What Changes Should You be Making to Your Skincare in the Winter?

The decreased amount of sun exposure that we get in the fall and winter months make it an amazing time to introduce products that might be great for your skin but are hard to use due to the increased sun exposure (and the sun sensitivity they may cause) during the sunnier months.

I tell my patients the fall is a great time for renewal and rejuvenation without worrying about the effects of the sun. I recommend stronger exfoliants, peels and even lasers in the fall months when the risk of sunburn and sun damage is less. I love recommending at home alpha and beta hydroxy acids to my patients at this time of year because it removes the accumulated dead and dull layers of skin revealing a fresh, bright complexion in time for the holidays.

Also, because of the colder temperatures and decreased humidity I recommend switching out your cleanser to something that is more moisturizing(look for products that have the words hydrating, gentle or moisturizing in the name) and switching your moisturizer to a heavy cream based formulation. Lotions have more water in them and creams have more oil making them a better choice especially for people who struggle with dry skin or eczema in the winter.

Even though we are getting less sun exposure, SPF is still a must but can be a more moisturizing formula that is easier to use.

What are some products you always recommend during fall/winter? Why? (these can be general, or specific product picks)

1. What are some products you always recommend during fall/winter? Why? (these can be general, or specific product picks) I always recommend SPF, 365 days a year.
2. I recommend switching to a more hydrating cleanser unless you are acne prone. In those cases it is okay to continue to use washes that provide oil control or have acne fighting ingredients like salicylic acid in them.
3. As humidity drops, moisturizers need to be a bit heavier. I recommend cream based formulations like Cetaphil moisturizing cream. I also recommend adding a humidifier in the room to help with dryness and especially dryness of the lips or other mucous membranes.
4. For patients who don’t like heavy creams but still need more moisture I recommend hyaluronic acid or snail mucin based products to hydrate without feeling weighty.
5. Aquaphor or Vaseline for the lips is great especially for people who tend to get sinus issues and congestion and mouth breathe in the fall.
6. For those who want to use the less sunny months for renewal, I like Alpha and beta hydroxy acid products to exfoliate the top layers and reveal more vibrant, renewed skin.
7. I also recommend Inner Glow Age Defense nutraceuticals in the fall given that the antioxidants in it can help to repair damage that was done to the skin in the summer and help to make treatments that are done in the fall more effective.
8. Lastly this is a great time to sign up for any in office peels or lasers you have been thinking about to turn back the clock and look great before all the end of year parties roll around.

Noreen Galaria, MD FAAD is a board certified Dermatologist with a laser and cosmetic fellowship and has been practicing for over 20 years. After spending time as an academic dermatologist;training residents and doing research and publishing papers, she moved into private practice 13 years ago and opened 3 offices outside of the DC area. She is also the CEO and Founder of Inner Glow vitamins. A dermatologist and plastic surgeon developed brand of skin nutraceuticals.