Icy air outside, dry heated air inside: our skin is exposed to particular strain in winter. It quickly becomes dry and cracked, is tense and red. But how exactly does the cold affect the skin? What can put additional strain on the skin? And how can we protect them?
In winter, our skin is put under a lot of stress by cold and dry air. It dries out more quickly and often feels rougher and tighter. Areas of skin with few sebaceous glands, such as the back of the hand, are particularly affected. The lips have no sebaceous glands and therefore become brittle and cracked particularly quickly. But how exactly does cold cause these problems?
Cold and dry
When the temperature drops, the blood vessels constrict so that the body loses less heat. As a result, the skin has poorer blood supply and the sebaceous glands in it receive fewer nutrients. This means they produce less sebum – i.e. fats. “Fall […] At temperatures below eight degrees Celsius, the sebaceous glands work more slowly and produce less skin oil,” reports the RWTH Aachen University Hospital. “At the same time, the skin’s own fat becomes harder and is more difficult to distribute. At minus five degrees Celsius, sebum production even stops completely.” The thinner the protective sebum layer is, the more permeable the skin barrier becomes and the easier it is for moisture to escape. The skin then dries out more quickly.
But it’s not just the cold outside air that affects the skin in winter. The air in heated indoor spaces is often very dry. This low humidity also causes the skin to lose more moisture. Under these circumstances it is therefore particularly important to protect the remaining natural skin barrier. This includes avoiding a hot shower or bath, even if that is tempting after a cold winter day. Because the heat dissolves the fats from the top layer of skin. It is better for the protective sebum layer to only shower and bathe lukewarmly and not for too long.
Hidden “skin drying agents”
In addition to the heating air, certain ingredients in our skin care can also cause the skin to dry out more quickly. These include strong washing substances such as sodium lauryl ether sulfate (Sodium Laureth Sulfate, SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, SLS), which should therefore be avoided, especially now in winter. Alcohol contained in cosmetics evaporates very quickly and removes additional moisture from the skin.
Clothing actually protects us from the cold, but it can also be hard on the skin: Coarse wool and synthetic materials rub more and cause tiny irritations. Areas of skin such as the neck, décolleté or the inside of the arms are particularly sensitive to this and can quickly become red or itchy. To prevent this, you can wear a layer of clothing made of soft, breathable material such as cotton underneath these irritating substances.
The right skin care in winter
So how can we best protect our skin? In general, warm clothing provides practical protection against cold and wind. Gloves prevent chapped hands and a loosely tied scarf can shield sensitive cheeks. The skin should also be moisturized regularly to keep it lubricated and moisturized. In principle, pH skin-neutral products are recommended as they do not disrupt the skin’s natural protective acid mantle. If your skin is healthy, a normal lotion or day cream is often sufficient. Dry or sensitive skin usually requires richer care, such as creams with urea – ideally with a proportion of at least five percent.
When choosing care products in winter, the most important thing is the right ingredients. Textures with ceramides and fatty acids as well as moisture-binding substances such as glycerin or urea are suitable. The interaction of both components is crucial: good winter care binds moisture in the skin and at the same time prevents it from being lost again. If one of these building blocks is missing, the skin can continue to dry out despite applying cream. Also important: Anyone who goes on a skiing holiday is exposed to more intense UV radiation at higher altitudes and should not forget sunscreen.