As the cold weather sets in, many of us notice our skin becoming dry, red, or irritated. For those with conditions like eczema or psoriasis, winter can be particularly challenging.
Cold air and harsh winds strip moisture from your skin. “If your lips crack, you apply plenty of balm—your skin deserves the same care,” says Dr Friedmann. Use rich, nourishing moisturisers regularly, and don’t wait until dryness sets in.
2. Optimise Treatment for Skin Conditions
Eczema, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions can flare in winter. Anti-inflammatory creams—steroid or non-steroid—paired with moisturiser help control redness, scaling, and discomfort. “Staying on top of your treatment prevents winter flare-ups,” Dr Friedmann advises.
3. Protect Against the Cold
Layer up to shield your skin from biting winds and freezing temperatures. Cold can trigger chilblains, causing painful red welts, and Raynaud’s phenomenon, which leads to whitening and blueness in fingers. Warm clothing, gloves, and scarves are key.
4. Don’t Forget SPF
Winter sun can still damage skin—especially in snowy environments where sunlight reflects and intensifies. Use moisturisers with high-factor SPF daily, and apply dedicated sunscreen if you’re outdoors for extended periods.
5. Stay Hydrated and Humidify Indoors
Central heating can dry the air, exacerbating skin irritation. Drinking enough water and using a humidifier can help maintain skin hydration and prevent flaking or itchiness.
“Moisture isn’t just about creams; the environment matters too,” Dr Friedmann notes.
Healthy winter skin is achievable with a simple, consistent routine: moisturise, protect, manage existing conditions, wear SPF, and maintain indoor humidity. Follow these five tips from Dr Friedmann, and your skin will stay comfortable and radiant all season long.
Psoriasis is a complex condition that affects millions, but its exact causes remain a mystery. While genetics play a significant role, environmental factors often act as the triggers that bring psoriasis to the surface.
Weather Conditions
For those predisposed to psoriasis, life can be symptom-free until a specific environmental trigger, like cold or extremely dry weather, sets off a flare-up. Extremely dry weather is also one of the most common psoriasis triggers. That's because cold, dry weather can strip moisture from the skin, weakening its protective barrier and making it more prone to irritation. The lack of humidity in winter air, combined with indoor heating, dries out the skin further, exacerbating inflammation and scaling.
Reduced sunlight exposureduring colder months can also decrease natural vitamin D levels, which play a role in regulating skin cell growth and immune responses, potentially worsening psoriasis symptoms.
Other Concerns
It's not just weather —factors like smoking, alcohol consumption, and even exposure to air pollution can all impact your skin.
Smoking tobacco, or being exposed to secondhand smoke, not only increases the risk of psoriasis but also may increase the severity of the disease. Heavy alcohol consumption can increase inflammation in the body, which can trigger psoriasis. Alcohol can also dry out skin that's already prone to dryness and flaking. And high exposure to air pollutants has been linked to an increased risk of severe psoriasis, research shows.
Flares of psoriasis are common after the use of certain medications, including lithium, high blood pressure drugs, and antimalarial drugs. Infections, like strep throat or even skin infections, can send the immune system into overdrive, worsening psoriasis symptoms. Injury to the skin, such as a cut, bug bite, or a severe sunburn can increase the chances of a psoriasis flare-up.
Understanding these triggers is crucial for managing psoriasis effectively. By knowing more about how your environment and habits might be affecting your psoriasis, you can keep tabs on common triggers and keep flare-ups at bay. Always consult with your doctor before making changes to your psoriasis treatment strategy.
The surprising everyday habits that make psoriasis flare-ups worse
Your psoriasis isn’t just randomly deciding to ruin your week. Those red, scaly patches that seem to appear out of nowhere are actually responding to specific triggers that might be lurking in your everyday routine without you realizing it. Understanding what sets off your flare-ups is like having a secret weapon against this frustrating autoimmune condition.
Psoriasis affects millions of people, causing the immune system to speed up skin cell production so dramatically that new cells reach the surface in days instead of weeks. The result is the thick, scaly patches that can appear anywhere on your body and make you want to hide under long sleeves year-round.
Photo credit: Shutterstock/Andrey_Popov
Stress becomes your skin’s worst enemy
Stress and psoriasis have a twisted relationship that creates a vicious cycle. When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones that can trigger inflammation and worsen psoriasis symptoms. Then, dealing with visible psoriasis symptoms creates more stress, which triggers more flare-ups.
