16th November 2020

Why We Suffer From Winter Acne

Winter acne? It’s definitely a thing. Despite many people associating this common skin condition with the warmer conditions of summer, there’s certainly a lot of evidence to support the claim that acne can become an even greater irritant during the colder months of the year. 

There are many reasons for this, as well as several simple actions you can take to properly manage the appearance of these unwanted seasonal breakouts. What are they? Find out below!

What causes winter acne? 

Winter acne can largely be attributed to the increased dryness that our skin experiences during the year’s cooler seasons. When the bitter winds and chillier weather strip our skin of its moisture, the body attempts to compensate for this by producing an excessive amount of sebum, a natural oil that hydrates and softens its largest organ. If too much of this oil is released, our pores become clogged and the stage is then set for those unwelcome breakouts to take shape, especially around the T-zone! 

Acne can also develop in winter due to our reliance on central heating and warm showers. This is something that many of us will be indulging in a lot more as of late due to the new, four-week lockdown. By whacking up the thermostat and spending longer in the comfort of the cubicle, we’re unknowingly opening our skin up to further dryness whilst doing nothing but continuing to blame our unwanted breakouts on the weather. 

Lastly, the impact that touching our faces can have on the arrival of winter acne should not be understated. As we go about our daily lives, our hands come into contact with all manner of unclean surfaces, most of which carry bacteria that will also be far from kind to our skin. It’s therefore advisable to avoid touching your face with dirty hands as much as you can, particularly with handwashing so high on the current agenda!

How to manage winter acne 

As with many other forms of acne, winter acne can be managed fairly successfully if you remember to do a few simple things. 

Firstly, it’s vital to find a moisturiser that is suitable for your skin. Many experts suggest that this essential skincare product should be heavy-duty to keep your skin moist throughout this period of the year, but this isn’t necessarily the case. The best advice here is to find a moisturiser that boasts that one killer ingredient – and this usually comes in the form of a humectant. A humectant is notable for its ability to attract water, something which is sorely needed as dryness bids to take control of your skin. Products that feature hyaluronic acid are fantastic examples of this.

It’s also a good idea to introduce a gentle cleanser into your winter skincare routine as this will allow you to remove dead skin cells and any other debris that may have accumulated on your face throughout the day. Cleansing a few nights a week plays a key role in the prevention of winter acne, and will leave you with skin that looks and feels great! 

The next thing to remain aware of is the temperature of both your house and the water used whenever you have a bath or a shower. As mentioned earlier, excess heat can be just as harmful to your skin as the bracing cold and has an equal part to play in the emergence of winter acne. Turn your central heating off when your house has warmed up and make sure that you always wash in lukewarm water – choosing to do otherwise won’t do you any favours. 

By the same token, there’s also a danger in over-washing, with taking to the bathroom too much actually making conditions like acne much worse. Do your best to avoid this by moisturising, cleansing and washing no more than once a day! 

Dr Firas 

If the above steps haven’t aided you in your battle against winter acne, perhaps it’s time to seek advice from a suitable medical professional. Dr Firas Al-Niaimi, an award-winning Consultant Dermatologist with unparalleled experience in helping patients overcome skin concerns and conditions of several descriptions, boasts a number of highly advanced treatment options for the management of active acne and acne scarring and will leave no stone unturned in your quest for clear, radiant skin. 

Would you like to find out more? Read about his extensive acne treatments in full by visiting his website today. 

 

Back to blog