Itchy Skin in Winter: 5 Tips to Hydrate Dry Skin

Itchy skin in winter can start with a tight feeling or a slight itch, but before you know it, it’s flaking everywhere and can become red and inflamed.

Dry skin is common in winter when the air is cold and dry, but what can you do to stop it from happening?

What causes dry itchy skin in winter?

Low Humidity: With indoor heating and cold weather outside in the winter, our bodies are exposed to a complete environment of dry air.

Water is always evaporating from your skin, but as the humidity drops, the hydration in your skin evaporates faster into the surrounding dry air which leads to dry skin, irritated sinuses, and even itchy watery eyes.

Aggressive Cleansing: Frequent showering and washing will remove the protective barrier that holds water in the skin. Known as the “moisture barrier”, this layer of lipids, cholesterol, and ceramides not only keeps harmful substances out of the skin, but it also prevents water from evaporating into the dry air.

If you use cleansers that are too harsh or cleanse too frequently, water will evaporate out of the skin faster leading to dry, itchy skin. Using hot water will also make matters worse by dissolving more of the moisture barrier and leading to even drier skin.