Having sensitive skin is like going through a breakup: It all seems so smooth on the surface, until one wrong move leads to loads of irritation — and then it all goes to shit. Throw in the whipping winds and colder temps that come with fall and winter, and everything quickly becomes a straight-up catastrophe for your face and body. Even things you'd never expect to be a problem, like swapping out your cotton shift dress for a heavy wool coat.
And sure, not every cool-weather fabric is itchy or redness-inducing, but higher quality materials tend to be — you guessed it — way more pricey. (Here's looking at you, cashmere.) So while tossing and replacing the stuff with new clothing sounds nice in theory, it's not always an option.
If you can relate, we've got solutions. Ahead, the biggest offenders you'll find in your closet this time of year — plus, the products you need to save your skin from the dramatic aftermath of a day spent in each. They're way more affordable than coughing over the dough for a silk scarf; in fact, you can even snag most of them at your local drugstore. Because you should spend your hard-earned cash on things that matter, like a trip to the Bahamas that doesn't require you to wear many clothes at all.
Wool
It happens every damn year: You dread the moment you need to pull out the warmest coat in your closet, because you know the wool is going to feel itchy against your skin even after you sling it off. “This can happen to anyone, but it rings especially true for people with sensitive skin or eczema,” says Howard Sobel, MD, dermatologist and founder of DDF Skincare. “The irritating effect has long been thought of as the result of an allergy to the wool itself."
Photo by Kristina Wilson.
To prevent it, try to avoid letting the fabric touch the skin. "Consider lining materials, like thin-knit silk or cotton undergarments," says Dr. Sobel. If the damage is already done and you're red from shoulder to shoulder, he suggests reaching for moisturizing oils or creams rich in fatty acids (like the avocado oil found in this body oil from Nivea) to help soothe irritation.
Nivea Nourishing Body Oil, $11.99, available at Nivea.
And if the itch reaches an unbearable level, it never hurts to over -hydrate — so long as the formulas are fragrance-free or safe for sensitive skin, he says. This one is jam-packed with soothing actives like vitamin B5, but also has water-activated technology that locks onto skin long after you step out of the shower.
Curél Hydratherapy Wet Skin Moisturizer, $7.99, available at Target.
Sequins
'Tis the season to whip out those sparkly, disco-ball dresses, but we'll be damned if they don't tear up our legs and arms by the time the bar closes. That constant scraping and rubbing can lead to painful cuts and chafing — not exactly what you had in mind.
Photo by Georgina Martin.
The good news is that you might be able to prevent the chafing (and thus, the scrapes). Dr. Sobel swears by Glide's thick, waxy balm — as do plenty of athletes who deal with constant uncomfortable friction, he says. The vitamin-rich ointment acts as a barrier to the skin, and the tube is great for smaller areas. "Try using it on your underarms beforehand."
Body Glide Original Anti Chafing, Anti Blister Balm, $9.99; For Her Anti-Chafing Moisturizing Balm, $7.99, available at Body Glide.
If you have minimal open skin wounds caused by constant sequin-scraping, you need to be cautious of what you are applying. "It's very important to keep the open cut moisturized," Dr. Sobel says. To remedy any wounded areas, stick to this tried-and-true salve, or choose an ointment with antibacterial properties, like Neosporin.
Aquaphor Advanced Therapy Healing Ointment, $3.11, available at Target.
As Sheryl Crow sings, the first cut is the deepest. "Make sure you wait for the wound to fully heal before using a scar cream like Mederma," Dr. Sobel says. "But they can help ensure you don't scar." If the sequins only cause a slight irritation, you're probably safe: Just apply soothing products with actives like aloe vera and cucumber to calm angry skin.
Mederma PM Intensive Overnight Scar Cream, $35.99, available at Walgreens.
Nylon
If you’re a consistent tights-wearer in winter — beware. “Tights are big-time eczema offenders, because there is constant friction between your skin and the nylon material,” Dr. Sobel says. “It also traps in heat and sweat, which triggers redness and the itchy condition.”
Photo by Jimmy Marble.
The key here is treating the flare-up right away, and in the same way you would eczema or any other inflamed patch of skin, “by keeping the area moisturized or using an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream,” Dr. Sobel says. This one offers 1% of the active — a higher proportion than some other OTC formulas out there.
Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream, $4.99, available at Target.
Polyester
It’s one of the most common fabrics found in sweatshirts and workout wear. But it’s also known to trap sweat on the surface of the skin, which can lead to a whole lot of pore-clogging problems. “The moisture then mixes with the natural oils released by the body and creates a film over the dermis,” says Dr. Sobel. The most common consequence: whiteheads and blackheads.
Photo by Atisha Paulson.
If you just can’t quit your favorite polyester shirt, you do have options. “Baby powder will help alleviate the moisture that is stuck between the fabric and your skin,” he says. “But that can still lead to irritation.” Avoid that conundrum with a talc-free formula instead, like this organic, baby-safe one.
The Honest Company Organic Baby Powder, $11.95, available at Honest.
You can also create a barrier with the Glide balm. This one is sweat-resistant, so you don’t have to worry about trapping it on skin.
Body Glide For Her Anti-Chafing Moisturizing Balm, $7.99, available at Body Glide.
Look, we feel you — we get hot walking around under all those layers, too. Sometimes sweating it out — even during the coolest of nights — is inevitable. But the resulting breakouts don’t have to be: Just use a salicylic acid-spiked body cleanser to keep 'em at bay. This one smells like a crisp grapefruit spritzer on a warm summer day, so you can suds up and temporarily escape.
Neutrogena Body Clear Body Wash Pink Grapefruit, $7.99, available at Neutrogena.
On days when you don’t have access to a shower immediately, you can mist on this spray that’s also infused with the acne-fighting stuff.
AcneFree Body Clearing Acne Spray, $10.99, available at AcneFree.
Fleece
Fleece scarves and jackets keep us nice and snug, but if yours is of the synthetic variety — as opposed to a more breathable cotton — it can turn into an itchy disaster, fast. Plus, constantly scratching at your neck “leads to a buildup of dry surface cells, which can make matters worse,” Dr. Sobel says.
Photo: Getty Images.
The skin on your neck is thinner than the skin on your face, but you should still exfoliate any cells that are just chillin’ there. Just make sure to use a gentler formula, like this salicylic-acid cleanser from CeraVe. Two times a week will do the trick, says Dr. Sobel.
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser, $11.99, available at Ulta Beauty.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
These Products Are The Only Silver Lining To Flu Season
7 Beauty Editors Own Up To Their Most Obnoxious Beauty Habits
The One Thing I Hope To Find In A Boyfriend's Medicine Cabinet