7 Reasons Why Your Skin Gets Greasier But Still Feels Dry in Winter, Expert Weighs In⁠

Winter skincare seems confusing sometimes. You touch your face and it feels oily by midday, yet at the same time, your skin feels tight, flaky, or uncomfortable. While too many of us think this means we have bad skin or are using the wrong products. In reality, this oily-yet-dry combination is just a common winter response, and there is science behind it.

This is, however, a paradox caused by environmental stress, compromised cutaneous barriers, and inappropriate skin care practices during the cold seasons, so we reached out to an expert to understand this better and here is what she shared with us.

Why Your Skin Gets Greasier But Still Feels Dry in Winter

According to  Dr Arti Sharma, Senior Consultant Doctor, Dermatologist, Derma Puritys Aesthetic Clinic, Delhi, here are seven reasons why your skin feels greasy but dry in winter, and what's really happening beneath the surface.

1. The Skin Barrier Is Compromised

Cold winds, and low humidity deplete the skin of its protectant oils. A compromised barrier also lets moisture escape with greater ease. The skin ends up dry, even if the surface looks really shiny. “A damaged barrier confuses the skin into producing more oil while still remaining dehydrated,” explained Dr Sharma.

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2. Indoor Heating Dries Skin Out

While heaters are warming us up, they suck the moisture from the air. This makes the air in the home dry, and sucks water from the skin, dehydrating us. Our oil glands go into overdrive, attempting to replace that moisture by producing more sebum, which leaves your skin feeling greasy on top and dry underneath.

3. Over-Washing in Winter

Many individuals tend to wash their face much harshly during winter for the purpose of controlling oil. The harsh cleansers take away natural lipids, further aggravating dryness. In response, the skin overproduces oil for protection, leading to that greasy, yet tight, sensation.

4. Skipping Moisturiser Because Skin Feels Oily

This is one of the biggest mistakes, said Dr Sharma. When people feel oily, they often stop moisturising. But oil is not the same as hydration. Without a proper moisturiser in place, water loss goes up and you can become dehydrated even as your oil levels increase.

5. Using Summer Skincare in Winter

While the light gel-based products may work well during humid months, they're often not enough for winter. When skin lacks richer humectants and barrier-repair ingredients, skin loses moisture faster, which can then trigger an overactive defense mechanism for excess oil production.

6. Hot Showers and Washing the Face

Hot water is soothing, especially in winters, but it takes away all the essential skin oil. The more frequent the hot showers or face washes, the drier it gets, this makes the sebaceous glands go into overdrive, which again results in greasiness while being dry underneath.

7. Internal Dehydration

People drink less water in winter as they do not feel thirsty. Internal dehydration reflects on the skin in no time. “When the body lacks hydration, skin tries to compensate for it from outside by producing more oil,” Dr Sharma added.

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How to Break the Oily-Dry Skin Cycle

It's not the solution of oil control-hydration and barrier repair. Use a gentle cleanser, apply a moisturiser with ceramides or hyaluronic acid, avoid very hot water, and drink enough fluids. You can also add a hydrating serum underneath your moisturiser in order to help rebalance the skin.

Bottomline

If your skin feels oily, yet dry during winter, it is not a paradox, but rather one of dehydration and weakened skin barrier. The approach needs to be changed from stripping the oil to restoring moisture and protection.