If your skin is looking a little ‘meh’ during the coldest winter months, it’s probably due to the combination of cold weather and warm central heating. This combination of atmospheres is moisture sapping, leading to skin dehydration. With the escaping moisture, you will likely be experiencing escaping oil, leading to skin dryness. Because of this combination, you may also experience higher colour (redness) than usual. This is tissue sensitivity. Often the result of a damaged skin barrier. The 3 (dehydration, dryness and sensitivity) often go hand-in-hand, but it’s an easy skincare fix with the correct prescription.

Why is a dry, dehydrated skin at risk of becoming sensitive? 

On your skin’s surface, you have a protective barrier (we skin geeks know it as the hydrolipidic film, you may know it as your skin barrier). When this barrier becomes damaged through harsh weather conditions, your skin will become dry and dehydrated. Dryness is the loss of your skin’s oil and dehydration is the loss of your skin’s water. You will be able to feel the lost oil and water on your skin’s surface and this light fluid is seen as a sheen, throughout the day.  

The loss of natural oil and water levels allows your skin to become vulnerable. This is because your skin is now dry and dehydrated. Your damaged skin barrier allows potential irritants into your skin. (Soap, water and pollution). Once sensitised, your skin will become less tolerant and redness appears. Your skin may sting or feel hot when confronted with elements that shouldn’t normally trigger irritation.