Winter Barrier Brief

Many of you are likely enjoying the Winter Olympics currently being held in Milan Cortina, whether on television, the Internet, or in person, if good fortune permits. In addition to the competitive challenges that they face, those athletes also have to contend with conditions that put their skin barrier at risk.

As we have previously mentioned, the low humidity and low temperatures characteristic of winter environments such as those found in these Italian venues can negatively impact barrier function. In animal studies, low humidity has been shown to increase the breakdown of the key skin structural protein filaggrin, which may contribute to an increased risk of flares in patients with eczema. Human studies have shown that the elasticity of skin decreases when moving from high to low humidity, and mechanical forces are also more likely to damage skin in conditions of low humidity—potentially relevant in cases when skiing down a mountain at speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour.

In addition to these known negative effects exerted by low temperature and low humidity on skin barrier function, participants in winter sports also have to contend with various other factors from outside the body that can compromise the skin barrier. These range from something seemingly banal indoors such as soaps and cleansers, to more surreptitious sources of irritation such as clothing made from synthetic materials, to countless sources of chemicals and particles waging a seemingly ceaseless assault on the skin. The low temperatures and low humidity that is characteristic of winter conditions have been shown to increase the risk of irritant skin rashes.

During winter, a change in the makeup and amounts of certain types of fats in the uppermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, also causes the skin to dry out and become more fragile, making it more susceptible to irritation and injury, such as chapping.

Last week we discussed the role of glycerin as a proven ingredient to help the skin retain moisture and repair itself. Other ingredients can play a role in resisting the entry of irritants and allergens that might otherwise provoke the immune system to create inflamed and itchy skin. Much as many winter sports require successful teamwork to go for the gold, having a combination of ingredients that work together is essential to make your skin barrier perform its best during the winter months.

Posted February 15, 2026.