I have terribly changeable skin so I understand exactly how frustrating it is when skin goes from clear and dewy in the summer to irritated in the winter. Since my skin can be pretty awful, I have called on Consultant Dermatologist Dr Nick Lowe to offer some tips alongside mine because there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening.
Try to keep your summer diet going throughout the winter. As the colder weather sets in salads often become a distant memory, but try to ensure you're getting as much fruit and vegetables into your diet. Oily fish is great for skin too, factor in a couple of portions each week. If your diet is suffering, try Elemental Herbology Cell Food, £42. With pomegranate, Green tea and Vitamin A, C and E it feeds the skin from the outside-in with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants.
Don't panic. If you know your good skin tends to go AWOL at this time of year try to keep calm, stress and worry can actually exacerbate the situation. Dr Nick Lowe says, 'we don't know the exact reason why skin breaks out in winter, but one factor could be depression.'
If your skin breaks out, make sure you don't forgo moisturiser in the hope it will dry your spots out. Dehydration can actually make spots worse. Dr Nick Lowe suggest a gentle, light, moisturiser and his own Spot Gel, £9.18 (boots.com).
'If you tend to have dry skin and eczema as the central heating goes on, you need to change your topical programme' says Dr Nick Lowe.
Try La Roche-Posay Nutritic, £13.60 which is formulated for very dry skin. For the body Dr Nick Lowe recommends any of the Vaseline Intensive Care Lotions or Dermol 500, £9.59. For extremely dry skin, Dermol 600 Bath Emollient, £11.99, is a good choice.
We both agree, however, that you shouldn't change your whole skincare routine in one go, that will definitely confuse an already fragile complexion! Make one change at a time and monitor your skin's reaction.
Dr Nick Lowe is Consultant Dermatologist at the Cranley Clinic. drnicklowe.com
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