Seasonal skin concerns seem most prominent in the harshest times of the year (summer and winter), but the milder months can bring on their own slew of skin concerns. Autumn is a nice respite from the heat of summer and a welcome transition before the icy winter, but along with that comes temperature fluctuations, a drop in humidity, and wardrobe changes. All of these factors can do a real number on your skin.
Three common skin concerns we see during this time are dryness, rosacea flareups, and keratosis pilaris. With some preventative measures, and a little help from skincare experts, you can keep your skin healthy through all of the pumpkin spice, apple picking, and cozy nights by the fire.
Dry Skin
Cooler air has more trouble holding onto moisture because individual air particles are more densely packed than they are in warmer temperatures. That means a serious drop in humidity that comes along with a drop in temperature. Of course, drier air means drier skin.
The easiest way to tackle this concern is to up your moisturizing routine. Cooler temps mean that you can make the switch to a richer, thicker moisturizer for your face. NeoStrata Ultra Moisturizing Face Cream PHA 10 is an emollient cream that exfoliates, moisturizes, and restores skin. You can also use serums like SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel or Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum to further boost your hydration.
But, your face isn’t the only area that needs a little extra love. Your body and scalp can also suffer from flaking, dryness, and irritation.
Use body cleansers that boost moisture retention and switch to creams for more hydration. As for dandruff, the humidity and heat of summer creates an ideal environment for the growth of dandruff-causing yeast. Products like CLn Shampoo can lather away excess oil and dead skin cells on scalps prone to dandruff.
Rosacea
It’s not uncommon for rosacea sufferers to experience flareups in the fall. This condition, which causes redness and bumps, doesn’t have a known cause, but the extreme temperature changes have been identified as a factor. In the colder part of autumn, when we move from the chillier outdoors to the warm indoors, it’s not uncommon to notice the tell-tale redness occurring more frequently.
You can keep rosacea under control by keeping your heat indoors more moderate and by opting for warm, not hot, showers. Coffee and products that contain caffeine, have been shown to help constrict the blood vessels that cause the visible signs of rosacea. Advanced Skin Therapeutic’s Green Tea Cream is fortified with caffeine and works to calm and cool your skin.
Meg 21 Redness Relief instantly combats inflammation, redness, and irritation with its dual action combination of Supplamine® and extracts of aloe, burdock root, comfrey, allantoin, licorice, and ginger.
Finally, NeoStrata Reactive Skin Neutralizing Serum, formulated with BioCalm ComplexZ, targets redness to restore and strengthen the skin barrier. This unique product interrupts the inflammation cascade to improve skin resiliency and reduce the appearance of flushing.
Keratosis Pilaris
One of our favorite parts of autumn is the switch to warm sweaters, scarves, and socks. Unfortunately, a cozy wardrobe can exacerbate the occurrence of keratosis pilaris. This condition causes rough skin and small, acne-like bumps caused by the production of too much keratin and a lack of skin cell turnover. The built up protein creates a “plug” that blocks the hair follicles.
Dry skin tends to worsen the condition, but so does thick layers and rough fabrics. Wool is the worst offender, as it tends to trap heat close to the skin, and the fibers are known to be itchy and irritating. While it’s best to stick with breathable cotton clothing, it’s impossible to avoid bundling up against the chill.
Gentle exfoliants can help clear up the keratin plugs. Keratosis pilaris (KP) is common on the cheeks, so a facial exfoliator, like NuCelle’s Papaya Skin Exfoliator, can work to smooth and refine skin. By buffing away flakes and loosening aging cells, it lessens the appearance of bumps.
KP is also common on upper arms and thighs. NeoStrata Lotion Plus is a lightweight lotion formulated with glycolic acid which exfoliates and smooths the skin by enhancing skin cell turnover.
In some cases, the addition of an exfoliator isn’t enough to soothe the condition. Your providers at Advanced Dermatology & Skincare Institute can find a medical intervention, such as prescription creams or laser treatment to treat more severe redness.
