The Truth About Persistent Winter Acne: Skincare Tips

There is winter acne, and it is worse than other seasonal forms. Acne is said to get worse during the colder months. It makes perfect sense that the number of microorganisms in our pores would grow this season and cause breakouts when we take into account this information and combine it with the backdrop of those unique pimple-inducing factors.

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Is the idea that acne is more prevalent in the winter actually accurate, or is it only a folktale that has been handed down from generation to generation with little support from science? How is it feasible, if it holds up, that bacteria multiply more quickly in cooler temperatures? Bacteria flourish in warmer conditions, as we all know.

According to a three-year research by doctors Vanessa Lindsay Pascoe and Alexandra Boer Kimball, dermatological patients with psoriasis and acne experienced worsening symptoms in the winter. 17.5% of acne prone skin report skin clearing up during the fall, whereas 45.9% of patients report their acne worsening throughout the winter. The fall appears to be the greatest season for clear skin.

Why Does Winter Make Acne Worse?

The claim that winter is "the worst season for acne" doesn't make any sense at all. We would anticipate that outbreaks will be more common during the warmer months. Propionibacterium, which causes acne, enjoys warmth and wetness. The combination of summer's increased temperatures, humidity, and beach days seems to be the ideal setting for a serious breakout. However, statistically, this is not a common occurrence.

Our skin does not purge due to seasonal environmental circumstances; rather, spots are the result of our skin's response to these situations.

The dry air of winter drains moisture from the skin through the skin barrier. Our skin responds to dryness by overproducing oil and sebum. The quantity of sebum and oil that our glands produce as a type of overcompensation is more than our skin can tolerate, and as a result, the sebum and oil clog our pores and cause acne. Sebum aids in maintaining the right moisture and suppleness of your skin, but too much of it can cause your skin's cells to adhere to one another. A decrease in exposure to clean air can also result in irritation and breakouts in addition to sebum.

Managing Seasonal Acne Exacerbations

1. Preventing seasonal acne with enough hydration is the simplest approach to get rid of it. Our sebaceous glands won't increase their production of sebum and oil by moisturizing or hydrating the skin since they won't ever detect a dull skin. Skin moisturizers without oil can be beneficial. They can seal in moisture and stop our skin from responding to the strains of the dry winter weather when applied to damp skin, such as shortly after we step out of the shower. Whenever we go outside, we cover our faces with a scarf or another type of protection. Our skin might lose moisture when it is cold and windy, which can also cause irritation.

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2. Use a gentle cleanser and staying away from all abrasive scrubs. The dryness brought on by cold weather might get worse with exfoliators.

3. Changing our skin care regimens might exacerbate the problem. We should be careful not to wash too much. Even while the temptation to clean our skin more regularly in an effort to avoid breakouts may be strong, doing so will only make the problem worse.

The festive season may be demanding. A breakout can also be brought on by worrying and other mental stressors. Making time for stress-relieving activities, like as exercise, yoga, and meditation, may reduce the anxiety and prevent stressful acne.

Reference: HealthLine