How To Treat Dry Skin in Winter

How to treat winter dry skin?

Treating winter dry skin can be simple or more complex, depending on the severity of dry skin symptoms.

Dry skin is often relieved with the use of moisturizers, and some lifestyle modifications, such as using a humidifier, avoiding harsh cleansers, and supplementing the diet with essential fatty acids.

Very dry skin usually has underlying genetic components as well as environmental factors that play a role.

Very dry skin does not typically respond to just moisturizers.

Nutrient-rich oils, balms and barrier creams are required to improve very dry skin and protect against further damage.

Active ingredients, including vitamins, humectants, and fatty acids can help repair the skin barrier, calm redness, and sooth irritation and itch.

Some may also require medications to control symptoms, including antimicrobial agents, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, immunotherapy, biologicals, phototherapy, and others.

Talk to your doctor about treatments for dry skin.

1. Try an oil cleanser

Oil cleansing is very gentle on your skin and protects your skin barrier.

Oil cleansing is very effective for gently removing oil-based and waterproof cosmetics, and sunscreens that cannot be easily removed with soap and water.

Oil cleansing doesn’t dry out your skin: You’re replenishing oils as you cleanse, instead of just stripping it away with soap.

Oil cleansers are packed with plant oils that are nutrient-rich and lubricating: They leave your skin so soft, and you may find, you don’t need a moisturizer afterwards. 

Learn more: What is Oil Cleansing?

Dry Skin Love Wild Orange Oil Cleanser is a luxurious oil cleanser that gently removes makeup, sunscreen and skin debris, while nourishing your skin. Rinses off easily, without stripping the skin of its protective barrier. 

Our Wild Orange Oil Cleanser is packed with potent plant ingredients, including nutrient-rich plant oils, herbs, flowers, microalgae extract and aromatic essential oils.

After using our Wild Orange Oil Cleanser, you will notice an improvement in the texture and appearance of your dry skin.

Your skin will look plumper and the appearance of fine lines will be minimized.

2. Try a face oil

A face oil is an oil-based skincare product that can soften, condition and soothe your skin.

A simple face oil may be composed of a single plant carrier oil, whereas a more complex face oil may contain several plant carrier oils, as well as extracts, actives and essential oils.

There are face oils that are created for different skin types and concerns, including dry skin, mature skin, sensitive skin or acne prone skin.

Face oils have many benefits for your skin, they can infuse your skin with essential nutrients, soften and condition your skin, strengthen your skin's moisture barrier, soothe your dry skin and protect your skin from daily damage.

There are 5 key benefits of face oils:

1. Face oils infuse your skin with nutrients
2. Face oils soften and condition your skin
3. Face oils strengthen your skin's moisture barrier
4. Face oils soothe your dry skin
5. Face oils protect your skin

Face oils can have many benefits for your skin depending on their composition.

Learn more: Benefits of Face Oils for Dry Skin

Dry Skin Love Apple Elixir 5% Vitamin E Face Oil is a luxurious face oil that makes your dry skin feel nourished, soft, calm and protected.

Our Apple Elixir 5% Vitamin E Face Oil is packed with nutrient-rich plant oils and 8 types of vitamin E - including tocopherols and rare tocotrienols.

After using our Dry Skin Love Apple Elixir 5% Vitamin E Face Oil, you will notice a difference in the texture and appearance of your skin.

Your skin will look plumper and the appearance of fine lines will be minimized.

Your skin will have a more youthful appearance.

3. Wear sunscreen and sunblock

Ultraviolet (UV) exposure from sunlight can damage dry skin and proper sunscreen or sunblock should be worn, especially when spending time outdoors. 

Tips for outside environment:

• Wear sunblock/sunscreen (SPF 30 -60 on your face).
• Protect your skin from exposure to cold temperatures, wind and sun.
• Wear a face covering to protect against cold and wind.
• Wear sunglasses to protect against sun exposure and wind.
• Wear gloves, especially in cold weather.

4. Use a humidifier in your home

During winter, high indoor heat can reduce humidity and moisture in the air, causing dry skin. Heaters, fireplaces and wood-burning stoves can also contribute to low humidity.

Learn more: Can a Humidifier Help with Dry Skin?

5. Try an omega 3 fatty acid supplement

Omega 3 fatty acids consist of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), and its two active metabolites, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

• alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
• docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
• eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)

Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) is found in green leafy vegetables, flaxseed, walnuts, soybean, and canola oils. 

The body has a minimal ability to convert ALA into DHA and EPA.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) are found in fish oils, marine algae and phytoplankton that naturally produce them.

