Windburn On The Skin: What It Is & Derm Tips To Help

I hate to acknowledge this fact, but I can't ignore it any longer: Somehow, we're in the midst of fall and the temperatures are starting to dip. Summer breezed by all too fast, and even this fall is moving along at a galloping pace. And with any seasonal change, many of us have started seeing it show up in our skin in a variety of ways, from increased dryness and sensitive skin flare-ups to the dreaded windburn.

Windburns are simply skin irritations triggered by the weather. "Windburn is a painful, inflamed reaction of the skin that results after time in cold and windy conditions. Essentially the dry, cold air can strip moisture from the skin, leaving it irritated and dry," says board-certified dermatologist Rachel Nazarian, M.D., of Schweiger Dermatology Group in NYC. "It looks similar to a sunburn: Skin is painful, discolored like red or ashy, extra sensitive, and can even flake or peel." 

When the weather is dry, your skin is more susceptible to transepidermal water loss, a skin phenomenon where water in the skin literally evaporates out of it into the air around you. "This occurs when the combination of wind, low humidity, and low temperature damages the skin barrier," agrees board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, M.D. "This weakens the skin's ability to protect itself, leading to red, dry, scaly skin." Hadley also adds that windburn isn't just an aesthetic issue: You will likely feel it, as well. "It may feel warm and sensitive, and it may sting or burn," she says. 

Finally, there's another issue that may exacerbate windburns—its more aggressive cousin, sunburns. "Often sun exposure is also a trigger since people don't realize that ultraviolet radiation penetrates clouds and can cause sunburns even when the temperature is cold," Nazarian adds. 

Given the issue here is lack of moisture, leading to a compromised skin barrier and inflammation, really the solution should come as no surprise to you: Hydrate, soothe, and strengthen the barrier. You can do this all with a combination of the three types of moisturizers. "Look for a moisturizer that contains humectants to hydrate, emollients to support the skin barrier, and occlusives to lock in the moisture," says King. 

She goes on to explain that, "Humectants, like hyaluronic acid and glycerine, are mostly low-molecular-weight substances that bind water into the stratum corneum, but they need to be used along with the other components in order to retain the water content."

From there, you'll additionally need emollients: These are ingredients that prioritize your barrier. "Emollients are saturated and unsaturated variable-length hydrocarbons, which help in skin barrier function, membrane fluidity, and cell signaling, leading to overall improvement in skin texture and appearance," she says. "Examples include cholesterol, squalene, fatty acids, and ceramides." She also adds that you can use ingredients to temper inflammation: "Use soothing ingredients like aloe vera or oatmeal," says King. 

Then, seal it all in so water and these nutrients don't escape into the cold air. "Occlusives are oils and waxes that form an inert layer on the skin and physically block transepidermal water loss. Examples include beeswax, oils, silicones, lanolin, and zinc oxide," she says. 

Prevention, the experts note, is all about physical protection. Be mindful to wear a mineral sunscreen, like zinc oxide formulas, to create an occlusive barrier that will also aid in sun protection. You should also be mindful to wear proper face and body covering: "Prevent windburn by wearing protective clothing, like a scarf around your face," says Hatfield. Given we are all wearing masks while outdoors at the moment, the latter point should be much easier.