Dr Tina Tian
Consultant Dermatologist & British Skin Foundation spokesperson
Winter can strip skin of moisture fast and worsen skin conditions. Discover a dermatologist’s tips for smooth, healthy and hydrated skin throughout the season.
Cold, wind and central heating dry skin fast — here are simple expert tips to keep it comfortable, hydrated and healthy all winter.
Keep showers short and warm
Avoid long, hot baths and showers — they strip away natural oils and worsen dryness. Keep water lukewarm and bathing to under 10 minutes. Apply cream straight after washing while skin is still damp to lock in moisture.
Switch to richer moisturisers
Winter calls for creams or ointments that lock in water more effectively than lotions. Look for barrier-supporting ingredients such as ceramides and humectants like glycerine. Niacinamide can help calm irritation and strengthen the skin barrier.
Gentle cleansing for face and body
Choose a fragrance-free, moisturising cleanser for the face. For the body, use any moisturiser containing emulsifiers such as cetyl or stearyl alcohol as a gentle wash for very dry skin. If skin feels tight after cleansing, your water is too hot or the cleanser is too harsh.
Central heating lowers indoor humidity and accelerates water loss from skin.
Don’t overheat indoors
Central heating lowers indoor humidity and accelerates water loss from skin.Keep room temperatures comfortable and avoid sitting close to radiators or open fires. Consider using a humidifier in bedrooms overnight. If you have rosacea, temperature changes between indoors and outdoors can aggravate flushing — another reason to keep indoors cooler.
Even in winter, UVA can damage collagen and speed
up photoaging, or skin damage caused by sunlight.
Daily SPF still matters
Even in winter, UVA can damage collagen and speed up photoaging, or skin damage caused by sunlight. Use SPF 30+ with minimum 4-star UVA protection on exposed areas, especially if you spend time outdoors.
When conditions flare
Cold weather can worsen inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and acne. You may need to increase moisturisation and non-irritating treatments like topical steroids, while reducing irritating actives such as retinoids.
Skiing or mountain trips
UV increases by 10–12% per 1,000 metres of altitude, and snow reflects up to 80% of rays. At 1800m, UV doubles. Apply two layers of SPF 50+ first thing, reapply frequently and don’t forget sunscreen lip balm.
Winter skin needs extra care. Short warm washes, richer moisturisers and daily SPF deliver healthy skin all season.