Fish oil supplements and omega-3 fatty acid supplements contain oil derived from the tissues of oily fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, mackerel, sardine, and anchovy. 

Fish oil supplements contain a combination of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)—the two main types of omega-3 fatty acids that provide health benefits.

Can omega 3 fatty acids help with dry skin?

Supplemental omega 3 fatty acids have been shown to help with dry skin symptoms, including itching in patients with atopic dermatitis (eczema), hemodialysis and end-stage renal disease.

How much to take?

Currently, no study exists recommending the optimal therapeutic dosing of omega 3 fatty acid supplementation for improved skin health. However, significant outcomes were reported with doses ranging from 1200 mg/d EPA + DHA to 18 000 mg/d EPA + DHA (Thomsen et al, 2020).

Given its high safety profile, low cost, and ease of supplementation, omega 3 fatty acids and fish oils are a reasonable supplement that may benefit patients wishing to improve inflammatory skin conditions through diet (Thomsen et al, 2020). 

Learn more: Omega 3 Fatty Acids for Itch Relief

6. Itch relief from dry skin

Dry itchy skin in winter is often relieved with the use of moisturizers, emollients, and some lifestyle modifications, such as using a humidifier, avoiding harsh cleansers, and supplementing the diet with essential fatty acids. 

In addition, nutrient-rich oils, balms and barrier creams are required to improve dry skin and protect against further damage.

Active ingredients, including vitamins, humectants, lipids and fatty acids can help repair the skin barrier, calm redness, and sooth irritation and itch.

Treatment options for dry itchy skin include a combination of emollients and moisturizers, fatty acids, zinc oxide, colloidal oatmeal, cannabinoids, peppermint oil and menthol, capsaicin and UV therapy (Weisshaar et al, 2019).

Some people with dry itchy skin may also require medications to control symptoms, including antimicrobial agents, antihistamines, anti-inflammatory agents, anesthetics, immunotherapy, biologicals, and others (Weisshaar et al, 2019).

No treatments can claim consistent or complete efficacy, and often a combination of treatments is required (Weisshaar et al, 2019).

Talk to your doctor about treatments for dry itchy skin in winter.

Learn more: 10 Treatments for Dry Itchy Skin in Winter

7. Protect your hands

Your hands are very sensitive to winter weather, and care should be taken to protect them.

• Use a gentle hand cleanser.
• Avoid the use of high pH soaps that can worsen dry skin.
• Use a hand oil or hand cream that is fast absorbing during the day.
• Try hand treatments with heavier balms and treatments at night.
• Keep your nails trimmed.
• Always wear gloves when doing dishes and cleaning. Soaps, bleaches and cleaning solutions are very harsh and can damage your skin.
• Put sunscreen or sunblock on your hands to protect against UV damage and sunspots. 
• Wear gloves when you go outside, to protect your hands from sun, wind and cold damage.

Summary

'Winter dry skin' is dry skin that develops during the cold winter season.

Winter dry skin can have a wide spectrum of symptoms - from mild dryness and flaking to severe itching, redness and pain.

Treating your dry skin during winter can be simple or more complex, depending on the severity of dry skin symptoms.

To protect your skin during the cold winter months, it is recommended to follow a basic skincare routine, including a gentle cleanser, a face oil and sunscreen during the day.

A gentle oil cleanser is recommended for dry skin, as oil cleansers can protect the skin barrier and replenish essential fats in the lipid barrier.

A face oil can nourish, soothe and protect dry skin.

If you have dry skin, you may require a dermatologist's help for dry skin related itching, redness and pain.

Talk to your doctor about treatments for dry skin. 

Do you want to try a face oil for dry skin?

Dry Skin Love Nourishing Coconut 5% Vitamin C Face Oil is a luxurious face oil made with 9 premium ingredients, including cold-pressed extra virgin coconut oil and gentle vitamin C ester tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate.

Leaves your dry skin soft, plump and nourished. 

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Author Information

Dr. Natasha Ryz is a scientist, skin care expert and an entrepreneur. She is the founder of Dry Skin Love Skincare, and she creates skincare products for beauty, dry skin and pain relief.

Dr. Ryz has a PhD in Experimental Medicine from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and she is a Vanier scholar. She also holds a Master of Science degree and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

Natasha is the former Chief Science Officer of Zenabis Global, and she oversaw extraction, analytics, and product development. Her team brought 20 products to market including oils, sprays, vapes and softgels.

Why I Started A Skincare Company