What Treatments are Best for Winter Acne Relief?

The winter months can be particularly hard on skin. Wind, cold weather and the dry air indoors caused by heating our homes sucks moisture right out of your skin. If you suffer from acne, you have probably noticed that your acne gets worse during the winter, and for those who have clear skin most of the year, winter is often accompanied with pimples appearing on your face. Most acne relief products further dry the skin, which can make for peeling and cracked skin that is irritated and more likely to break out. So how can you treat acne in the winter, while still keeping your skin moisturized and healthy looking?

Winter Acne Relief Tips

There are a number of easy things you can do yourself to help keep your skin clear of acne, or at least not make it worse, during the winter:

1.  Change the cleanser you are using. While your current facial cleanser may be great for the rest of the year, it can contain ingredients that are drying. Anti-acne cleansers often contain salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide, which are particularly drying to the skin. During the winter, change to a gentle moisturizing bar or foaming cleanser that does not contain these types of ingredients. While you may be reluctant to give up your acne fighting cleansers, you will be pleasantly surprised at the change in your skin if you do.

2.  Moisturize daily. In the winter, the use of a moisturizer becomes that much more important as you have to replace the moisture that is being drawn from your skin every day. Even those who have acne should use a moisturizer to help protect and heal the skin. The moisturizer you choose will depend on your skin type. Very dry skin should look at creams, while those with combination or oily skin will want a moisturizing lotion or gel.

3.  Humidify the air. Add a vaporizer or humidifier to your room, particularly for when you sleep. This can be as simple as putting a bowl of warm water on your dresser. The water will evaporate into the dry air and not only will your skin feel better for it, it is likely that you will find it easier to breathe as well.

4.  Drink plenty of water. As well as protecting your skin from the outside, you should add water from the inside. Because it’s cold outside, many people end up drinking less water in the winter, but all the cells in your body need water to function better. By keeping hydrated, skin cells will get the water they need, so your skin will look smoother and suppler and be less likely to break out.

5.  Exercise. In the winter, many people lead a much more sedentary lifestyle and exercise a lot less than during the rest of the year. Exercise produces sweat, which is one way to remove toxins from the body. Exercising in the winter is just as beneficial to your skin as during the rest of the year as it will help get rid of toxins, as well as dirt and debris, that is building up in your skin. Also, exercising often means you will drink more water.