Winter is notorious for wreaking havoc on the skin. Thanks to dropping temperatures, whipping winds and spending more time indoors, your complexion can begin to experience chronic conditions that stay dominant in warmer months. And when you’re over 40, these skin care concerns can seem more pronounced due to fluctuating hormones from menopause. We consulted with three dermatologists to learn more about the leading chronic skin conditions and the best ways to manage them this winter.
“Chronic skin conditions are ongoing disorders of the skin that may not have a permanent cure but often require long-term management,” explains Dr. Nathan Newman, a board-certified dermatologist specializing in cosmetic surgery, an expert in the field of regenerative medicine, and founder and medical director of Orchid Surgery Center in Beverly Hills, California.
These conditions can flare up periodically due to environmental, hormonal or lifestyle factors and can significantly impact a person’s quality of life.
“Examples of such skin conditions include eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and chronic dry skin,” Newman adds.
Newman says that there are many chronic skin conditions due to a variety of factors, including genetics, environmental influences, immune system responses, hormonal changes, underlying health conditions and lifestyle choices.
“In addition, being the largest organ of our body, it’s constantly being challenged by exposure to environmental stressors,” he tells Flow Space.
The best way to combat these woes is to moisturize frequently during the winter months with a hydrating serum (more on that later).
How do chronic skin conditions develop?
While the exact cause of many chronic skin conditions remains a mystery, research suggests that genetic and environmental factors play a significant role in their development.
“Many chronic skin conditions seem to have a genetic predisposition, often running in families. Environmental triggers, such as cold, dry weather or allergens, can exacerbate these conditions, leading to flare-ups,” says board-certified NYC-based cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Michele Green. “Others may develop chronic skin conditions due to other underlying health conditions such as thyroid disease or diabetes.”
Why do chronic skin conditions typically get worse in winter?
Cold air and changes in the weather are to blame for worsening skin conditions. In most climates, the air is “cold and dry during the winter, which can impair the skin’s natural moisture barrier, resulting in general dryness,” Green says.
This usually results in flaking, cracking and dehydration, causing a flare-up of various skin conditions.
Newman also notes additional causes on why winter exacerbates chronic skin conditions, including:
- Reduced Humidity: Cold, dry air depletes the skin of moisture.
- Cold Dry Air: Strips moisture from the skin.
- Hot Water: “Can further dry out the skin, leading to flare-ups of conditions like eczema and psoriasis,” Newman explains.
- Indoor Heating: Central heating systems further dry out the skin.
- Thicker Clothing: Wool or synthetic fabrics can irritate sensitive skin.
- Reduced Sunlight: Lower UV exposure can worsen conditions like psoriasis.
Keep reading ahead to learn more about the most common skin conditions that worsen in the winter, plus tips from derms that can help soothe symptoms.
Psoriasis
According to Dr. Jodi Logerfo, a doctor of nursing practice and a family nurse practitioner certified in family medicine and dermatology, psoriasis is one of the leading skin conditions that women experience.
“Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that has also been identified as an inflammatory disorder that can affect other body systems,” she explains. “It is immune-mediated, which means there is no exact source, but it results in inflammation that is caused by a malfunction of the immune system. This overactive immune system speeds up skin cell growth. Let’s say a normal skin cell grows and sheds off within a month. In someone with psoriasis, the cells rapidly grow in a few days and instead of shedding off, the skin cells pile up on the skin’s surface causing a plaque.”
Psoriasis affects approximately 7.5 million people in the United States. The condition is not contagious, but it can be bothersome and troubling because there is no cure.
How to Manage: Even though psoriasis is incurable, it does not mean it is untreatable.
“There are lots of treatment options available, including topical, oral and injectable medications, light therapy and biologics,” Logerfo says.
Eczema
Green names eczema as the second leading skin concern that worsens in the winter.
“Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by red patches of itchy, inflamed skin,” she notes.
It’s typically found in areas such as the elbows, knees, hands and eyelids, although it can occur anywhere on the body.
“Eczema is often exacerbated during the winter, as the dry air can strip the skin of its natural moisture and oils,” Green adds.