This doesn’t mean you need to eliminate all stress from your life, but finding healthy ways to manage stress can significantly impact your skin. Whether it’s regular exercise, meditation, or just ensuring you get enough sleep, stress management becomes a crucial part of psoriasis care.
The connection is so strong that many people notice their psoriasis gets worse during particularly challenging life periods like job changes, relationship problems, or family issues. Recognizing this pattern can help you prepare and take extra care of your skin during stressful times.
Your favourite foods might be inflammation fuel
Certain foods can trigger inflammatory responses that make psoriasis worse, though the specific triggers vary from person to person. Common culprits include processed foods high in sugar, refined carbohydrates, and foods that promote inflammation throughout the body.
Some people find that alcohol, particularly beer and wine, can trigger flare-ups. Others notice that nightshade vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants seem to worsen their symptoms. Dairy products and gluten are also frequent triggers for some individuals with psoriasis.
The key is paying attention to your own patterns rather than following a universal elimination diet. Keep track of what you eat and how your skin responds to identify your personal food triggers.
Weather changes throw your skin into chaos
Cold, dry weather is notorious for triggering psoriasis flare-ups. Low humidity levels can dry out your skin, while lack of sunlight reduces your natural vitamin D production, both of which can worsen psoriasis symptoms.
But it’s not just winter weather that’s problematic. Some people find that rapid weather changes, moving between extreme temperatures, or even changes in barometric pressure can trigger symptoms. Air conditioning and heating systems that dry out indoor air can also contribute to flare-ups.
Medications create unexpected skin reactions
Certain medications can trigger psoriasis flare-ups or make existing symptoms worse. Beta-blockers used for heart conditions, lithium for bipolar disorder, and some antimalarial drugs are known to potentially worsen psoriasis in some people.
Even common medications like ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can sometimes trigger flare-ups. This doesn’t mean you should stop taking necessary medications, but it’s important to discuss any connections you notice with your health care provider.
Skin injuries activate the autoimmune response
Any injury to your skin, from cuts and scrapes to sunburns and even tight clothing that rubs against your skin, can trigger new psoriasis patches in that exact location. This phenomenon is called the Koebner response, and it can happen anywhere from a few days to several weeks after the initial injury.
This means being extra careful about protecting your skin from injuries, choosing loose-fitting clothing, and being gentle during activities like shaving or exercising. Even something as minor as a scratch can potentially become a new psoriasis patch.
Infections trigger immune system overreactions
Infections, particularly strep throat, can trigger psoriasis flare-ups or even cause psoriasis to develop for the first time. The immune system’s response to fighting infections can sometimes mistakenly target healthy skin cells, leading to psoriasis symptoms.
Other infections like respiratory infections, skin infections, or even dental problems can potentially trigger flare-ups in susceptible individuals.
Taking control of your triggers
Managing psoriasis isn’t about avoiding life entirely, but about understanding your personal triggers and developing strategies to minimize their impact. This might mean carrying moisturizer during weather changes, practicing stress management techniques, or working with your health care provider to adjust medications when possible.
Keep a flare-up diary to track potential triggers, including what you ate, stress levels, weather conditions, and any other factors that might be relevant. Over time, you’ll start to see patterns that can help you predict and prevent flare-ups before they become severe.
Living with psoriasis requires patience and self-awareness, but understanding your triggers gives you power over a condition that can otherwise feel completely unpredictable.
New guidelines call for higher SPF, but people with skin conditions need soothing formulas. Discover 12 products that do it all in HealthCentral’s fourth annual Sensitive Skin Awards
There is no arguing the importance of sunscreen for everyone, no matter your age or skin tone. But when you’re dealing with chronic skin conditions, it is extra important to find the right formula and level of protection for your needs. For our fourth annual review of the best skin products for sensitive skin, we partnered with The Skin Cancer Foundation on research-based guidelines for our expert panel of dermatologists to use in evaluating sunscreen options.
Which select SPF products made this year’s cut? Find out here in HealthCentral’s 2025 Sensitive Skin Awards!
