There’s not many people in this world who can defend the fact that mid-February is up there with the worst times of the year: Christmas feels like it never happened, we’ve gone through ‘fake spring’ (AKA a brief burst of sunshine and blue skies before the cold, wet weather hits again), while the warmth of summer, the prospect of sitting in a pub garden and not having to layer up before leaving the house feels like a million years away.
And if there’s one more thing to add to the list, it’s that the start of the year is also prime time for skin flare-ups that seem to come out of nowhere. ‘The February weather is a challenge: cold temperatures, biting winds and indoor heating all combine to dry out the skin because of disruption to the skin barrier,’ says Dr Emma Wedgeworth, consultant dermatologist and No7 ambassador.
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CeraVe dermatologist Dr Angela Tewari agrees, adding that the temperature variation can put certain stresses on the skin, and it can have a particularly negative impact on those who’re more susceptible to conditions like acne or eczema. But that’s not all, because chances are that those skincare products you unwrapped on Christmas Day and immediately started using are coming into effect.
‘We’ve all been there: getting caught up in the excitement of shiny, new products and so we introduce a flurry of new ingredients into our regime. Now, a few weeks down the line, skin is likely to be unbalanced and protesting against the multitude of new products,’ says Dr Wedgeworth.
‘When you notice your skin getting tight – which is one of the first signs of skin irritation – it’s important to resort back to a gentle regime to help settle it down again,’ insists Dr Tewari.
So if this sounds all too familiar, the first step is not to panic, and the second is to strip your routine right back, ensuring you're using as few products as possible. ‘When skin flare-ups happen, go back to basics. Pause the use of actives, like retinoids, acids and toners, and instead, choose a gentle, balancing cleanser and a rich moisturiser with hard working ingredients that’ll help repair the skin barrier,’ explains Dr Wedgeworth.
The best gentle cleansers for irritated skin
Dr Tewari suggests spraying skin with mineral water or hyaluronic acid sprays to help keep it hydrated and balanced. 'I would also try and use a regular hydrating emollient at night time, and using products that contain urea and ceramides can be very helpful,' she says.
When your skin is settled and back to normal, it's important not to be tempted to load it with different ingredients, otherwise you'll just keep going round in circles. Instead, keep things basic and be patient; start by reintroducing one new product at a time, that way you'll know what exactly is causing any irritation and hopefully you'll be able to prevent it from happening again.
The best mists and moisturisers for irritated skin
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