Winter Skin-Keeping your shine

Dry flaky skin, eczema or rosacea flares, worsening acne, fine lines, and wrinkles that you swear suddenly look worse!...why do all of these skin conditions seem to worsen or appear in the winter?
How humidity affects your skin.
Cold air does not hold as much moisture (water molecules) as warm air. Even in your warmed-up living and working spaces, humidity decreases inside as well because you are bringing that dry outside air inside, and simply heating low-moisture air up.  
This dry air sucks the moisture out of your skin. Dry skin is not able to function properly. Your cells will not turn over as quickly and you will get dead cells clogging follicle (pore) openings. 
Fine lines and wrinkles will appear to get worse as your skin will not be as plumped up with water. (Note: drinking more water can never replace skin moisture.) But the weather will happen, right? So, let me offer my solutions to your winter skin woes.
Inside air:

1. Get a hygrometer (approximately $10-$15). It can measure the humidity in your home or workspace. The CDC recommends the relative humidity be kept between 35% and 50%. You don't want it too high, you'll get watery windows, and potential mold growth. 
2. Buy a humidifier if you have low humidity. It needs to be easy to clean, should shut off automatically if it dries out, and it's nice if the flow is adjustable. Follow the recommended cleaning and sanitizing instructions. You will also find your home is more comfortable when the humidity is controlled. It will feel warmer at the same temperature if the air is more humid. My current favorite home humidifier is my Crane brand 'Hello Kitty". It's simple, easy to clean, and kinda fun! (The mist comes out the top of the ears.)
3. Showers or baths: Don't use hot water. Don't stay in the water too long. Don't use harsh soaps or scrubby things. Don't use gritty exfoliators (ever!).
4. Do apply a moisturizing cream (not lotion) immediately after exiting the water and patting dry (no rubbing). Your daytime moisturizer needs an SPF included on areas not covered by clothing. (Note: UV damages skin year-round.) Your moisturizer does not need to be expensive. A therapeutic serum layered under a moisturizing cream will always be the most helpful for correcting your skin's function. However, there are some superior face moisturizing creams that will aid the penetration of your therapeutic serums.
5. On your face, use properly formulated and properly applied serums. These need to be customized to your skin's specific needs to improve your skin's function and moisture-retaining ability. Most serums (and moisturizers) you see advertised are just hype and not therapeutic. An example: Yes, the skin has and needs hyaluronic acid to hold moisture; But, slapping it on your skin probably won't increase its water content (the molecules are too big to penetrate). Niacinamide (B3) serum in the proper formula will perform miracles on almost every skin type without the downside of many retinol or retinoic acid products (dry, red, flaky skin).
6. Use therapies and products that will force your skin to improve and rebuild itself with healthy, strong cells. Properly formulated and performed in-office skin care treatment therapies and peels can stimulate improvement rapidly. But properly prescribed home regimens without in-office treatments can (usually) accomplish the same benefits-it will just take longer. I offer virtual treatments if you don't want to come into the office.

You don't need to suffer from dried-out winter skin!  With just a few changes you will see vast improvements in your skin's function and appearance. 
"Skin Care that Works!"
~Linda Carmichael, L.E.    California Licensed Esthetician