Snow and ice. Although it looks like we are living in a winter wonderland, it also creates problems here and there. Not only in transportation and construction, but also for the skin. With all the cold weather recently in the Netherlands and with plans of a possible skiing holiday it is helpful to know what implications winter has for your skin’s condition.

The function of the stratum corneum

The uppermost skin layer(stratum corneum) is made up of dead skin cells and the skins natural oil. Skin becomes dry if the stratum corneum is no longer able to retain moisture in the skin; your skin becomes more sensitive to outside influences and dry fine lines will start to appear.

Low humidity in winter; impact on the skin!

In the winter there is less humidity in the air. Even brief exposure of the skin to an environment with low humidity changes its condition: the amount of moisture in the skin is reduced and fine lines/dryness lines(abstract) appear. The moisture becomes, as it were, drawn out of the skin and keeping it well hydrated becomes more difficult.

The dryer the skin, the more disrupted the barrier function becomes. It’s a vicious circle. This can result in irritations, flaking and sometimes even spots!

Keep your skin well hydrated

When you have dry skin in the winter it is definitely recommended to give your skin’s natural oil a helping hand by using a cream(abstract). The lost oil becomes replaced, the barrier function restored and the moisture is retained in the skin. I strongly advise against using harsh cleansers or soap. These are no good for your skin’s barrier function with serious consequences. If you suffer from dry skin then it is okay to wash your face in the evenings only, applying a moisturiser directly afterwards. You then keep the moisture, as it were, in.

In freezing weather?

There is quite some discussion over this: different tests show that in extreme cold temperatures it is, in fact, better not to apply a moisturiser at all because you increase the risk of freezing! More about this next week for the winter sport enthusiasts.

Regards Jetske.

(Dr. Jetske Ultee – Research Physician and Head of The Skin Therapy Department)

You can read more about ‘healthy skin and the barrier function’
Another interesting blog is: ‘the effects of stress on your skin’

This article is also available in Dutch