Why you look older in winter and how you can regain your glow

The colder months play havoc with our skin leaving our complexion looking older. But one simple change can make a difference.

Bracing for the cold chill of winter is tough enough but we’re also facing months of looking older, mottled and dull.

While most people expect to suffer dry, 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,’’ Dr Yip says.

“This can all 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.

Applying the right type of moisturiser for colder weather is important. Picture: iStock

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 water and oils lost 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 glycerine-based product that combines ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, panthenol (vitamin B5) and vitamin E, it won’t feel greasy.

Nat Welfare.

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, walking her dog morning and night and often going 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 it 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.

“Not a lot of people know that 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 and, 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.’’

HOW WE FEEL ABOUT OUR WINTER SKIN

• Most Australians say their face (64 per cent) and their hands (51 per cent) are the driest parts of their body in winter, but only 61 per cent look after the skin on their face.

• 43 per cent say their skin significantly changes in the lead up to, or during winter.

• 48 per cent say their skin is duller in winter.

• 49 per cent say their skin is more prone to sensitivities.

• 83 per cent say having good skin makes them feel good about themselves.

Source: Based on Cetaphil survey results

Originally published as Why you look older in winter and how you can regain your glow