[Imiseok Thema Dermatology] Winter Skin Care

The Cold Wind Intensifies in Winter

Skin Care for Sensitive Winter Skin

During winter, when the cold wind becomes stronger, the skin becomes dry and tightness worsens. As the skin’s sweat glands and sebaceous glands shrink, the balance of oil and moisture in the skin breaks down, and the skin dries out easily, reducing elasticity. In winter, the skin tends to react more sensitively.

Because the cold weather prevents the protective lipid layer made up of oil and sweat from functioning properly, and excessive indoor heating also dries out the skin, winter skin care requires extra attention.

There are many ways to care for your skin in winter. These include limiting the use of heating devices, using mist, using a humidifier, and changing your cleansing habits, as well as improving your surroundings and changing your lifestyle habits. Today, let’s talk about overall winter skin care tips!!

<Winter Skin Care: Environment>

1. Limit the use of winter heating devices

Because the weather is cold in winter, it is difficult not to use heating devices. If you do use heating devices, it helps to avoid direct heat reaching your face and to ventilate the area frequently.

Excessive use of heating devices evaporates moisture from the skin and makes it dry, so it is better to avoid them. In the past, celebrity Go Hyun-jung once said, “No matter how cold it is in the middle of winter, I do not turn on the car heater.”

2. Maintain the surrounding humidity!

The best way to maintain humidity around you is to use a humidifier. A humidifier sprays water vapor and makes a dry environment more moist. Keeping indoor humidity at an average of 60% helps balance the skin, and for hygiene, the humidifier should be cleaned every day.

If you do not have a humidifier, using a towel or spray bottle can help. Hang a towel dampened with water nearby, or spray water on the floor with a spray bottle without letting it pool. Buying and using a humidifier throughout the day is more helpful than purchasing expensive moisturizing cream cosmetics!

<Winter Skin Care: Lifestyle>

1. Drink plenty of water!

Drinking plenty of water is very helpful not only for skin care but also for overall health, so it is good to drink about 2 liters a day in 7 to 8 glasses spread throughout the day. When drinking water, it is better to choose room-temperature or lukewarm water rather than very cold water, and plain water is more helpful than coffee, tea, or soft drinks.

Frequent water intake increases the body’s moisture level, helps prevent dryness of the skin, and activates metabolism, which helps prevent dead skin buildup.

2. Exfoliate regularly!

In winter, the body’s activity slows down, and metabolism also declines. As a result, dead skin cells form more frequently, so it is good to exfoliate about 2 to 3 times a week. However, after exfoliating, you should apply moisturizing cream or hydrating cream more generously than usual to protect and moisturize the skin. Dead skin cells also appear on various parts of the body such as the arms and legs, not just the face, so it is good to use cream after removing them.

The reason dead skin cells form is that blood circulation in the body is not smooth, so in addition to exfoliation and moisturizing, moderate exercise helps improve blood circulation.

3. Keep washing time short!

Showering and washing your face can help supply moisture to skin that has been dry all day, but in the long term it can worsen dryness. The worst situation is taking a long shower with warm water and then washing with foam at the end.

Therefore, in the morning, it is best to do a simple wash with lukewarm water, keep shower time to a minimum, and be sure to apply moisturizer after showering.

4. Reduce alcohol and caffeine

Black tea, chocolate, coffee, caffeine, and alcohol, which contain high levels of caffeine, promote diuresis and cause the body to lose water. Therefore, no matter how much water you drink, consuming these foods takes moisture away from the body and leaves the skin dry. In winter, it is especially important to reduce alcohol and caffeine intake, and for people with dry skin or itching, it is better to avoid them as much as possible because they can worsen symptoms.

5. Balance oil and moisture

In winter, the balance of oil and moisture in the skin is especially disrupted, and breakouts occur more often. In winter, the stratum corneum becomes thicker, and unnecessary dead skin cells clog pores, preventing sebum from being properly discharged and causing inflammatory acne.

Therefore, oily skin should use moisturizing products that are low in oil and high in moisture, while dry skin should choose moisturizing products that can supply both oil and moisture appropriately to keep the skin balanced and prevent acne, maintaining healthy skin.

Unlike spring, summer, and autumn, winter brings very large differences in humidity and air conditions between morning, daytime, and evening. Therefore, when going outside, it is good to protect your skin from the cold wind, and after coming back indoors, it is also important to quickly soothe the skin and help it recover to its original condition.

Also, because it is such a dry season, using body lotion frequently helps prevent and manage dryness not only on the face but also on various parts of the body such as the arms and legs.

Today, we talked about winter skin care methods. In addition to the tips mentioned above, there are various other care methods such as taking vitamins, using sunscreen, and using mist. Find the skin care routine that suits you best and keep your skin healthy and glowing during winter!!