'I'm a dermatologist – there's 3 things to avoid in winter if you want good skin'

Young woman inspecting her face in bathroom mirror (stock photo)
-Credit:LumiNola via Getty Images


A dermatologist has shared three things she would never do to her skin in winter.

During the frosty months, many people struggle with dry skin because of the cold weather and freezing conditions, like we have seen across the UK over the last few days. Dr Aamna Adel, a London-based dermatologist, has given a big thumbs down to three common things people do in winter, including taking hot showers and using heated blankets or water bottles to keep warm.

She posted a reel on Instagram to explain why she never does these things in winter. However, several people in the comments section expressed they would find it hard to give up their hot water bottles.

ADVERTISEMENT

READ MORE: 'Perfect' easy supermarket snack that can help get rid of belly fat

READ MORE: Eating 99p item in pasta could 'lower your risk of cancer'

Dr Adel did a piece to camera for the reel, saying: “Three things I would never do as a dermatologist, winter edition. And now this first one probably classifies me as being a psychopath but no hot showers, I’m sorry.

“I know it hits different in the winter to have a hot shower but that is going to dry your skin out like nothing else so we don’t have hot showers around here. It is lukewarm showers only."

She added: “Number 2: You will never catch me using any heated blanket, any hot water bottle, roasting myself in front of the fire, you’re not going to see it. And the reason why is because you literally end up toasting your skin and you can get something called toasted skin syndrome and that in itself takes ages to go away and not only that it actually increases your risk of developing certain types of cancers so it’s a no thank you. I would rather freeze my bum off than get that.”

ADVERTISEMENT

According to the popular medical information and health advice website Healthline, you can get toasted skin syndrome from prolonged exposure to heat. The website supports Dr Adel as it says this syndrome “can sometimes cause skin changes that can become cancerous”.

In terms of hot water bottles or heated pads, it states: “While these are helpful in easing pain in the abdomen, there have been reported cases of toasted skin syndrome after using them for long periods of time.” Healthline reports that the types of cancers associated with toasted skin syndrome include squamous cell carcinoma, merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous lymphoma.”

Dr Adel finished her Instagram reel with the third thing she would never do in winter, saying: “And last but not least you will not catch me cleansing my face in the morning and I don’t know where this idea has basically come from that everyone needs to cleanse their face twice a day. You absolutely do not and if you’re somebody that has dry skin I promise you if you start skipping your morning cleanser you are gonna see such a big difference. It's gonna be glowy, it’s not gonna get dry and irritated, it’s not gonna feel tight.”

In the caption of the reel, she wrote: “These are a big NO, I’m sorry. Which ones are you guilty of? P.S. I truly got toasted skin syndrome from my hot water bottle, never again.”

The dermatologist’s post has garnered 314,000 views, more than 3,600 likes and plenty of comments. Multiple users shared their love of hot water bottles or other heated items.

ADVERTISEMENT

One said: “I love my hot water bottles in the winter, can’t give those up, used them for many many moons.” A second added: “One of my simple joys is sticking a hot water bottle under my clothes and using my trouser drawstring to hold it in place and now you’re telling me it’ll give me cancer. Is nothing sacred anymore?”

Making a joke, a third user commented: “But after working 13 hour shifts if I don’t put a heating pad on my back I turn into an 80-year-old woman.” Another said they would be “willing to take lukewarm showers but I will NEVER part with my electric blanket!”.

Meanwhile, other people were glad Dr Adel shared this information with her followers. An Instagram user who saw the reel said: “I had an esthetician tell me to stop cleansing in the morning, and just splash water on my face since I work out in the AM and it had made a HUGE difference in my dry skin! Love that dermatologists are sharing this more widely on social media.”

Further commenters said: “Super insightful tips shared here!” and “this is such valuable advice”. Meanwhile, other thanked the dermatologist for sharing the information in her reel.