4 of the most common causes of skin redness in winter

Redness and sensitivity is a highly common skincare problem, and one that lots of us tend to experience more frequently in winter. Now, obviously everyone’s skin is different, so the redness of your skin can be the result of one (or several) factors, and as experts in skincare treatments here at AP Skincare, we’re pretty familiar with the most crucial ones! If you’re dealing with skin redness at the moment, here are some of the most likely potential causes – and what you can do about them. 

Cold weather

Relatively abrupt temperature changes often lead to dryness of the skin, and a lot of that is down to the lack of humidity in the air. (This is why it most often happens in winter and summer.) This can then get worse because if there’s dry, dead skin on your face and you’re using skincare products on them, then in the best case scenario it just won’t help, and in the worst case scenario they can even cause further inflammation. 

The best way to avoid this (or at least minimise the effects) is simply to keep a good skincare routine. That includes cleansing your face and using moisturiser every day, as well as applying SPF on a daily basis – even if it’s not sunny outside! 

Overexfoliation

You should ideally be exfoliating regularly, but also make sure to pay attention to your skin, and how it’s responding. If you overdo it, what you’re effectively going to end up doing is stripping away your skin’s protective barrier. Exfoliating products tend to have ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids, and too much of these can remove your healthy skin cells. That typically leaves the skin underneath red raw, and sensitive to environmental factors like windchill. 

It’s also worth remembering that certain skincare products shouldn’t be paired, or need to be used sparingly. For example, you need to be really careful that you’re not mixing too much glycolic acid and lactic acid with retinols, as this can easily lead to irritation. 

Rosacea

Rosacea is a particularly common inflammatory skin condition, which generally manifests as reddened skin and a rash (normally on the nose and cheeks). It’s estimated to affect 1 in 10 people in the UK, so it’s not something you especially need to worry about. Different people can be affected by different factors, such as spending time in the sun, or undergoing emotional stress – so one of the first steps to helping control the symptoms is to work out what’s potentially sparking them in the first place, and then addressing the root of the issue first. 

Allergic reaction

This is a deceptively simple one, but it’s one that it can often be easy to overlook – you may have just had an allergic reaction to a certain food group or skincare product. Redness is one of the most common results of this. Certain emollients and similar products can help in the short term, and once you’ve identified what it is that’s causing the issue, then you can always just avoid it. 

It’s worth remembering that some skincare products simply won’t agree with your skin, even if they come highly recommended by other people. Again, it’s largely a matter of paying attention to your skin – if you notice that it’s reacting poorly to a certain product or ingredient, then treat it with caution from then on. 

And of course, if you’ve ever got any questions or need any advice, our door is always open here at AP Skincare! Our team of experts can provide tailored solutions to help you enhance your skin. We’ll take the time to understand your skin type and goals thoroughly and only then recommend the skincare treatments we think you’ll love. If you have any concerns or queries, please call us on 01254 495919 or drop by our skincare clinic in Blackburn – we’d always love to see you!