SOS sensitive skin in winter!

Mountain holidays: how to protect your skin from the cold, wind and sun?

Snowy slopes, fresh air, breathtaking views… Mountain holidays are often synonymous with escape and well-being. Yet, for the skin, the experience is quite different. Intense cold, dry wind, temperature variations, and increased sun exposure put the skin barrier to the test. The result: tightness, redness, itching, and discomfort, particularly in sensitive, dry, and atopic-prone skin.

1. Cold, microbiome and skin barrier: understanding the biological cascade

In winter, and particularly in the mountains, the skin is exposed to extreme conditions (cold, wind, dry air, UV).
These aggressions trigger a veritable biological cascade which explains the appearance of skin discomfort.

Step 1: The skin microbiome becomes unbalanced (dysbiosis)

The skin is naturally colonized by billions of beneficial microorganisms: bacteria, yeasts and protective microflora.
This collection constitutes the skin microbiome. It plays a key role in:

defense against external aggression
the modulation of inflammation
maintaining tolerant and balanced skin

Cold, dry air, wind, and repeated cleaning disrupt this fragile ecosystem. Some protective bacteria decrease, while others become more dominant, creating an imbalance: this is skin dysbiosis.

Step 2: The skin barrier weakens

When the microbiome is unbalanced, the skin barrier loses its effectiveness. This barrier is composed of lipids (ceramides, cholesterol, fatty acids) and proteins that maintain hydration and protect against external aggressors.

Under the effect of cold and dysbiosis, this barrier becomes porous: water escapes (dehydration) and irritants penetrate more easily.

Step 3: Inflammation sets in

The skin reacts to these aggressions by triggering an inflammatory response. It is at this stage that discomfort appears:

redness and burning sensations
intense itching
tightness and discomfort
increased reactivity to skincare products

This inflammation can become chronic if the skin barrier is not restored and the microbiome is not rebalanced.

Why is this waterfall particularly intense in the mountains?

At altitude, several factors come into play:

The air is drier: lower relative humidity worsens skin dehydration
UV rays are more intense: even in winter, UV radiation is amplified by reflection off the snow.
The temperature is extreme: the cold causes vasoconstriction, which reduces blood flow to the skin.
The wind is more violent: it directly attacks the skin barrier

This combination explains why sensitive skin suffers particularly in the mountains during winter.

gestes-peau-sensible-montagne-boplume-dermatologie

2. Good habits to adopt before and during your mountain holiday

Preparing your skin and adopting the right daily habits helps to limit the effects of the cold.

Hydration: an essential step

Drinking enough water (1.5 to 2 liters per day) helps maintain skin hydration from the inside out.
Limit alcohol and coffee, which promote dehydration.

Essential sun protection

At high altitudes, UV radiation is more intense and reflection off the snow increases exposure.
Apply sunscreen suitable for sensitive skin, even on cloudy days.
Protect your face with a mask or neck warmer on very cold and windy days.

Appropriate clothing

Opt for soft, breathable and non-irritating materials.
Avoid rough textiles in direct contact with the skin.

Be careful with showers that are too hot.

After skiing, the temptation of a hot shower is great… but it further weakens the skin barrier.

I TAKE CARE OF MY MICROBIOME

Soin lavant Microbiome+ Boplume Dermatologie

3. The MICROBIOME+ routine: targeted protection for winter

Objective: to support the microbiome, strengthen the skin barrier and provide lasting relief from symptoms.

The MICROBIOME+ Routine has been developed to meet the specific needs of sensitive, dry and atopic-prone skin exposed to daily aggressions.

Unlike treatments that merely provide temporary relief, the MICROBIOME+ Routine acts on the essentials: supporting the skin microbiome and sustainably strengthening the skin barrier .

I WANT MY MICROBIOME+ ROUTINE