Stop These 6 Winter Habits That Are Secretly Harming Your Skin

Winter comes with its own comforts, a cosy feeling of cold weather, stylish outfits and a variety of hot drinks. However, at the same time, for many the season causes severe damage to the skin. The chill outdoors and the dryness of the indoor air silently cause skin problems if one is not careful enough. It might be your everyday winter habits that seem harmless, damaging the skin's natural barrier, and you may not be aware of that. Dermatologists have pointed out a few common mistakes to avoid this winter.

Often comfort comes with a cost. Taking hot showers in cold weather feels irresistible but dermatologists warn that excessive use of hot water strips natural oil from the skin and that weakens our skin's protective barrier. And the result is dryness of skin or itchiness or tight skin. You can take lukewarm showers and keep them also short. After taking a shower, moisturise immediately.

Too much use of indoor heaters dries out the air and saps moisture from the skin. During winter low humidity increases loss of water from the skin, making it very sensitive and flaky.

Many people don't know that using hot water on hair also affects scalp health. Hair roots are weakened by hot water increasing frizz and dandruff. Instead you can use lukewarm water to preserve scalp oils which is a way to reduce irritation.

Hydration matters all year but one should give extra attention during the months of winter as cold weather often suppresses thirst. Dehydration obviously directly affects energy but not only that it slows skin repair and worsens its dryness. So to save oneself from drinklessness of water, set goals of 8-10 glasses of water.

For many, the colder weather comes with lower activity levels or less workout and less movement, which reduces circulation, slowing down skin renewal. You may keep workouts short and even indoor but should do them regularly to keep blood flowing. At the end, general well-being is also directly linked with skin health.

Timing is everything; many do moisturise but not soon enough. Waiting too long after a bath lets precious moisture evaporate, which is why applying moisturiser within minutes of showering helps to lock in hydration.

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Q1. Why is my skin worse during the winter?

Ans: Because the cholesterol and fatty acids that help to seal the moisture in the skin are reduced.

Q2. Should I wash my face less in winter?

Ans: Too much cleansing removes the skin's natural moisturizers.

Q3. Does drinking water help dry skin?

Ans: Increasing water intake unfortunately won't translate to dewier skin.