How to Manage: When it comes to managing the condition, Green says that it’s essential to keep the skin moisturized and to avoid anything that can irritate the skin, such as harsh scrubbing or excessive use of hot water.
“Individuals with moderate to severe eczema can benefit from topical corticosteroids to reduce inflammation and itching,” she explains.
Rosacea
For women over 40, rosacea is another top condition that can appear in midlife.
Rosacea is characterized by facial redness and broken blood vessels on the skin’s surface. Other rosacea symptoms include acne-like pimples, eye irritation and dry skin. Rosacea most commonly affects the cheeks, chin, forehead and nose, although it can also affect the back, chest and neck.
“Rosacea can be triggered by the cold, dry winter air, which can irritate and dry out the skin, causing flare-ups in flushness and increased irritation and inflammation,” Green shares with the Flow Space. “It can also be exacerbated by hormonal changes, including changes seen during menopause.”
How to Manage: Luckily, rosacea symptoms can be mitigated with topical antibiotics or anti-inflammatory creams to reduce redness and inflammation.
“When experiencing acne rosacea, oral antibiotics such as doxycycline can be used to eliminate breakouts of pimples,” Green adds.
Green regularly administers the VBeam laser, a gold standard for reducing facial redness and vascular lesions, which can also be used to reduce rosacea symptoms.
“The VBeam laser specifically targets red pigmentation in the skin, while leaving the surrounding skin unaffected,” she says. “There is no downtime with the VBeam laser, making it an excellent treatment option for managing rosacea.”
Acne vulgaris
While this type of acne typically affects adolescents and young adults, it’s one of the most common types of acne found in adults, too. Much like other conditions on this list, it can also be exacerbated in the winter months.
Logerfo explains that “acne can flare for women in perimenopause and menopause because of hormonal fluctuations.”
How to Manage: To keep acne under control in the winter, Logerfo suggests using a humidifier to keep indoor air moist and avoiding excessive friction on the skin (for example: scrubbing or rubbing with a harsh washcloth or in the winter, wearing wool clothing, etc.).
Hidradenitis suppurativa
Perhaps one of the most painful skin conditions, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) causes boil-like lumps under the skin. Similarly to acne, this condition can cause bumps to be more inflamed than others. These spots form most commonly in the armpits, groin, buttocks, anus, under the breasts, nape of the neck, waist and inner thighs, which causes scarring and permanent skin damage.
The exact cause of this skin issue can’t be pinpointed, but dermatologists explain that it can be linked to genetic, hormonal and environmental factors.
In the winter, dry heat, additional layers and trapped sweat trigger the bumps. Since it’s cold outside, the extra layers you dress in add friction, irritating the skin and setting the stage for the bumps to form.
How to Manage: The best way to manage the condition in the winter is to wear breathable fabrics, maintain a comfortable room temperature and consult your dermatologist.
Chronic hives
Chronic hives are also known as chronic spontaneous urticaria. It’s another condition that causes itchy welts that appear on the body that typically last for more than six weeks. The bumps can be red, white or skin-colored and can appear anywhere on the body.
In the winter, heat, tight clothing and cold temperatures can trigger the hives. Experts cannot link chronic hives to a specific cause, but most suspect it’s correlated to thyroid disease, hormonal problems or, in extreme cases, cancer.
How to Manage: Try avoiding exposure to excessively cold temperatures, wear loose-fitting cotton clothing, use fragrance-free skin products and keep your skin well-moisturized with hypoallergenic lotions.
Seborrheic ermatitis
Logerfo explains that seborrheic dermatitis “is a common skin problem causing a redness, itching and white flakes on the scalp and body.”
Seborrheic dermatitis can also affect parts of the face, especially the folds around the nose, in and around the ears, forehead, eyebrows and eyelids. Plus, it can also develop on the body in areas such as the mid-chest, around the belly button, skin folds under the arm, below the breasts and in the groin and buttocks.
How to Manage: To manage seborrheic dermatitis this winter, seek assistance from your dermatologist who can prescribe medicated shampoos, AKA “dandruff shampoos,” as well as topical preparations containing sulfur, corticosteroids and anti-fungals.