<p><img src="https://cdn.psychiatricnews.net/news/photo/202011/22337_14940_2727.jpg" alt="" style="max-width:100%"></p><p>With the arrival of Ipdong (the start of winter), full-fledged winter weather has set in. Unlike last winter, which was relatively mild due to unusually high temperatures, this winter is forecast to bring harsh cold similar to previous years. In particular, sudden sharp drops in temperature are expected, with unusually large fluctuations in temperature. During periods of such significant temperature swings, it is important to pay close attention to health management — especially skin health, as the skin is directly exposed to cold winds.</p><p>The main threats to skin health in winter are the drastic temperature changes between indoors and outdoors, and dry environmental conditions. As temperatures drop, sebum secretion — which serves as a protective barrier for the skin — decreases, and sweat glands shrink, causing the skin to dry out. In addition, dry air weakens the function of the skin barrier and strips moisture from the stratum corneum. Not only the cold outdoor air, but also indoor heating devices such as heaters pose a threat to skin health. In particular, direct exposure to the hot air from a heater causes the skin to dry out even more easily.</p><p>Exposure to sudden temperature differences is also harmful to the skin. Skin blood vessels constrict when temperatures drop and dilate when temperatures rise. When the skin is suddenly exposed to high temperatures after being in a cold environment, the blood vessels dilate rapidly, causing a large amount of blood to rush to the area, resulting in redness of the skin. When blood vessels dilate so suddenly, the skin becomes easily irritated and sensitized.</p><p>Furthermore, because cell regeneration activity slows down in winter, even slight neglect of skincare can accelerate signs of skin aging such as fine lines, loss of elasticity, and enlarged pores. To prevent rapid aging during winter, it is important first to avoid exposure to sudden temperature changes. Indoor temperature should be maintained at 18–22°C and humidity at 40–60%. Before operating heating devices, filters should be cleaned thoroughly, ventilation should be performed periodically to circulate the air, and a humidifier should be used to maintain appropriate humidity levels.</p>

Washing your face or showering with excessively hot water in cold weather can strip the skin of its necessary oils, leading to even drier skin, so it is advisable to use lukewarm water. Additionally, after cleansing or showering, a sufficient amount of moisturizer should be applied before the skin is completely dry.

When the skin is dry, dead skin cells tend to build up easily. However, aggressively removing them with exfoliating towels or harsh exfoliants can worsen skin dryness, so it is important to keep the skin well moisturized and allow dead skin cells to shed naturally.

If significant skin sagging or loss of elasticity is noticed, improving the condition through dermatological procedures is also a good option. Among these, Ulthermage FLX is a procedure that simultaneously delivers the effects of Ulthera, which is effective for lifting, and Thermage, which is effective for enhancing skin elasticity and tightening. Ulthera penetrates high-intensity focused ultrasound energy into the deep fascial layer of the skin to lift and tighten it, while Thermage applies radiofrequency energy concentrated on the dermal layer to activate the self-generation of collagen, producing a tightening effect. Ulthermage FLX is a representative non-surgical lifting procedure that delivers elasticity improvement results, and patient satisfaction is high. However, since various factors such as the degree of aging and the direction of wrinkles must be taken into consideration during the procedure, it is important to receive treatment from a dermatologist with extensive clinical experience.

Advice provided by: Director Lee Won-shin, Wells Dermatology Clinic

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