If you get stressed out by the winter holiday season, just think about what your skin is going through.
All that frigid outdoor air and dry heat inside might have it feeling rough, sensitive or inflamed. And if you have a chronic skin condition like eczema, rosacea or psoriasis, you might notice that issue flaring up during these colder months, dermatologists say.
When it comes to soothing and healing dry, winter skin, there’s one tactic that people often overlook, Dr. Shari Lipner, associate professor of clinical dermatology at Weill Cornell Medicine, tells TODAY.com.
This strategy also takes advantage of a skin-care device that dermatologists say is actually worth the money — unlike so many gadgets on the market.
Expert Tip of the Day: Use a Humidifier for Healthier Winter Skin
If you frequently get dry skin, you probably already know the basic winter skin care tips: use a thick moisturizer, don’t take hot showers and scale back on potentially irritating ingredients, like exfoliants.
But there’s one more thing you can do that people don’t usually think about: “Another tip, which people really underestimate, is using a humidifier,” Lipner says. “Using a humidifier, particularly at night, can really help improve the skin barrier,” she says.
Keeping your skin barrier hydrated will keep it (and your skin overall) healthy and resilient, even during these dry, winter months.
Why It Matters
Your skin barrier, also known as the stratum corneum, is the top-most layer of your skin. It has two huge jobs for your skin: keeping potential pathogens out and keeping moisture in.
That’s why the skin barrier is your “first line of defense” against all sorts of potential issues, Lipner explains. And if your skin barrier is compromised or just not working optimally, you could notice more irritation, redness, sensitivity, dryness or flares of certain skin conditions, she says.
In order to keep your skin barrier working as best it can, you need to keep it well-hydrated and moisturized. While people often lean on thicker moisturizers and hydrating serums in accomplishing that task, they overlook the power of a humidifier, Lipner says.
How to Get Started
Lipner recommends using a humidifier, especially overnight, to keep your skin feeling moisturized and healthy during winter months. You might also want to consider keeping a mini-humidifier at your desk, Dr. Shasa Hu, told TODAY.com previously.
And the benefits of using a humidifier during winter go beyond your skin.
“Using one can help make your skin, lips, nose and throat not feel as dry,” Dr. Emily Pennington, a pulmonologist at Cleveland Clinic, told TODAY.com previously. And it can ease irritated sinus passages, Dr. Merritt Fajt, an allergy and immunology specialist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, said previously.
When you’re ready to select a humidifier, think about where you want to use it and how long you plan to let it run for, which will help determine which size you need. These days, some humidifiers also come with smart features, which may allow you to control it with an app.
And keep an eye out for other features you might find useful, like the ability to choose between cool or warm mist or the option to add essential oils for a little aromatherapy.
However, there are a few important things to keep in mind when you start using a humidifier.
First, it’s possible to make your room too humid, which can exacerbate certain lung issues like asthma, Dr. Jonathan Parsons, director of the Asthma Center at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, explained to TODAY.com previously.
And, second, stay on top of cleaning your humidifier regularly. If you slack off on that, you may find mold, bacteria, dust mites or mildew grow inside, which exacerbate allergies and lung problems, Parsons and Fajt said. That’s especially a problem if you’re also over-humidifying the room.
Follow the instructions that come with your device — and enjoy healthy, moisturized skin this winter.
TODAY’s Expert Tip of the Day series is all about simple strategies to make life a little easier. Every Monday through Friday, different qualified experts share their best advice on diet, fitness, heart health, mental wellness and more.
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