9 Tips for Common Winter Skin Conditions, According to a Celeb Dermatologist

Whether you've got standard-issue dry skin or are having flares of conditions like eczema or psoriasis, this doctor to the stars has tips to fix it

As the weather turns colder, there are a few things you can count on—hot chocolate, warm coats and, unfortunately, your skin rebelling against the conditions.

In the winter, “our skin tends to be drier, and the skin barrier becomes compromised,” explains New York City-based celebrity dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, MD, who is the medical expert behind Hailey Bieber’s Rhode line and counts Martha Stewart among his patients. “Given the change in weather, conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis commonly flare up.”

If you’re someone who experiences these kinds of skin changes in the winter, don’t worry— Dr. Bhanusali has plenty of tips to help you take care of your delicate skin during the cold months and keep these conditions under control.

First, let’s pull back the curtain a little bit on why the winter can be so tough for people who suffer from eczema, psoriasis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a condition that causes itchy, dry skin. Psoriasis is an autoimmune condition where the body makes skin cells too quickly, creating scaly, inflamed patches of skin. Seborrheic dermatitis causes itchy, flaky skin (often on the scalp, aka dandruff).  All three of these conditions can worsen when the temperature drops because cold weather dries the skin out.

“Given the lack of hydration, a damaged skin barrier can lead to increased flaking and dryness. This is common in both eczema and psoriasis,” explains Dr. Bhanusali.

Eczema in particular can be susceptible to this weakened barrier— it makes it much harder for the skin to protect itself from bacteria and other irritants, he says. The dryness is (perhaps obviously) a big trigger for dandruff flakes, and cold and dry conditions are also a common trigger for psoriasis.

Some other conditions, like rosacea, a long-term flushing on the face, sometimes flare in winter, though Dr. Bhanusali says it's much more common for rosacea to be affected by what you consume— think spicy foods, caffeine, or alcohol.

But just because it's expected for this time of year, that doesn’t mean you just have to deal with itchy, patchy, flaky, uncomfortable skin all winter long. With some smart changes to your routine, you can protect your skin from cold and dry weather. (And of course, if your skin condition is moderate to severe and impacting your quality of life, get yourself to a doc — a few extra slathers of moisturizer and a humidifier probably won’t make much of an impact. But if it’s milder and triggered by weather, this definitely can help.)

First, says Dr. Bhanusali, “it’s important to have a good routine with consistent moisturizer use.” This may mean using a seasonal one, too. “I have people switch to thicker moisturizers, rather than lotions and gel/creams,” he says of patients at his practice, Hudson Dermatology and Laser Surgery.

When looking for a winter moisturizer, Dr. Bhanusali recommends seeking out calming ingredients like niacinamide and azelaic acid, to help keep flares at bay. You may even want to up your moisturizing game to twice a day, if your eczema or psoriasis is really bugging you.

Another add to your routine that may help: “I also encourage the use of humidifiers to supplement the change in humidity over the colder months.”

Related: These Are the 15 Best Face Moisturizers for Dry Skin of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Some changes to your shower routine also could have an effect on your skin; for example, don't utilize your favorite summer skin exfoliant in cold months, says Dr. Bhanusali, unless you have very oily skin — “and even then, less is more."

And while a long, hot shower can be tempting when the outside temp is chilly, avoid them as much as you can.

“Showers should be five minutes or less, with medium temperature water,” he says. “Scalding hot showers can strip the good oils from the skin and flare conditions [like eczema and psoriasis].”

When you’re done with your quick shower, pat yourself dry (this is important— you don’t want to inadvertently exfoliate by scrubbing at your damp skin!). Then, apply that wintertime moisturizer right away, while your skin is still a little wet. “This is optimal for absorption and can really make all the difference,” he says.

We'll take any skincare advice that Martha Stewart has also gotten — and bonus points if it keeps our skin looking great and feeling good all winter!

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