Crisp, cool air is one of the most refreshing parts of winter outdoor workouts. One of the worst? The wind burn on your face that can pop up after exercising outside during especially breezy days.
Any activity that exposes you to the wind can increase your risk for wind burn, including skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, running, cycling, or even just walking outdoors for a long time in the wind and cold, Rajani Katta, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and voluntary clinical faculty member at the Baylor College of Medicine and the McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Houston, tells SELF.
But activities with quicker speed—think skiing or snowboarding versus walking—tend to bring on more severe wind burn, Melissa Piliang, M.D., a dermatologist at Cleveland Clinic, tells SELF.
But what exactly is wind burn, and how can you ease that raw tenderness? Here’s what you need to know.
What exactly is that wind burn on your face?
Wind burn is damage to your outer layer of skin, says Dr. Piliang. The outermost layer of your epidermis acts as a protective barrier for the rest of your skin, but when it’s exposed to cold and windy conditions, the fatty lipids can wear away, leaving it vulnerable to damage.
This causes irritation and inflammation of your skin, says Dr. Katta. As a result, you may experience redness, sensitivity, and peeling of the skin on your face. The central part of your face, including your cheeks and nose (which tend to protrude more), are the areas most likely to be affected by wind burn, says Dr. Piliang.
While some people think wind burn is the same as sunburn (which, yes, you absolutely can get in the winter), there are actually a few differences. In many cases, it can look similar to sunburn, but it tends to feel a little different.
“While sunburned skin feels hot and swollen, wind burned skin feels prickly and chafed,” says Dr. Piliang.
There’s another important difference too: Wind burn, while uncomfortable, is temporary, and the discomfort will slowly start to subside over a few days. But because sunburn can affect the outermost and the deepest layers of the skin (depending on severity), it can result in permanent damage on a cellular level, says Dr. Katta. This includes an increased risk of skin cancer.
You absolutely can get sunburn and wind burn at the same time. In fact, because wind burn breaks down that protective barrier of your skin, experiencing it may actually increase your risk of sunburn, Jill Cotseones, D.O., a dermatologist at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital, tells SELF. That’s why it’s important to protect against both before heading out for your outdoor workout.
How to prevent wind burn on your face
First, playing the preventive game is important to make sure the outermost layer of your skin is protected and intact. That means sticking to ultra-gentle cleansers (like Dove Beauty Bar, $8 for two, amazon.com) and going easy on the exfoliation during the colder months since it can make your skin more sensitive to environmental factors like cold and wind, Joshua Zeichner, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, tells SELF. You may also want to avoid potentially irritating products with fragrances or those that are alcohol-based, says Dr. Katta.
You should also apply a moisturizer that contains ceramides, which fill in cracks between skin cells and repair that external barrier, says Dr. Zeichner. He likes Cerave Moisturizing Cream ($13, walmart.com).
And you should use a good petrolatum-based ointment (which seals in moisture) to your lips too: “Your lips have less natural protection than the rest of your skin, and are particularly vulnerable to chafing and chapping,” Dr. Zeichner says. Try Vaseline Lip Therapy ($3, target.com) or Burt’s Bees Beeswax Lip Balm ($6, target.com), he says. And remember to bring the stick or pot with you so you can reapply if your outdoor workout goes long.
It’s also important to pay attention to sun protection. Try a mineral sunscreen, which includes ingredients like zinc oxide or titanium dioxide and tends to be gentler than its chemical counterparts, to protect against UV rays, says Dr. Zeichner. He likes Solara Suncare Time Traveler Ageless Daily Face Sunscreen ($42, neimanmarcus.com).
And when you’re outside, try to protect your skin as much as you can from the wind with your clothing. “If you’re going to be skiing, consider using face protection in addition to goggles,” says Dr. Katta. “If you’re walking, consider a neck covering that you can use to pull up to protect the sensitive skin on the lower part of your face.” (And of course, if you’re exercising outdoors where you can’t socially distance, you need to wear a mask—these are the best masks for outdoor activity.)
When you’re at home, cranking up a humidifier can also help—it brings moisture into your skin, which helps keep its barrier in good shape, says Dr. Zeichner.
How to treat wind burn on your face
Sometimes, even when employing the best prevention tactics, you can still experience wind burn on your face. If that’s the case, you’ll want some immediate relief.
A good moisturizer comes in handy for wind burn treatment as well as prevention. Thick moisturizers like creams and ointments that contain ceramides can help repair your skin’s barrier, says Dr. Zeichner. And products with coconut oil or colloidal oatmeal can feel soothing, says Dr. Katta. (To guard against skin reaction, be sure to test any new product on a small area of skin first.)
Keep your showers lukewarm and relatively quick—think 10 to 15 minutes—to prevent moisture from stripping from your skin, says Dr. Katta. Then afterward, apply your product: Using a moisturizer on damp skin can really help lock in moisture.
On that note, you should also take a careful look at the products you use as part of your regular daily skin-care routine, especially those which can lead to irritation during normal use. These can be antiaging products with retinoids or acne treatments with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid, says Dr. Katta. These can feel especially irritating on skin with wind burn, since its protective barrier is not intact.
If your wind burn is still causing you discomfort despite using soothing moisturizers, you may want to consider an over-the-counter steroid ointment with 1% hydrocortisone, says Dr. Cotseones. Using it twice a day can calm down the irritation and hasten the healing of your skin’s barrier.
In most cases with wind burn, you’ll start to feel better in a few days. During that time, you may want to skip outdoor activities until the skin has healed; otherwise, it can lead to worsening symptoms, says Dr. Piliang. If your wind burn does not improve or worsens, it may be time to call a dermatologist, who may prescribe a topical cortisone cream. But it could also mean you’re dealing with another skin issue, like rosacea or eczema, says Dr. Piliang, so it’s important to get checked out if you can.
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