The Latest Sunscreen Guidelines for Sensitive Skin
Sunscreen is a must-have for everyone and finding one that works for your skin and your lifestyle is the best way to ensure you actually use (and reapply!) it every single day. If you have sensitive skin or a chronic skin condition like eczema, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, or rosacea, your skin’s needs are more specific than the average sunscreen-wearer. Anna L. Chien, M.D., is a member of The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Photobiology Committee, which is responsible for determining the scientific standards behind the Foundation’s sun protection guidelines. We asked her to break down the key qualities that make sunscreens friendlier for sensitive skin.
The Ingredients
“People with sensitive skin conditions or skin sensitivity are often more comfortable with sunscreens that contain what are called mineral active ingredients,” says Dr. Chien. “These are products that use physical barriers—either zinc oxide or titanium dioxide—which protect the skin from dangerous UV exposure.” You might have heard about different types of sunscreens formulas: Physical (also called mineral) sunscreens reflect damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays away from the skin as opposed to chemical formulas, which absorb UV rays before they can harm your skin.
Both kinds of sunscreen are effective, but chemical formulas may be more irritating for those with sensitive skin due to common active ingredients like oxybenzone, avobenzone, homosalate, octinoxate, octocrylene, and octisalate. “Interestingly, in many tests, it isn’t the sunscreen active [ingredient] that causes irritation,” Dr. Chien notes. “Fragrances and preservatives are often the culprits in what causes reactivity in skin.” It is always best to do a small patch test on your skin before slathering yourself in a new formula to see if your skin has a negative reaction.
The Texture
The way sunscreen feels on your skin can make you more likely to use the product regularly, but the texture also needs to be one that people with chronic skin conditions can apply without exacerbating a breakout or flare. “Generally, people with sensitive skin or disruption in the skin barrier tend to do better with thicker formulations such as creams,” Dr. Chien says. Gels and spray formulas can tend to contain alcohol, which can irritate your skin. And if you’re prone to breakouts, thinner oil-free options might be your best bet.
The Level of Protection
The Skin Cancer Foundation Photobiology Committee recently released updated guidelines for the minimum SPF (sun protection factor). For daily use, a minimum SPF 30 is required for a product to earn the organization’s Seal of Recommendation, and for sunscreens formulated for active lifestyle use, products must have a minimum of SPF 50.
These guidelines are especially important for people with chronic skin conditions to adhere to. “Having more sensitive skin and a compromised barrier may make an individual more prone to the negative effects of sunlight—such as redness and discoloration,” Dr. Chien says. Plus, certain skin conditions like rosacea make skin more photosensitive, meaning skin is extra-vulnerable to the negative impacts of the sun.
Maintaining sunscreen coverage is also important for people who take medications to manage their chronic skin conditions. “There are many medications that can cause photosensitivity, including certain oral antibiotics used for rosacea and hidradenitis suppurativa,” Dr. Chien shares.
Think of sun protection as an integral part of your care plan for your skin, the outermost layer that safeguards all the work you’ve put into your treatment regimen—while also protecting you from skin cancer. And remember: Using sunscreen daily is an easy win for your skin health not just in summer but all year round.
HealthCentral’s Top Sunscreens With SPF 30+ for Chronic Skin
With the above guidelines in mind, our expert panel of dermatologists deliberated on the best sunscreen products on the market for sensitive skin and chronic skin conditions. Choose any of their picks below and slather with confidence that these products will shield your skin and treat it with the TLC it needs. (HealthCentral note: These products were chosen based on science-backed research and expert opinion. We do not receive any commission from the products we recommend.)
A comfortable, lightweight face sunscreen is a must for everyday wear. Not only is this formula fragrance-free and made with mineral sunscreen ingredients, it contains niacinamide, bisabolol, and allantoin to soothe sensitive skin, says Dr. Gohara, who swears by this product. Bisabolol has been found to calm itchy skin, improve eczema, and promote skin healing, according to one study. And bonus: It layers perfectly under makeup without pilling or greasiness.
Tired of sunscreens that leave you looking like a ghost? Finding a mineral-based sunscreen that doesn’t leave a grey or white cast has been difficult—until recently. This tinted option works for all skin tones, adjusting to the colour of your skin as you massage it in. “It’s free of fragrance, dyes, and other common irritating ingredients,” says Dr. Nazarian, making it a hero for sensitive skin.
