SOOTHE YOUR WINTER SKIN

From dry flaky skin to chapped lips, the colder weather brings with it a host of issues for your skin. Here's what can help

- REBECCA JONES

Keeping your skin soft and smooth is hard enough during the summer, let alone in the peak of winter when the cold air causes dryness and flare-ups of eczema, rosacea and other conditions. According to new research by the skincare experts at Beauty Pie, online searches for “why is my skin dry” have shot up by 27% in the past month.

With the temperature dropping outside, it can be tempting to run an extra hot bath, but Dr Keyana Emamian of Este Medical Group says this can strip the skin of its natural oils, making dry skin even more flaky and irritable.

“Many people will be turning their heating on for the first time,” she adds. “This can be incredibly drying for the skin. Combined with drier, colder air outside, it’s not uncommon for people to experience a flaky complexion at this time of year.”

Rosacea is prevalent during the chillier months and affects around one in 20 people in the UK, according to research by the founder of CellDerma, Dr Dev Patel.

“Rosacea is essentially a skin barrier problem,” he says. “Winter air is notoriously dry and can decrease moisture levels in your skin, which in turn, weakens the skin barrier making it more prone to irritation and redness. Extreme cold temperature changes can also be a shock to the skin, which can trigger the widening of blood vessels that causes rosacea.”

Around 1.5 million adults in the UK also suffer from eczema. “Much like with any chronic condition, eczema should be constantly treated, not just during flare-ups, to avoid symptoms becoming more intense,” advises Dr Donald Grant of The Independent Pharmacy.

“Identifying and avoiding triggers can be useful, whether it’s a particular soap or fragrance,” he adds. “Constructing a healthy skincare routine can help with constantly treating the condition.”

Psoriasis, a chronic skin condition that causes raised, inflamed red plaques often covered in silvery-white scales, can worsen in the winter, too.