter skincare routine, and adjustments to your lifestyle. However, the improper use and excessive application of creams and oils can clog pores, leading to unwanted acne breakouts. In winter, your skin needs to be adequately moisturized and nourished so that no skin breakouts appear, says Dr. Rasya Dixit, a skin care expert and dermatologist in Bangalore.
In this blog, she explains how to achieve a balance between natural skin oiling/moisture and controlling winter acne breakouts to keep the skin clear, smooth, and healthy throughout the winter.
The Ways to Balance Moisture and Breakouts During Winter:
Revamp Your Skincare Routine
As winter days arrive, it's time to make adjustments to your skincare routine. Top dermatologists recommend the following:
- Twice Gentle Cleansing.
Cleanse skin in the morning and before bed with a cream-based, gentle cleanser and lukewarm water. The cleanser must be free of fragrances, alcohol, and surfactants. It must contain skin barrier-supporting or hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, squalene, ceramides, glycerin, and natural oils, as well as niacinamide, to soothe and balance natural sebum production.
- Immediate Use of Hydrating Toner and Serum.
On damp skin, apply a hydrating, alcohol-free toner to balance the skin’s pH level and remove any remaining impurities after cleansing. Follow it with application of a lightweight hydrating serum to boost skin hydration and support the skin barrier. The chosen serum must contain humectants such as hyal-uronic acid, glycerin, or polyglut-amic acid, as well as barrier supporters like squalene, ceramides, and fatty acids.
- Lock-in of Surface Moisture with Suitable Moisturiser.
Apply a non-comedogenic, water-based, lightweight moisturizer to the damp skin, even if it is oily. Use a moisturiser containing hyaluronic acid (to attract moisture into the skin), squalene (to mimic the natural skin oils), and pa-nthenol (for soothing irritation caused by dryness).
Excessively dry skin can cause the skin to overproduce natural oils, and this contributes to breakouts. So, even if the skin is dry or oily, it is essential to maintain the skin's natural oils in balance with a suitable moisturizer.
- Mindful, Gentle Exfoliation for the Skin.
Gently remove dead skin cells without irritating the skin with a mild chemical exfoliant or a gentle scrub. Do this once or twice a week.
- Pampering of Lips, Hands, and Body Skin.
The winter skincare routine is not only meant to address facial skin dryness, but also to care for other parts of the body. Use hydrating lip balms, hand cream, face oil, and body butter with ingredients such as shea butter, cocoa butter, or lanolin to repair and protect your skin barrier.
- Sun-Protection.
Shield your skin from harmful UV rays when outdoors, even on cloudy, rainy, or snowy days. Make it a part of your morning routine to wear a waterproof, broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or above. A hydrating sunscreen is the best addition to a morning winter skincare routine.
Make Changes to Habits
- Avoid hot showers/baths; instead, go for lukewarm showers
- Protect the face, hands, and body from the cold, dry wind of winter
- Counteract the dryness caused by indoor heating with the use of a humidifier
- Do not apply oil-based, highly fragranced, comedogenic skin care products and heavy makeup
- Drink adequate water daily to keep skin well-hydrated from the inside out. This will help in flushing out toxins and maintaining the healthiest skin complexion
- Avoid contact of dirty hands with skin, as this can lead to the transfer of impurities and acne-causing bacteria to the skin
- Maintain a balanced diet. Avoid consumption of fatty, sugary foods, as these might aggravate acne breakouts
- Manage stress with yoga, meditation, relaxing hobbies, and restful sleep to avoid an increase in cortisol hormones and the subsequent oil production.
Consider Acne-Specific Treatments.
Choose skincare products that can help control acne breakouts. These are the products with ingredients like salic-ylic acid, be-nzoyl pero-xide, and retin-oids. Salicylic acid helps unclog pores, benzoyl peroxide reduces inflammation and eliminates microorganisms, and retin-oids encourage skin cell turnover, which helps prevent pore clogging. Additionally, consider consulting a dermatologist for moderate to severe acne.
One can also opt for dermatologist-recommended professional acne treatment in Bangalore, such as peels, laser treatment, comedone extraction, intralesional injections, prescription drugs, or a medical-grade facial.
Dermatologist’s Insight
The primary goal of winter skincare is to hydrate the skin, ensuring it remains healthy and youthful-looking. Care must be taken not to suffocate the skin with the use of the wrong products or over-moisturising of the skin. To keep your skin clear, smooth, and hydrated all winter long, patience is essential, along with consistent adherence to the recommended skincare routine.
FAQs on Winter Breakouts
Why do I have acne breakouts during winter?
Dry, cold winter days can leave the skin dehydrated, and as a result, the skin attempts to maintain its natural oil balance by producing sebum. This increases the risk of clogged pores and skin breakouts.
How to prevent acne in winter?
Use only non-comedogenic, less greasy, gentle skincare products and follow a gentle skincare routine. Maintain a balance of a well-hydrated and nourished body and skin.
How to control skin breakouts in winter?
Make adjustments to skincare routine, lifestyle, and dietary habits.
How to keep skin well-hydrated in winter?
Take a short lukewarm bath and apply a thick moisturiser. Use a humidifier when indoors.
Which is the best moisturiser to use for acne-prone skin?
Use a water-based, lightweight moisturizer with ingredients like niaci-namide, which helps regulate sebum production and minimizes the risk of acne breakouts.
What is the best winter skincare routine for skin with acne?
Following these steps: gentle cleansing, mild exfoliation, moisturisation with oil-free products, and the use of SPF.
Looking forward to a curated winter skincare routine or professional treatments/recommendations for acne breakouts? Consider consulting the leading acne treatment doctor and dermatologist in Bangalore, Dr. Rasya Dixit at Dr. Dixit Cosmetic Dermatology Clinic. Discover the best winter skincare products, receive expert guidance for your skincare routine, and enjoy the ultimate packages for flawless skin.
