Bristol Life Magazine article, Jan 2024
Dr Hannah has been a GP in Bristol for over 12 years and is medical director at her doctor-delivered skin clinic, KinDRed Skin Aesthetics. In this article, Dr Hannah shares her insider secrets to help you achieve that elusive winter glow.
The cold, harsh weather and central heating can play havoc with our skin during the winter. Almost all of my patients complain of dull, dehydrated skin at this time of year but there are some simple steps you can take to keep your skin in beautiful, healthy condition.
1. Key skincare ingredients
As a GP, I know that prevention is always better than cure and the same applies when looking after your skin. 95% of UV radiation reaching our skin from the sun is in the form of UVA and this can penetrate clouds, glass and is just as strong during the winter. It damages our DNA, degrades our collagen and is the cause of 80% of skin aging. It isn’t getting older that is aging your skin, it is damage from the sun. A facial sunscreen, rain or shine, summer or winter, needs to be part of your daily morning routine EVERY day. I would advise ditching any makeup or moisturiser containing SPF – it simply isn’t adequate protection. In clinic, I stock the amazing Heliocare sunscreen range which is super lightweight and affords the very best protection. Don’t forget your neck and hands!
Another key ingredient in your winter skincare routine is hyaluronic acid. This is a natural substance found in our skin which helps to lock in moisture. The HA Intensifier by SkinCeuticals is one of my hero products for winter hydration.
If you aren’t using a retinol, then you should be (unless you are pregnant, breast feeding or have very sensitive skin) and winter is a great time to start. Retinol is one of the few ingredients in skincare that acts on our skin at a cellular level, increasing cell turnover and stimulating fibroblasts to produce more collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid. Not all retinols are created equal so feel free to book in a complimentary skin consultation with me to find out more.
2. In-clinic treatments
Skinboosters, such as Profhilo, are injectable treatments containing a very high concentration of hyaluronic acid to supercharge skin hydration. If you are new to aesthetic treatments, then skin boosters are perfect because they won’t change your appearance in any way, other than giving you more glowing, supple skin.
The stratum corneum, or “dead skin layer”, can really thicken up during the winter, leading to a dull appearance. A chemical peel is a great way to remove this layer to reveal the radiant, fresh skin underneath. The Obagi Blue Peel Radiance is a low downtime peel (no hibernation needed) that is universally loved by my patients for an affordable and quick boost.
Dermalux LED light therapy is another in-clinic favourite. It uses specific, safe wavelengths of light to stimulate the skin. It is a lovely winter treatment as it boosts our fibroblasts and gives a glow without the need for any products, needles or downtime.
3. What to avoid in winter?
Winter is full of temptations and threats to your skin. Avoid these common pitfalls and your skin will thank you.
- Avoid dehydration by drinking at least 2 litres of water per day.
- Avoid hot showers and harsh foaming cleansers that can strip the skin – I always prefer using a cleansing balm at this time of year.
- It might feel like your dry skin needs a good scrub but rough, physical exfoliators are generally bad for your skin barrier. Use a gentle chemical exfoliator instead such as SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight.
- In the depths of winter, it can be tempting to jump on a sunbed for a quick tan but this is possibly the worst thing you could ever do to your skin. A BMJ study showed that the risk of melanoma increased by 20% for those who had ever used a sunbed.
- Finally, alcohol leads to skin dehydration and elevated blood sugar causes protein glycation (effectively breaking down your collagen) so a New Year’s resolution of Dry January and signing up for that 10K will actually help your skin too!