Winter is not kind to those with chronic skin conditions. Whether it be rosacea, eczema, or psoriasis, the combination of cold temperatures, chilly winds, dry air, and indoor heating can wreak havoc on the skin. 

This is why implementing proper winter skincare is a must! Especially for rosacea, this skin condition brings on a plethora of uncomfortable symptoms, such as inflammation, skin tightness, painful dryness, itching, and swelling. 

To help you better manage your rosacea this winter and during the colder months, our dermatologists put together a quick guide of do’s and don’ts to soothe your rosacea flare-ups! 

 

Soothe Rosacea Flare-Ups this Winter with Our Do’s and Don’ts 

DO Cover Up 

It’s essential to protect your face and skin when outdoors in cold weather. Layer up in chunky scarves, heavy jackets with thick collars, lightweight base layers, and thick gloves. In frigid temperatures, make sure to wear a face mask to protect your sensitive facial skin thoroughly. 

 

DON’T Moisturize Dry Skin 

Instead, moisturize damp skin. Ideally, it’s best to apply lotion right after bathing or showering to ensure any moisture is locked in before your skin dries out. 

Additionally, while lightweight lotions and moisturizers might work in the summertime, it’s best to use thicker lotions and heavier creams in the winter for ample moisturization. 

 

DO Manage Stress 

Stress is often a common trigger among those with chronic skin conditions, such as eczema and rosacea. Even worse, a rosacea flare-up can be a stressful situation in itself, which can worsen symptoms! 

Try relaxation techniques and stress-reducing strategies, such as quality time with yourself, meditation, reading a book, and having a good sleep schedule. 

 

DON’T Overheat 

An overheated body often triggers rosacea flushing. Whether it be from steamy showers and baths, hot drinks (such as hot chocolate or hot cider), baking cookies, or cooking dinner can increase body temperature and rapidly bring on facial flushing. 

To keep that from happening, take regular breaks from a warm room, avoid extremely hot showers and baths, stick to lukewarm drinks, and keep your home at a reasonable temperature, rather than extremely warm. 

 

DO Use a Humidifier 

For many with rosacea, a common trigger is extremely dry air — which winter often brings along. To keep your home from drying out your skin, use a humidifier to add essential moisture to the air. 

Additionally, to further prevent skin drying, avoid direct dry heat sources. This may include blasting the heater in your car, using a plug-in electric heater, and hot air blowing up through vents. 

 

DON’T Take Hot Showers and Baths 

While steamy showers and hot baths feel irresistibly good on a chilly winter day, your rosacea won’t thank you! Excessive heat and steam from hot showers and baths will further dry out and irritate the skin, exacerbating any rosacea symptoms or triggering a painful flare-up. 

Instead, stick to lukewarm showers and baths. For a more relaxing setting, a lukewarm bath sprinkled with oatmeal or Epsom salts can help calm and soothe your skin, as well as reduce any stress and anxiety! 

 

DO Reassess Your Treatment Plan 

Rosacea is better managed with an effective treatment plan! Suppose your rosacea is getting worse with every winter season. In that case, it’s time to visit your doctor or a board-certified dermatologist to reassess your treatment plan or uncover your particular rosacea triggers. 

 

At Brentwood Dermatology, our experienced dermatologists are passionate about helping our patients address their skin issues and find a comfortable and effective treatment plan! If you’re interested in finding out how we can help you reduce rosacea flare-ups or another skin condition, schedule an appointment online or call us today at (615) 455-0046.