Plagued by Winter Zits?

Winter brings a whole new set of challenges to taking care of the skin on your face. From the cold temperatures outside to heating inside, as well as the effects of the wind, rain and snow, our faces can take a beating during this season. It is not uncommon for the face to become dry and even chapped as winter progresses.

What Causes Winter Zits?

Although many people suffer from dry skin in the winter, acne and zits can actually get worse. There are a number of different reasons that lead to winter zits, including:

• Reaction to the cold weather – Some people are actually allergic to cold weather, which can cause their skin to become inflamed. This inflammation can lead to zits forming.
• Using the wrong moisturizer – A typical reaction to dry skin is to start to lather on a moisturizer. While this is important, it is also important to make sure that you are using the right moisturizer for your skin. Choosing moisturizer with acne-fighting ingredients will help make your skin smoother and acne free without it getting too oily or greasy.
• Lack of sunlight – During the winter, it should be obvious that most people do not get as much sun on their skin as during the warmer months. Sunlight has been shown to improve acne due to some wavelengths of light, particularly blue-violet, found within the sunlight. In some cases, it may be worth looking into light therapy treatments to help reduce and prevent winter zits.

Dealing with Winter Zits

As well as suffering from zits on your face during the winter, many people also notice a marked increase on the number of zits found on their back and chest, and even other parts of the body. Heavier, warmer fabrics that are worn during the winter months can take some of the blame. Skin cannot breathe as easily and pores can become clogged. Also, moving back and forth between indoors and out can cause your body temperature to fluctuate. This in turn can cause increased sweat production; sweat and dirt can remain trapped on the skin, which can lead to blocked pores and increased winter zits on the body.

To Avoid Winter Zits, Stay Hydrated

One of the key steps to combating winter zits is to adjust your facial cleansing routine. In most cases, using milder cleansing products that are less drying is the first step to helping your skin cope with the harsh climate. In addition, a moisturizer should be added if it is not already being used. The goal is to dry out your skin as little as possible. This may seem counter-productive to those with oily skin, but overly dry skin can actually make acne worse.

If skin is dehydrated and dry, the oil glands will actually start to make more oil to try and right the balance in the skin cells. This in turn can lead to combination skin with areas that are dry and other areas that are very oily. Excess oil is a main cause of many people’s acne, so this is not a condition that you want.

Also, dry skin cells are a common culprit for clogged pores. During the winter months, exfoliating, and even facials and masks, may be that much more important than in the warmer months. While you don’t want to strip your face entirely, it is important to remove the dead cells before they can begin to cause zits.

While winter is inevitable, suffering from winter zits doesn’t have to be. All it takes is a little work and you can keep your healthy looking skin all year round.