As if being sick and cold weren’t punishment enough, the combination of flu season and winter weather can seriously compromise your complexion.
Social media users have dubbed this dermal diminishment “the winter uglies.”
“The ‘winter uglies’ is a decline in skin appearance and quality that happens during the colder months, when dry, dull and flaky skin results from a weakened skin barrier,” NYC dermatologist Dr. Rodaina Ahmed told The Post.
Ahmed shared that fluctuating temperatures, lack of sunlight and hot, dry, indoor air conspire to sabotage skin.
“Reduced hydration, routine changes and mood changes during winter can also negatively impact skin, making it look less vibrant,” she said.
According to Ahmed, the combination of cold weather and the effects of flu season is a one-two punch that lessens the skin’s ability to repair itself.
“Water levels in the body are essential for skin, and they drop dramatically due to low humidity and indoor heating. Those conditions, along with illness, inflammation, fever, dehydration, poor sleep and stress hormones, reduce the body’s natural oils and slow the rate of skin repair,” she explained.
To combat the barrier baddies, she recommends avoiding harsh soaps and overly hot showers and limiting the use of decongestants and antihistamines, all of which draw moisture from the body.
“All these negative conditions create a skin environment that’s drier, duller, more sensitive and slower to heal,” she said.
Ahmed maintains that keeping skin healthy during the winter months requires a simple, preventive routine.
“A rich barrier-repair moisturizer is a part of a great daily regimen,” she noted, “and you should also avoid strong actives that irritate the skin.”
She emphasized that hydration is crucial and recommends going bottoms-up with H2O and investing in thicker, moisturizing creams to protect the skin.
“Use the best moisturizer and balms for lips and hands, turn on a humidifier to add moisture, take cooler showers and avoid harsh soaps,” she added.
In terms of moisturizers, one TikTokker called lauded brand Bio-Oil her “secret to not getting crusty all winter” and said she applies it everywhere — hair, nails, skin and scars.
The brand’s $30 dry skin bundle includes a body lotion, skincare oil and dry skin gel.
Post reporter Miska Salemann calls the bundle “the exact trifecta my skin desperately needed. After applying these products day and night, my skin finally feels nourished and revitalized.”
Ahmed also shared that vitamin D production can decrease during winter months, making proper supplementation key to supporting healthy skin.
The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for adults 19 years and older is 600 international units (15 micrograms) daily for men and women and 800 international units (20 mcg) for adults 70 years and older.
In addition, Ahmed imparts that eating well can help skin retain its radiance even amid the harsh conditions of winter.
Water-rich foods like cucumber, watermelon, celery and strawberries not only support overall fluid balance but also provide antioxidants and vitamins that enhance skin texture and elasticity.
Further, the vitamin C found in citrus fruits, strawberries, papaya and bell peppers is crucial for collagen synthesis and skin repair, while vitamin E — found in sunflower seeds, almonds and wheat germ oil — protects the skin from environmental stressors and premature aging.
