Why you look older in winter
Facing the cooler months of winter, even in the Far North, can mean we’re also in for a spell of looking older, mottled and dull. While most people expect parched skin in the summer months, our skin suffers the most in winter, dermatologists say.
Consultant dermatologist Dr Leona Yip says winter typically sees more patients presenting with worsened skin conditions.
“In winter, the humidity drops, heaters are on more, which dries the air, and people often wear too many layers of clothing,’’ Yip says. “All this can cause problems with weakening the skin barrier, leading to irritation, dryness, roughness and redness.’’
A recent survey conducted for
Cetaphil found 40 per cent of Australians say their skin looks older in winter, 36 per cent say their skin appears dry, flaky, and rough, while 27 per cent say their skin cracks more easily. Dehydration is a common complaint, with 38 per cent of the 1030 people surveyed saying their skin feels more dehydrated in winter and 26 per cent think they look paler.
WINTER REGIMEN
Simply drinking more water, while important, won’t be sufficient to boost hydration levels, with Yip recommending a whole different skin regimen for winter.
“When we talk about hydrating the skin, we’re talking about replenishing the lost water and oils with the right moisturisers,’’ she says. “The skin’s oils are like the seal on the skin’s top layers and if you don’t moisturise it, that seal or glue that sticks cells together isn’t there, so the moisture evaporates more easily. A good moisturiser should seal the water and replenish the oils to seal the skin barrier.’’
But not all moisturisers will do the trick. Yip suggests using a glycerinebased product that combines ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol (vitamin B5) and vitamin E – it won’t feel greasy.
ROUTINE SWITCH
Melbourne’s Nat Welfare, 31, used to suffer from extremely dry skin in winter, and says her complexion was unrecognisable from the summer glow she enjoyed. Winter doesn’t inhibit her outdoor lifestyle – she walks her dog morning and night and often goes for a run in the fresh air.
“It’s happened more as I’ve got older that I’d notice a lot of red patches in winter and it was uneven and made me look unhealthy,’’ Welfare says. “So, last year I changed my routine by not using a foaming cleanser or face wipes anymore because I found they stripped my skin in winter. So if I hadn’t worn any make-up, I just used a microfibre pad to cleanse and switched to a very rich moisturiser, combined with a serum.
“My skin has a lot more moisture now and it’s much more hydrated.’’
La Roche Posay and Cerave scientific spokesperson and practising pharmacist specialising in skin care Rachel McAdam says the ravaging effects of the winter climate on skin can be rectified quickly with appropriate care. But she warns any urges to catch some winter sun rays are to be avoided.
“Protecting your skin from the impact of the sun in winter is so important,’’ McAdam says. “Initially it will feel good to get some sun on your face but it’s a false pretence. In the short term, this will inflame the skin and in the long term it affects the skin barrier because of the UVA and UVB rays ageing the skin, so it’s important to use high protection. Sun protection is not just for summer.
“Also check the ingredients of your moisturisers to make sure they have ceramides, which are lipids, which are like the cement between cells to trap in the moisture. The moisturiser has to be thicker, not greasier, in winter.’’