Dear Skin Care Expert,
Winter is almost here. I have acne, yet I still often deal with dry skin during the winter as well, which I find strange. Is there something that I can do to help my dry skin without irritating my acne further? - Dry in Dallas
Even if you don’t normally deal with dry skin, it’s no surprise that you end up dealing with dry skin during the winter. In fact, many people have this problem. Although you would think that dry skin would not be so susceptible to acne, unfortunately people who develop dry skin during the winter often find that this is the worst time for their acne problem.
You’ll find that your skin definitely changes with the season, and now that winter is coming, your skin care regimen is going to have to change as well. During the winter the humidity and the temperature drop and the heat on the inside leads to dry skin. Because your skin is itchy and flaky it is often more prone to get acne.
If you are dealing with both dry skin and acne, then you need to look for a water based lotion. Avoid lotions that are oil based, since they’ll clog your pores up. However, a good water based moisturizer will actually provide the dry spots with the moisture needed without making acne worse.
Although you may think that only oily skin leads to acne, in some cases dry skin can make acne worse. When skin is dry, the cells start to flake off. Often they end up clogging up the pores. Then bacteria gets in the pores too and it leads to more blemishes. So, getting rid of that dry skin will help you to treat the acne problem too.
During the winter months, you should also try to make sure that you use skin care products that include linoleic acid, mineral oil, glycerin, and other products that won’t totally dry your skin out. When you are treating the acne problem during the winter, you may want to avoid the products that will dry your skin out further.
If you do choose acne products that contain ingredients like salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, make sure they include moisturizers or natural ingredients that will prevent the extensive drying that can be so common with these ingredients.
Wearing sunscreen can also help combat both dry skin and acne. Often the sun, even during the winter, can further dry out skin, especially combined with harsh winter winds. However, you should ensure that the sunscreen you use on your face has no oil in it.
Last of all, drinking water can also help. Many people deal with dehydration during the winter months. This affects your skin. It can make skin dry, and without enough water to flush out toxins, you’ll end up with more breakouts too. Drinking 8-10 glasses of water is part of a great skin care treatment regimen that works.
