Love the Skin You’re In

UPDATED 03/21/2025

Taking care of your skin in the winter can be a challenge. As someone that lives in the Northeast, I want to help you love the skin you’re in by sharing what I do every year.

If you live where I do, you know our winters can be a challenge. Once the season hits, the temperatures drop, yet the temperatures inside increase. When this happens, the moisture in the air and our bodies deteriorates. Because our skin is the largest organism on our bodies, it’s the first to experience changes. But there are ways we can counteract the dehydration. Here are a few things I do every year to avoid dry, flaky skin.

How to Love the Skin You’re In

• Avoid long, hot showers. Most of us take long, hot shower more in the winter because it makes us feel good. It’s a chance to warm up, but we’re actually causing damage to our cells when we do this. The heat causes inflammation and ultimately causes the dry, cracked and flaky skin. So try to avoid the temptation and use slightly less hot water.
• Find a good cream. To help your skin feel more hydrated, find a good cream, lotion, or ointment to use daily. Something ideal contains good fats and oils (like ceramides) as these are stripped from our skin during the colder temperatures. My personal favorite is body butter that contains shea butter and natural oils.
• Don’t rub or itch your skin. Instead of rubbing or itching your skin, pat it lightly. Rubbing your skin after a shower or bath causes more irritation and will make the skin cells lift. Itching essentially causes the flake that you see and no one likes that. The inflammation we cause sticks around when we rub or itch our skin because it’s a vigorous action. Instead, stay in the bathroom with the humidity and apply your favorite cream, lotion, or ointment to your skin.
• Wear layers. As an asthmatic, I was taught to bundle up in the winter and cold temperatures. I normally wear a scarf and a hat before it’s really even necessary. It’s my way of keeping my body warm and protecting myself from the cold. If you’re going to bundle up, make your layers softer, more natural fabrics as the fibers in your clothing can cause or harm our skin.
• Stay hydrated. This one is hard for me, just like it might be hard for you too. But to do so, try to increase your water intake during the winter as it will help you hydrate your body and your skin.. While it may result in frequent bathroom trips throughout the day, that action means the water is working. A good tip is to carry a bottle of water with you everywhere so you’re not tempted to drink something else!

Now that you have tips to prepare you, you’re ready to fight that dry, flaky skin this winter. Keep your body and your skin hydrated this season and you’ll learn to love the skin you’re in.

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Jenn Mullen holds degrees in Psychology and Business Management, as well as a certification in health and wellness coaching. She combines over a decade of corporate experience with more than five years of small business expertise, bringing a unique blend of skills and insight to her work. Beyond her expertise, she’s a high-energy, passionate individual with ADHD who thrives on staying organized, bringing laughter to every project, and finding joy in the work she loves.