So This Is Why Your Skin Gets So Itchy During the Winter

Anna Buckman

January 15, 2021 at 9:35 AM·6 min read

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Among the many skincare qualms that winter presents, itchy skin may be the most annoying. For those who experience it, it's not only ever-present, it's also felt everywhere, taking over your entire body for no apparent reason. And unlike, say, chapped lips, solving itchiness is kind of a mystery, especially since many skincare products only seem to exacerbate the problem rather than fix it in the long run.

What you may not know, though, is that there's an actual reason behind your itchy skin. Even better, dermatologists say that there are ways to soothe and prevent it. So, if you're ready to kick this pesky winter issue for good, here are the simple steps you can take to solve it and the skincare products experts recommend implementing into your daily routine.

What happens to your skin in the winter?

You've probably already noticed there's a difference in your skin when the temperatures drop. And no, you're not imagining this. Dendy Engelman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Shafer Clinic, explains that there's less moisture in the air during the winter, which "causes moisture to leak out of the skin, leaving it dry, red, flaky, and more prone to chapping, chafing, and potential cutaneous infections."

So why does skin get itchy in the winter?

Kavita Mariwalla, M.D., a New York-based board-certified dermatologist, says this leaking moisture is known as "transepidermal water loss" and explains that it's the reason you feel an increased need to scratch. "While your skin loses more water, it gets drier," she shares. "When skin becomes very dry, it gets out of balance and can become irritated and red and itchy."

To break it down further, Dr. Mariwalla explains that skin is like a "coat of armor" against the outside world. When it gets dry, that armor develops tiny cracks. "The result is that your body has a small inflammatory reaction to try to heal those breaks in the skin," she continues. "You may not notice it with the naked eye since it's happening on a very small level, but you feel it by way of itch."

What can I do to soothe itchy skin?

If you want to stop itchy skin from happening in the first place, Caroline Chang, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and founder of Rhode Island Dermatology Institute, says you should start by preventing water loss. There are a few ways you can do this, she explains, including taking lukewarm showers (instead of hot) and reducing your use of ingredients known to dry out skin, such as salicylic acid and retinol.

Additionally, Dr. Mariwalla suggests avoiding fabric softeners and dryer sheets as well as scented products such as perfumes and body washes. And Dr. Engelman stresses drinking water to prevent dehydration in addition to using a humidifier to keep your home at optimal humidity. (She specifically recommends the Canopy brand, as she says it supports skin barrier function and reduces transepidermal water loss.)

And whether you're trying to avoid itchy skin or get rid of it, moisturizing is imperative. Dr. Engelman explains that to effectively do this, you should apply your products within 60 seconds after your shower. "This allows the product to trap some of the water on your skin, keeping it from evaporating," she says. However, for this to work, you must take care to layer your different types of moisturizers—like humectants, emollients, and occlusives—properly. "First, apply humectants and emollients, which will penetrate the skin, delivering actives and vitamins," she says. Finally, an occlusive like glycerin or Aquaphor will provide a physical barrier to help "trap" the water in.

Looking for a few specific product recommendations? Keep reading for eight dermatologist-approved picks.