And thus begins our winter arc, the season filled with festive favorites and less-than-festive skin woes, like super dry skin. If you’re anything like us, you’re looking for a way to keep your skin safe during the colder months. And according to the experts, the answer is gaining a ton of traction this year: the skin barrier.
Featured Experts
- Dr. Elaine Kung is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York
- Dr. Linda C Honet is a board-certified dermatologist based in Bloomfield Hills, MI
- Dr. Joel Schlessinger is a board-certified dermatologist based in Omaha, NE
- Dr. Tina Alster is a board-certified dermatologist based in Washington D.C.
Your Winter Arc Begins With Prep
We all know winter can cause serious skin problems and it can feel like no amount of moisturizer can fix that tight, dry feeling. Part of the problem includes our skin-care routine itself.
“Winterizing skin care means using creamier bases, layering on non-comedogenic oils and seeking more emollient combinations of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, shea butter, glycerin and even petrolatum to help ward off winter dryness, irritation, flaking and itch and bring back the hydration, glow and luminosity of hydrated skin,” explains Bloomfield Hills, MI dermatologist Linda C. Honet, MD.
You can also help your skin by paying attention to your environment. “I tell people to humidify their air because if the air at home is bone dry, then their skin will be dry no matter how much they moisturize,” adds New York dermatologist Elaine Kung, MD. “I also suggest spraying their faces with thermal spring water before applying moisturizers.”
And in the war against winter, the best offense is a good defense. And that means turning towards the skin barrier.
Skin Barrier Defense Is More Popular Than Ever
2024 was undoubtedly the year skin barrier knowledge exploded and dermatologists have taken note.
“The skin barrier has really taken center stage this year,” explains Dr. Kung. “A healthy skin barrier is crucial for overall skin health. Harsh ingredients, sun exposure and extreme temperatures can damage this barrier. Brands like Epionce cater to sensitive and compromised skin by focusing on barrier repair.”
“Not too long ago, most people had never heard of the skin barrier, much less how its health contributes to common skin conditions like dryness, acne, infections, rosacea and more,” adds Omaha, NE dermatologist Joel Schlessinger, MD. “Interestingly, the COVID-19 pandemic may be the culprit that turned the tide.”
It’s no secret that some of us discovered skincare during the pandemic. Dr. Schlessinger sees more awareness of the skin barrier as a natural evolution to diving head-first into the deep end of skin care.
“With increased time at home and online in 2020, interest in skin care and self-care grew as we all had more time on our hands,” he explains. “Combine that with social media ‘skinfluencers’ recommending products that may not have been suitable for all skin types. This, in addition to the temptation to try too many products, especially those with excessive exfoliation, spelled trouble for many skin barriers. Increased consumer knowledge of the skin barrier today is most likely a shift away from trying every new product and regimen recommended on social media and towards choosing products and daily practices that protect its long-term health.”
Save Your Skin This Winter Arc
This winter, it’s our knowledge of the skin barrier that can save our skin.
“I have seen an increase in interest in the skin barrier this year and they tend to be people who have over-processed their skin,” explains D.C. dermatologist Tina Alster, MD. “And I tell them all that in terms of skincare, keeping it simple is not a bad thing at all. If you’re using the right products, you don’t need to put fifty things on your face. That can actually make your skin barrier break down.”
If you’re suffering from seasonal dryness or are concerned about your skin barrier, pairing down your routine with the essentials is a good place to start.
“I recommend FixMySkin 1% hydrocortisone Balms to my patients with dry skin, which can be a sign of a diminished skin barrier,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “It is perfect for both sealing in moisture as well as healing the inflammation from exposure to the elements.”
And maybe take it easy on following any super viral and trendy skin-care advice. “I see a lot of younger patients who have taken TikTok advice or thought they just had to have this one product and then they break out to it,” Dr. Alster explains. “I’m sure there are people who don’t experience that, but I see the ones that have problems when they use a product that’s touted as the one answer they need.”
