As temperatures go down right around this time of year, the potential for acne flare-ups goes up.
With so much to do in time for the holidays, there’s little time left to deal with acne.
Find out what you can do to prevent those cool weather acne flare ups.
If you’re prone to acne or blemishes, you know that a flare up can occur at any time. However, in some cases, cooler weather seems to make it worse.
This is due to increased oil production (sebum) in the sebaceous glands to compensate for dry conditions from heating your home. As you turn up the thermostat, the air dries out more, right along with your skin.
When extra sebum, which is sticky, mixes together with dead skin cells left behind on the outermost layer of your skin, it blocks pores and results in acne flare ups.
Here are some other things you can do to reduce those cool weather flare ups:
If you don’t normally wash your face every morning and night, cooler weather is the perfect time to start.
Clean skin is important because it helps remove bacteria, dead skin cells and excess oil from your skin, reducing the risk of a flare up.
Steer clear of harsh cleaning and exfoliants that strip away too much of your skin’s natural oils.
Instead, use gentle, organic products that do the job without overly drying. Indulge in a moisturizing mask once a week to pamper while retaining moisture in your skin.
If your skin isn’t hydrated, it’s at even greater risk of becoming dry.
Dry skin is far more susceptible to acne breakouts.
Keeping skin hydrated not only helps keep a plump, healthy look, but minimizes the chance of acne taking hold.
As we learned from the COVID experience, your hands touch all kinds of germ and bacteria laden surfaces all day, every day.
Touching your face transfers the bacteria directly on to the skin and increases the risk of a bacteria-induced breakout.
Wrap Up
While it’s very important to take an active part in cooler weather skincare to prevent acne flare ups, it also helps to consult with a professional.
A professional esthetician can give your skin a jump start to face those cooler temperatures, in addition to making product recommendations to keep your skin healthy and blemish free.
In Petaluma, call Laura Skincare to schedule an appointment before the holidays.