How to Protect Your Skin in Autumn and Winter
Combat dryness, eczema, and transdermal water loss with barrier-strengthening skincare.
As we transition from the warmer months into autumn and winter, the environment around us changes dramatically - and so can the condition of our skin. The crisp, cool air combined with central heating creates a perfect storm for one of your skin's biggest challenges during these months: increased transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This is the process where moisture escapes from the deeper layers of your skin (dermis and hypodermis), leaving it vulnerable to dryness, irritation, and a weakened barrier.
To ensure that your skin feels healthy, it is essential to adapt your skincare routine. Just as you switch your wardrobe for thicker layers, your skin needs a ‘seasonal wardrobe’ that focuses on hydration, protection, and barrier repair. The key is to understand how to support your skin’s natural defence mechanisms, especially during times of stress.
The Skin Barrier and Transdermal Water Loss
Your skin’s outermost layer, the stratum corneum, functions like a brick wall, with skin cells (the bricks) held together by lipids (the mortar). When this barrier is functioning optimally, it locks moisture in and keeps irritants out. However, autumn and winter’s low humidity, cold winds, and indoor heating can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to increased transepidermal water loss.
The result?
Skin that feels dry, tight, and irritated.
This is where Corneotherapy comes in. Corneotherapy focuses on repairing and maintaining the stratum corneum, ensuring your skin barrier stays intact, even in the harshest conditions. By incorporating corneotherapeutic skincare into your routine, you can minimise water loss and keep your skin healthy and hydrated all winter long.
Your Seasonal Skincare Wardrobe
Switching your skincare routine seasonally doesn’t mean an entire overhaul. It’s about incorporating products that offer extra hydration, protect against environmental stressors, and work with your skin’s natural barrier functions. Here are some hero products from Dermaviduals functional Skincare, that will help you transition into your autumn and winter ‘skincare wardrobe’.
Moisture Plus
Hydration is essential to combat the drying effects of cold weather, and Moisture Plus is your go-to product. This rich, hydrating cream is formulated with skin-identical lipids, ensuring deep moisture penetration without clogging your pores. It supports the skin’s barrier, helping it retain water and combat TEWL.
Oleogel S
Oleogel S is a powerhouse that locks in moisture. This water-free gel combines plant-based oils with skin-identical lipids to create a protective layer that shields the skin from moisture loss while nourishing it with essential fatty acids. It’s perfect for using sparingly over face cream and/or SPF to protect your skin from TEWL when it’s cold outside. Oleogel S can also be used on areas that need extra attention, like your elbows, knees, or hands, and makes a beautiful lip balm.
DMS Hand Cream
Hands are often overlooked but are highly susceptible to dryness during autumn and winter. Used sparingly, several times a day, DMS Hand Cream stabilises the water balance in the skin and supports regeneration. Derma Membrane Structure (DMS) mimics the skin’s natural composition and ensures effective moisture retention and protection against external aggressors.
Prescriptive Serums & Creams
Tailoring your skincare to your skin’s specific needs is an effective way to ‘Heal & Seal’ the skin barrier. This directly begins to diminish issues like redness, irritation, and dehydration. Dermaviduals’ prescriptive formulations are customised with ‘Actives’: powerful active ingredients with a liposomal or nanoparticle delivery system, which act directly at a cellular level to strengthen the barrier, minimise inflammation, and enhance hydration.
Vitamin Cream
A rich face cream containing vitamins A, C, E, and pro-vitamin B5 along with essential fatty acids to support intensive recovery. This cream can be applied as a thicker layer in circular movements as a rich, nourishing mask. Leave for 15-30 minutes and remove any residue without rinsing. Skin feels plump and soft.
Tips for Healthy Skin This Autumn and Winter
- Hydrate from within: Drink plenty of water and consider adding a humidifier to your home to boost moisture in the air.
- Continue to wear SPF: Whilst UV radiation levels are reduced, they are still present. A good SPF provides protection from blue light (computer screens/mobile phones) and pollution as well as UV. If you want to slow the natural ageing process and reduce hyperpigmentation or melasma, winter is the time to continue protecting your skin.
- Avoid hot showers: Avoid washing your face with foaming cleansers in the shower, as this can dry out your skin.
- Use a gentle cleanser: Opt for a non-stripping cleanser without emulsifiers that won’t damage your skin’s natural lipid layer.
By embracing a seasonal approach to skincare and incorporating corneotherapeutic products like Dermaviduals Moisture Plus, Oleogel S, DMS Hand Cream, customised prescriptives, and Vitamin Cream, you can keep your skin healthy, hydrated, and glowing all winter long.
Remember, the key to radiant skin during the colder months is a resilient, supported skin barrier. If your skin is showing signs of redness, irritation, or dryness, now is the perfect time to ask if your current skincare is supporting your skin. If you’d like some help and guidance in looking after your skin, get in touch. Visit my homepage to WhatsApp me directly or book your consultation and skin assessment here.