13 Tips From A Dermatologist That'll Keep Your Skin Perfect This Autumn

Our skin changes from seasons to season, so here's what you need to know to help deal with that.

We spoke to Dr. Sweta Rai, Consultant Dermatologist and Dermatological Surgeon at The Wellington Hospital and The Harley Street Clinic, about all the things we need to know about keeping our skin in tip-top condition in the winter and transitional months, and here's what we learnt.

1. All skin types get drier in the winter months.

Mangostar_studio / Getty Images

"We produce less natural oils (sebum) in the winter, plus harsh weather paired with central heating leads to a lot of water loss in our skin, leading to much drier skin."

2. You'll need a richer moisturiser in the winter.

instagram.com

"As you lose so much moisture during the winter, you need to switch to an oilier moisturiser to help compensate for that."

You could try the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream from Cult Beauty.

3. There are lots of reasons why you may be getting more breakouts in the autumn, and a lot of it actually has to do with lifestyle changes.

Jake Hamilton @JakesTakes

The best "Back to School" picture I've seen so far today.

04:43 PM - 06 Sep 2016

Sebum production can still be quite high going from summer and into autumn as the days are still quite warm and the central heating isn't on full blast yet. "On top of that, there are also lots of lifestyle changes and a lot of stress in the autumn – people are going back to school and work, new projects are beginning, people are catching up on work after their summer break" adds Dr. Rai. All of this can effect your skin and lead to breakouts.

4. Your skin type can change from season to season.

Youngoldman / Getty Images

Skin types are generally defined by their sebum production. If you have dry patches of skin and no oily patches, your skin is dry. If you experience oiliness all over your face, you have an oily skin type. If parts of your face – such as your nose, forehead, and cheeks get oily throughout the day but the rest doesn't, or you have dry patches in some places and oily patches in others, then you have combination skin. However, it isn't always easy to self-diagnose, so if you're unsure, Dr. Rai advises you see a professional who will be able to identify your skin type and recommend what products would work best for you.

5. It's vitally important that you wear SPF all year around.

instagram.com

"UVA and UVB rays are prevalent all year around so it's important to keep wearing SPF to prevent skin damage."

Those between number 1 and 4 on the Fitzpatrick scale should be wearing at least SPF 30 with full spectrum protection daily, and the lower down you are on the scale, the higher your SPF should be.

You could try the La Roche Posay Anthelios Comfort Sun Lotion from Boots.

6. Even those with darker skintones need to wear SPF every day, and yes, even in the winter.

instagram.com

"People who are a 5 or 6 on the Fitzpatrick scale may not need to wear a high SPF, but should still be wearing one, as UV rays can cause UV damage which will lead to hyper-pigmentation and photo-ageing."

Basically, do future you a favour and always wear SPF so you can be just as beautiful and healthy when you're older. There are also plenty of products that don't cast an ashy shade on your skin but still offer excellent protection.

You could try the Invisible Shield Daily Sunscreen from Glossier.

7. You also need to reapply SPF throughout the day, but it's easy to do so as a lot of makeup now contains SPF.

instagram.com

Your SPF gets less effective throughout the day – you might sweat it off or rub it off, as you would with your foundation. However, you don't need to get your SPF and rub on a whole lot more on top of your existing makeup, you can simply top up with a foundation or powder that contains SPF. If you don't wear makeup, an SPF stick is a great, portable solution.

You could try the Nars Velvet Matte Skin Tint SPF 30 from Space NK.

8. You don't need a harsh exfoliator to get glowy skin, and a skin brush like the Clarisonic is a great alternative.

instagram.com

"Use it twice a week and replenish the moisture in your skin after with a good moisturiser to avoid dull skin" says Dr. Rai.

If you have cystic acne, a brush might not be right for you as it can irritate the acne further. However, if you have a lot of comedogenic acne (not red spots, but hard little bumps), a skin brush will really help lessen those.

You could try the Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing System from Feel Unique.

9. Skin peels are a great way to remedy dull skin, but make sure that they're right for you.

instagram.com

At home skin peels are generally very mild acids such as glycolic acids and can be a really effective way to get rid of dead skin cells. If you're using one, make sure to limit the time you use it for to avoid a chemical burn. If the skin peel you have comes with a neutraliser, make sure you use it afterwards to neutralise the pH of your skin; "Otherwise the acid in the peel will continue working and potentially cause damage."

You could try the Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel from Space NK.

10. Don't neglect your lips, and get yourself a good lip balm that contains SPF.

instagram.com

"The lips are very prone to sun damage as they're somewhat protruding from the face, so light often falls onto it, so they're also the area of the face thats the first to show signs of ageing. We also neglect them when it comes to protecting our lips from UV rays."

Make sure to wear a lip balm that contains SPF daily to keep your lips nice and soft, and free of sun damage.

You could try the Coola Liplux from Cult Beauty.

11. If you get cold sores, don't cover them up as you could risk spreading the infection elsewhere.

Lolostock / Getty Images

"If you put your hands or brush into a pot of concealer, then onto your cold sore, then back again, you risk spreading the viral infection from the cold sore to other places on your face."

If you feel a cold sore appearing, you can stop it developing further by treating it with an anti-viral treatment, which you can get from your doctor, pharmacist, or dermatologist.

12. Don't forget to check your moles even in the winter.

Chesiirecat / Getty Images

"Our bodies are bundled up in the winter so it's easy to neglect checking your moles during this time, but it is vitally important to do so."

Check your moles regularly for any changes – like in colour or shape – and if there are any, get them checked out by your doctor.

13. It's important to figure out what type of skin you have so you know which products will actually work for you.

sam @smeezi

me: skincare! my other organs: please help us .

04:32 AM - 26 Jul 2017

"I would not advise using face masks willy-nilly! If you have dry skin and you're using 'purifying masks' such as charcoal masks, you might actually just be drying out your skin and doing more harm than good."

If you're unsure of your skin type, you're better off seeing a professional and having your skin diagnosed for any medical conditions, such as acne or eczema, and being advised on what products will work best for your skin. It'll be much more effective in the long run than buying products off the shelf.