Treating Winter Face Acne

Not only does winter mean snow, ice and cold weather, it can also cause acne to flare up on your face more often than at other times of the year. Most people associate winter with dry skin, which is exactly what leads to irritation and increased face acne.

What Causes Face Acne in the Winter?

Clogged pores are one of the main factors in causing all types of acne, from the mildest to the most severe. The fact that winter air is often a lot drier means that moisture is being taken from your skin. This in turn leads to more dead skin cells than at other times of the year. More dead skin cells means that your clogs are more likely to get blocked. As your skin becomes drier, the pores begin producing more oil in attempts to restore the moisture. However, this just adds to the blockages in your pores. Finally, winter clothing, such as hats and scarves, can rub and irritate the skin, also increasing the chance of breakouts.

Treating Face Acne in the Winter

Listed below are some helpful tips to help you reduce the chances of your skin breaking out during the winter:

• Cleansing – The cleanser you use in the winter should be milder than the one you use at other times of the year. Although your pores are more likely to get clogged, only use a mild exfoliator so that you are not irritating your skin further. Also consider cleansers with weaker active ingredients so that you are not drying your skin even further.
• To tone or not to tone – In the winter months, it may be in your face’s best interest to not tone. While most acne treatments recommend cleansing, toning and moisturizing, using a toner can further dry your skin out. Instead, consider only toning in problematic areas.
• Acne treatments – Once you have cleansed your face, you should apply acne medication to any breakouts, as well as to those areas where you are likely to break out so you can prevent further pimples from appearing. As with your cleanser, you may want to consider a less harsh acne treatment to keep drying and irritation to a minimum.
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize – No matter your skin type, everyone should be using a moisturizer in the winter. It is a mistake to think that by applying a cream, lotion or gel to add moisture to your skin will make it oiler and your acne worse. In fact, by keeping skin moisturized, skin cells will be less likely to produce the excess oil that can lead to blocking your pores and acne flare ups. What is important is that you choose an appropriate moisturizer. For most who suffer from acne, a light oil-free lotion or gel that is soothing will be your best bet.
• Retinol – Retinol is an active ingredient in many skin care products as it smoothes and softens skin, and fights the signs of aging, like wrinkle formation. During the winter months, add a night time moisturizer that is richer than the one in the day and contains a small level of retinol. Retinol helps fight acne but can be irritating, so it’s important to keep the levels of use low. Also, if you do add retinol to your facial treatment regime, then use a day time moisturizer that contains a sunscreen, as retinol makes the skin sensitive to the sun.