Your skin may feel dry after a winter shower because several things are happening at once. Cold outdoor air holds less moisture, indoor heating dries the air further, and a long, hot shower can be tempting when you are cold. Try warm water, a shorter shower and a gentle cleanser. Afterward, pat your skin dry and moisturize while it is still slightly damp. A humidifier can also add moisture to the indoor air around you.
- Choose warm water and keep showers short.
- Moisturize while skin is still slightly damp.
- Consider a humidifier for dry indoor air.
Why does winter make my skin feel drier?
Winter changes the air around you both outside and inside. Cold air holds less moisture, and indoor heating dries the air further. With less moisture in the air, skin loses moisture faster. You may notice a dry or tight feeling as you move between the cold outdoors and a heated room.
Your shower sits in the middle of that winter routine. When you are cold, standing under hot water for longer can feel inviting. If your skin feels dry afterward, it is worth looking at the season around the shower as well as the shower itself.
A humidifier is one way to add moisture to indoor air. It can be part of your winter routine alongside changes to how you shower and moisturize. Think about the air in the spaces where you spend time, not just the temperature of the water.
The takeaway: Cold outdoor air and heated indoor air both contribute to a drier winter environment.
Could my hot winter shower be part of it?
A long, hot shower can be especially appealing on a cold morning or after time outside. If your skin feels dry or tight afterward, try changing the temperature and length of your shower together. Warm water can still feel comfortable without being as hot as you might reach for in winter.
For dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology advises keeping baths and showers to five to ten minutes in warm water. [1]
You do not need to change your whole routine at once. Start by turning the water down to warm and keeping the shower shorter. Notice how your skin feels after you dry off and again after you moisturize. That gives you a useful comparison with your usual long, hot winter shower.
Make the shorter shower easier to stick with by keeping your cleanser and moisturizer within reach. The goal is a routine that feels comfortable enough to repeat on cold days, when it is easy to linger under the water.
Does hard water have anything to do with it?
Hard water is a separate question from winter weather. If you are wondering whether it is part of your shower experience, the distinction matters: changing the temperature or length of your shower does not change the water's hardness.
Washing in hard water can leave more soap residue on the skin, which raised water loss from the skin and irritation in a 2018 study of 80 people. [2]
That study is one reason to consider water hardness when you think about how your skin feels after washing. It does not tell you whether your own water is hard or explain every dry feeling after a winter shower. The cold air outside, heated air inside and your shower habits are also part of the picture.
If you want to look into your water, start with our guide to checking for hard water. You can explore that question while still trying a warmer, shorter shower and moisturizing afterward.
What can I change in my winter shower routine?
Start with warm rather than hot water, and keep your shower short. Use a gentle cleanser, then pat your skin dry. Many people find it helps to moisturize right after a shower while skin is still slightly damp.
Try putting your moisturizer where you will see it as soon as you step out. On a cold day, it is easy to focus on getting dressed and leave that step until later. Keeping it nearby makes the routine simpler: shower, pat dry, moisturize, then get on with your day.
Pay attention to the air outside the bathroom, too. Indoor heating dries the air, so a humidifier is an option if you want to add moisture back to a room. You can pair that with your shower routine throughout the winter.
If dry skin continues after these steps, see a board-certified dermatologist: very dry skin can come from an underlying medical condition.
The takeaway: A practical place to start is a warm, shorter shower followed by moisturizer on slightly damp skin.
A five-step winter shower checklist
A few small changes can make your winter routine easier to follow. Keep this checklist in mind before you step in and after you step out.
Set the water to warm. On a cold day, hot water can be tempting. Turn it down to a comfortable warm temperature before you begin.
Keep it short. Aim for a shower of five to ten minutes. Having your cleanser close by can make it easier to finish without lingering.
Choose a gentle cleanser. Keep it within reach so it is ready when you need it. A simple routine can be easier to repeat throughout winter.
Pat dry and moisturize. After stepping out, pat your skin dry. Many people find it helps to apply moisturizer right away while skin is still slightly damp.
Consider the indoor air. Heating dries the air in your home. A humidifier is one way to add moisture to the air in a room where you spend time.
Where does a shower filter fit?
US tap water carries chlorine or chloramine as a disinfectant all year. In a long, hot shower, that disinfectant is on your skin the whole time, and some people find their skin feels less tight after they filter it out.
If you want to take chlorine or chloramine out of your winter showers, The Second Showerhead ($99, or $79 with a filter subscription) removes 99.9% of chlorine and chloramine in independent lab testing.
A shower filter does not treat a skin condition, and Second Shower does not soften water.
FAQ
Why does my skin feel itchy after a hot shower in winter?
Cold outdoor air and heated indoor air create a drier winter environment, and longer, hotter showers are tempting when it is cold. Try warm water, a shorter shower and moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp.
Should I stop taking hot showers in winter?
If your skin feels dry after showering, try warm rather than hot water. The American Academy of Dermatology advises a shorter shower for dry skin. [1]
When should I moisturize after a shower?
Many people find it helps to moisturize right after showering while skin is still slightly damp. Pat dry first, then apply your moisturizer.
Can a humidifier help with dry winter air?
A humidifier is a common way to add moisture to indoor air. It can be part of a winter routine alongside a shorter, warm shower and moisturizing afterward.
Does a chlorine filter soften hard water?
Second Shower does not soften water. If you are curious about your water's hardness, see our hard water guide.
How long should a shower be in winter?
For dry skin, the American Academy of Dermatology advises keeping baths and showers to five to ten minutes in warm water. [1] Keep your cleanser nearby to make a shorter shower easier to manage.
