In winter, many people experience oily skin that is both oily and uncomfortable when touched but also tense, flaky and uncomfortable. This is a fairly common phenomenon and is not an unusual sign of the skin. In fact, the combination of oily skin and dry skin is a natural reaction of the skin to cold weather, low humidity and changes in daily skin care routine.
According to Dr. Arti Sharma - senior consultant dermatologist at Derma Puritys Cosmetic Clinic (Delhi, India), this phenomenon comes from many different causes related to skin barrier protection, living environment and skin care in cold weather.
Reasons for oaper but still dry skin in winter
Weakened skin barrier: Cold weather and low humidity damage the skin's natural lipid layer, making it easier for moisture to escape. When the skin is dehydrated, the sebum will work harder to compensate, creating a shiny but still dry feeling.
Dry air caused by the home heating system: Using a heater makes the air dry, causing the skin to lose water faster. To protect yourself, the skin increases oil secretion, leading to oily skin on the outside but lack of moisture on the inside.
Excessive skin cleansing or using strong cleansers: Regularly washing your face or using strong cleansers can remove the skin's natural oils, making dryness worse and stimulating the skin to secrete more oil.
Skipping moisturizing steps due to oily skin: Many people stop moisturizing when they see shiny skin, while oil does not mean moisture. The lack of moisturizers causes the skin to continue to lose water despite increased oil levels.
Use skin care products that are not suitable for winter: Light products for summer are often not able to retain moisture in cold weather, causing the skin to lack the necessary components to restore the protective barrier.
Bathe and wash your face with hot water: Hot water removes the skin's natural protective oils, causing it to dry out and forcing the sebum to work hard to compensate for lost moisture.
Lack of water from within: In winter, drinking less water causes the body and skin to be dehydrated. At that time, the skin reacts by increasing oil secretion, leading to an oily but still dry feeling.
How to effectively balance oily and dry skin in the cold season
The solution to oily but deficient moisture is not to control oil, but to restore moisture and strengthen the skin's protective barrier. Some principles of skin care to note include:
Use a mild cleanser, avoid over-cleaning
Apply moisturizer containing ceramide, hyaluronic acid or water retention ingredients
You can combine a moisturizing serum with moisturizer step by step to increase effectiveness
Limit bathing or washing your face with water that is too hot
Drink enough water every day to hydrate your skin from the inside.
