Why skin diseases worsen in winter
We all know that: In winter, the skin is dry, the hands are cracked, the lips are chapped. Heating air and cold bother us, the skin reports and reacts irritated. The only thing that helps is taking countermeasures and caring for them properly. Here you can find out why we have to pay more attention to the skin in winter and why people with skin diseases often suffer more than usual in the cold. And: A skin expert gives winter tips that can reduce problems and irritation!
Cold affects the skin
In addition, the room climate is different. The dry heating air in buildings puts more strain on the skin than usual. The significantly reduced ventilation ensures that the pleasure inside contains significantly less moisture that the skin could absorb. The heating doesn’t make it any better. And the skin has little chance to regulate itself outside either, because to protect ourselves from the cold outside, we cover most of the skin with warm clothing. This has the negative effect that too few rays of sunlight reach the skin’s surface. Vitamin D production suffers as a result – the important vitamin is formed in the skin and protects it. All in all, this is a poor balance sheet that clearly shows that we don’t do our skin much good in winter.
Even attempts to compensate do not help much: Anyone who thinks going to a solarium would help is wrong: “Solariums do not provide UVB rays like the sun, but only UVA rays, which promotes skin cancer,” says Professor Eggert Stockfleth, Director of the Dermatology at the University Hospital Bochum, in an interview. He recommends taking vitamin D supplements, which can compensate for the temporary deficiency. Also, get out whenever you can. Making optimal use of the few hours of sunshine also helps to keep you in a good mood, which is only too likely to sink in winter.
Skin diseases often worse in winter
Anyone who suffers from a chronic inflammatory skin disease such as neurodermatitis or psoriasis is usually plagued by more intense and more frequent flare-ups in winter. The skin is drier in winter because the sebaceous glands stop working when the outside temperatures are low. In addition, moisture is lost more quickly. “The skin is now itching even more than usual, is even more tense, tears more easily and tingles,” explains Stockfleth. This is uncomfortable and also creates psychological tension – the two are closely related, a vicious circle in winter.
In order to keep complaints as low as possible, prevention is important here. It makes sense if those affected do not wear skin-irritating clothing that cannot dissipate heat, but instead wear breathable layers made of natural materials that allow air to be exchanged. Outside it is important not to forget gloves and a hat to protect you from the cold. It is also helpful to apply an ointment to the skin that “contains five to ten percent urea,” says Professor Stockfleth, adding: “Urea can retain moisture in the upper layers of the skin and counteract drying out.” The expert advises against ointment. These block the natural moisture regulation because they are simply too greasy.
Psoriasis – when the skin burns like fire
Psoriasis belongs in expert hands. Together with the dermatologist, ways and means can be found to contain the symptoms. But not everyone who unfortunately has dry skin in winter has psoriasis, which, as described above, is not contagious. If we experience increased flaking of the skin and small areas start to itch, there is no reason to worry: cream containing urea, fresh air and sufficient fluid intake can already help. It can also make sense to reduce hand washing a little during periods of severe cold. Otherwise, soap and water repeatedly destroy the skin’s sensitive protective acid mantle, which causes additional problems.
Since the condition of the skin also says a lot about a person’s inner life and mental balance, it can also help to focus more on wellness and relaxation in winter. Blocking out stress, taking it easy and dedicating yourself to your own well-being with tea and a book in the evening helps to reduce stress hormones and find your way back into balance. Sport – jogging, yoga or fitness – is also beneficial to bring disease-free but stressed skin back into balance.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.