Tips to Soothe Dry Skin in the Winter

Winter time: dry skin’s biggest hater 😒. The holidays are over and you’ve had a solid few weeks of cold weather.  While the winter season can be full of good laughs and fun times with loved ones, it can also bring on increased flakiness, tightness, and dry patches to your skin. If you’ve ever noticed changes in your skin when the temperature drops during the winter months, the cold, dry air outside and indoor heat are probably the main culprits. There are many causes of dry skin, but the main reason is lack of moisture. So, during this time the lack of humidity in the air can take a toll on your complexion. But fear not! All hope isn’t lost 🙌. Here are a few tips to keep your skin radiant and healthy during the chillier months.

Signs of Dry Skin

There are a several tell tale signs of dry skin including:

• Tight feeling in skin
• Cracks in skin
• Rough patches
• Redness
• Flakiness
• Stinging or burning
• Increased irritation

These symptoms can vary in severity and show up differently on different parts of the body. If these symptoms seem to become worse over time, it is important to remember to visit a dermatologist for recommendations on how best to care for your skin. 

How to Prevent and Soothe Dry Skin

By implementing a few simple changes in your routine, your skin can remain vibrant, soft, and hydrated even when Jack Frost is nipping at your nose.

Make moisturizers your bestie

It’s important to moisturize in general, but especially during the winter. With cold, dry temps depleting skin of its natural moisture, replenishing skin is essential to keep skin happy during this time. Remember to always moisturize after every wash. When washing skin, the natural oils that keep skin hydrated are being stripped so restoring that moisture is key to helping with your skin’s hydration. Use a moisturizer with hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and shea (like in the Koope Heavyweight Moisturizer 😉) that work to hydrate and lock in moisture into the skin's barrier. 

Humidify your home

Because we tend to crank up the heat in our house to stay warm, the air may become dry which could cause dry skin issues. Snag a humidifier and place it in the room you spend the most time in to help add some moisture back into the air indoors. This will help prevent dryness in the skin barrier.

Turn done that shower temperature

We know, there’s nothing better than a hot shower or bath on a cold day, but hot water can actually be damaging to dry skin. Hot water can irritate dry skin and strip away natural oils in your skin’s barrier that keep it hydrated. It is best to stick to warm water when showering and washing your face for nourished skin results.

Exfoliate in moderation

Gentle exfoliation is great to help remove dead skin cells from your skin’s surface but overdoing it can be extremely damaging to the skin. It can also amplify dryness, flaking, and itchiness by stripping the skin of natural moisture. Be sure to use a gentle exfoliant if you choose to exfoliate dry skin and do so sparingly. Exfoliation should be done once or twice a week MAX to ensure the health of skin. If you notice your skin feels raw, extremely tight and irritated after exfoliation, avoid exfoliating until skin has healed. 

Drink water

Staying hydrated is crucial in keeping skin glowy and fresh. Drinking the recommended amount of water daily can help in the regeneration of healthy skin cells leading to more radiant skin. Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day and avoid drinks with high amounts of sugar and caffeine that can cause inflammatory problems in skin and lead to cracking.

Stick to fragrance free products

Fragrances can further irritate dry skin and make dry skin symptoms worse. Use fragrance-free products such as Koope to steer clear of harsh chemicals such as fragrances for healthy skin during the winter months.

Overall, don’t let dry skin keep you down during the colder season. There are plenty of ways to combat dry skin and keep our skin looking and feeling amazing all year long.