Cambios en la piel durante el invierno

During winter, your skin can undergo various changes due to specific factors. Here are some common changes that occur during this season:

1. Dryness: The skin tends to become dry during winter. Dry skin can feel tight, rough, flaky, and itchy.
2. Roughness: The skin may become rough, resulting in a lack of smoothness and a rough texture. Sometimes, it can even lead to cracking or fissures.
3. Itching: Itchy skin can cause discomfort and a constant urge to scratch, which can further irritate the skin.
4. Redness: The skin may appear red, sometimes accompanied by pain or a burning sensation.
5. Dry and chapped lips: The lips can become dry, causing pain, tightness, and discomfort.
6. Dry and rough hands: The skin on the hands can become dry, leading to peeling, cracking, and pain.
7. Increased susceptibility to allergic reactions: Skin allergies can manifest as redness, itching, swelling, and pain.

Why do these changes occur?There are several reasons for these changes in the skin during winter:

1. Dry weather: The decrease in humidity during winter, combined with sun exposure, can accelerate moisture loss from the skin, exacerbating dryness, tightness, flaking, and even stinging sensations.
2. Decreased metabolic activity: In colder temperatures, both the body and skin’s metabolic capabilities decline. The sebaceous glands produce less sebum, resulting in reduced natural oil protection and decreased ability to retain moisture. Additionally, the constriction of microvessels in winter slows down blood circulation, leading to insufficient cell dynamics and a decline in metabolic rate. Slower metabolism can result in thicker, less absorbent, and aged skin, with increased fine lines and wrinkles.
3. Weaker skin resistance: Cold weather diverts the body’s energy towards combating the cold, which weakens other functions. The alternating exposure to warm indoor temperatures and cold outdoor temperatures can cause significant stress on the skin.
4. Increased exposure to dust and allergens: Winter air tends to contain more dust, which can easily clog pores and lead to acne breakouts or allergic reactions. Additionally, irregular sleep patterns, an imbalanced diet, and hormonal imbalances can also contribute to clogged pores and the formation of acne or closed comedones.

Therefore, the changes in the skin during winter are primarily caused by a combination of factors such as dry weather, decreased metabolic activity, weakened skin resistance, and environmental factors.