This dermatologist-favourite multitasker hydrates and protects in one simple step. “This is my go-to moisturizing sunscreen,” says Dr. Mraz. It is packed with hyaluronic acid, a humectant that is proven to hydrate, rejuvenate, and heal skin. According to research, hyaluronic acid can bind 1,000 times its volume in water and hydrate both the surface of skin you touch (the stratum corneum) plus the two layers directly below (the epidermis and dermis, respectively). This is especially helpful for skin conditions that require the skin to stay hydrated like eczema and psoriasis.
Three of our four dermatologist panellists recommended this tinted sunscreen and as soon as you try it, you’ll see (and feel) why. “This skin tint is like a serum, sunscreen, and foundation had a baby—it evens tone, boosts moisture with niacinamide and squalane, and protects with non-nano zinc oxide, all while giving skin a dewy, breathable finish,” says Dr. Gohara. Dr. Nazarian notes it’s great for eczema- and rosacea-prone skin, while Dr. Alvarez adds that it comes in 30 shades to suit a wide range of skin tones.
Your lips are one of the most sensitive areas of skin on your body—and often the most forgotten when it comes to SPF. And when they’re not treated properly, lips can be prone to flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis. This mineral lip balm protects with zinc oxide and nourishes with shea butter, without any irritating fragrance or flavour, says Dr. Alvarez. Whether you’re dealing with a chronic skin condition or chapped lips, the ingredients will help keep your lips soft and protected from sunburn. Keep it in your bag, your car, or your pocket—your lips will thank you.
Back by popular demand! This mineral powder won “Best Sunscreen for Scalp” in last year’s Sunscreen Awards, and it topped our experts’ lists again for 2025. Dr. Alvarez says this 100% mineral powder pulls triple duty: It soaks up oil at your part, shields your scalp from UV rays, and even helps soothe flare-prone conditions like seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis. Not only is zinc an effective mineral sunscreen, it also helps to treat these skin conditions, which can often flare up on the scalp and cause irritation.
Midday SPF reapplication without messing up your makeup? Yes, please. This ultra-fine mineral powder makes it easy to swipe on sun protection every two hours—no mirror or sticky hands required. “It’s awesome for on-the-go applications,” says Dr. Nazarian. She also recommends it for anyone with heat-triggered conditions like hidradenitis suppurativa or rosacea. The sheer, lightweight finish won’t clog pores or weigh down your skin. Plus, it adds a subtle matte glow.
When it comes to full-body sunscreen, gentle and glide-able is the name of the game. This fragrance-free mineral lotion gets Dr. Nazarian’s stamp of approval for its antioxidant-rich formula that offers bonus protection against free radicals. “It applies super easily without excessive rubbing or tugging, which can flare rosacea or psoriasis,” she explains. It’s also breathable and non-occlusive, which makes it a smart pick for anyone managing hidradenitis suppurativa or dealing with dry, sensitive patches from chronic skin conditions.
Looking for a spray that’s actually good for sensitive skin? “This is the gold standard in mineral sprays,” says Dr. Gohara. It’s sheer, antioxidant-rich, and goes on evenly without leaving a greasy residue. Dr. Alvarez recommends it for quick and easy reapplication—especially on hard-to-reach spots like your back or shoulders. That’s a major win for folks with hidradenitis suppurativa, since friction and occlusion in those areas can trigger flare-ups.
This brand has been around for a while, and it’s a go-to for outdoor exercisers who need extra SPF that can stand up to sweat. This one’s water- and sweat-resistant for up to 80 minutes, so it stays put while you move. “It’s great for people with rosacea, eczema, and hidradenitis suppurativa because of its lightweight feel,” says Dr. Nazarian. And the formula doesn’t feel greasy and sticky on your skin.
Stashing a stick sunscreen in your purse is helpful for on-the-go protection. “This shields skin from UVA and UVB rays and also contains iron oxide which also helps protect against the visible light spectrum, particularly useful for people with melasma and many other sun-induced conditions,” says Dr. Mraz. Other sensitive skin-friendly ingredients like seaweed extract and bisabolol help moisturize and heal skin damage.
Baby skin is super sensitive, so choosing a gentle sunscreen with soothing ingredients is a given. “Not only is it mineral-only, it’s fragrance-free, non-irritating, and water-resistant, so it stays put during splashy play while keeping delicate skin safe,” says Dr. Gohara. Plus, parents love it because the cap turns pink when UV rays are present, reminding you to reapply.
