How to care for your acne during the winter

Let’s face it – anyone can get acne in winter. It’s one of those unwanted side effects of dry skin at this time of year. Because of the dry winter air, your skin will secrete more oil to protect and lubricate the skin, and sometimes this can result in acne.

Additionally, many of us have a tendency to turn to comfort foods in winter due to the parties and social gatherings associated with Christmas and New Year. All of these reasons can contribute to additional breakouts during the winter months – here’s how to combat them!

Avoid harsh acne treatments

You’ll want to find an acne treatment that’s non-drying, and not too harsh on your skin. Many acne medications contain benzoyl peroxide, and a common side effect is dry skin. If you’re already battling dry skin, this can dry it out even further.

If you have excessively dry skin in winter, or a condition like eczema combined with acne, we recommend booking a consultation with us as soon as you can. We’ll help you find the right skincare regimen to help you protect your skin from breakouts!

Use plenty of moisturiser

The key to keeping your skin looking and feeling great in the winter is to lock in additional moisture. We recommend you find a light moisturiser that’s either a gel or a fragrance–free option.

You’ll want to try gel because they are very light, non-greasy, and absorb quickly. Opting for fragrance-free moisturisers in the winter is also a good idea because it won’t introduce any additional irritants to your skin.

Adding either or both of these moisturisers to your daily routine can help soothe dry, irritated skin and may prevent it from drying out further or cracking.

When moisturiser isn’t enough…

If your skin is red and sensitive to the touch, there may be some level of inflammation involved. This can happen for a number of reasons, but most commonly due to illness, pre-existing skin conditions, or windburn. No matter the cause, you’ll want to find an additional moisturiser with an anti-inflammatory ingredient in it – we recommend aloe or Vitamin E.

Take care of yourself

Plenty of studies have shown high levels of stress can cause acne. Combine that with the added stress associated with Christmas – such as cooking a large dinner, the stress of buying or shopping for gifts, dealing with friends or family – and you’ve got a recipe for acne!

During Christmas and winter months, be sure to take extra care of yourself by exercising, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and taking time to relax.

If you’re looking for more tips on how to keep your skin hydrated this season, you could try things like taking lukewarm showers or baths or changing your cleansers.

However, if your acne or dry skin is persistent despite making changes, we’re here to help! We offer a complete range of skincare treatments, including acne treatment, to help you love your skin. During our assessment of your skin, we’ll build a skincare treatment plan that’s tailored specifically to your skin type, health, stress, and other environmental factors.