Holiday cheer is great. Holiday skin? Not always. One weekend of salty snacks, sugary treats, late nights, cold air, travel, and—you guessed it—stress—and suddenly you’re dealing with dry skin, dull skin, stress acne, irritation, or a cranky, damaged skin barrier. Sensitive skin especially tends to tap out this time of year.
Everybody has a favorite holiday treat—some sugary, some salty, all delicious. But when festive snacking ramps up, your skin often notices first. Too much of a good thing can leave you dealing with dry skin, dull skin, or an already sensitive skin barrier feeling extra cranky.
“Most holiday foods are either sugary or salty,” says Holzinger. “Eating these foods in large quantities can definitely impact your skin. Sugar tends to trigger inflammation and oil production, leading to acne breakouts and worsening of chronic skin conditions. High sugar intake can also reduce the skin’s ability to repair itself from wounds. Excess salt contributes to dehydration, dryness, and tightness—this is most noticeable in the under-eye area. Salt also causes the skin to look and feel much more swollen and puffy. During this time of year, I often see patients with flares of acne, eczemaand psoriasis.”
Late-night holiday parties, travel, family visiting from out of town, and on and on… the holidays are sure to bring a rise in erratic schedules and a decrease in high-quality sleep. Over the past few years, more and more science has revealed just how crucial good sleep is for every aspect of our health, including skin health. One of the key aspects of sleep is that it restores and repairs damaged tissues overnight, including skin cells. This is why too little sleep can hurt your skin.
“If your sleep is lacking, your skin will most likely appear dull, pale, and less radiant,” explains Holzinger. “Sleep deprivation also raises cortisol, which can weaken your skin barrier and lead to dry skin and flakiness. Dark circles and puffiness under the eyes are more noticeable due to fluid retention, and stress acne can also flare up if you’re not getting your sleep.”
As if lack of sleep weren’t enough, holiday stress tends to pile on—fast. And your skin definitely notices. “When you are stressed, your body releases excess amounts of cortisol,” explains Holzinger. “Cortisol leads to excess inflammation, which worsens skin conditions such as rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and acne. Sudden breakouts and increased acne flares are often seen during this time of year.” Elevated cortisol levels also spike oil production. 50 million people struggle with acne in the United States, so if stress acne is a problem for you, you are definitely not alone.
Holiday cocktails are fun—but alcohol dries out your skin fast, leaving a weakened skin barrier in its wake. It expands the blood vessels, stripping the skin of moisture. This can exacerbate dull skin and cause redness, worsening rosacea and other varieties of sensitive skin.
“Alcohol depletes your body of water and electrolytes,” explains Holzinger. “This leads to dry, tight skin. Dehydrated skin will appear dull, and fine lines and wrinkles will be more prominent. Too much alcohol depletes vitamin A, vitamin C, and zinc, which further depletes collagen. Less collagen means slower skin repair and increased skin sensitivity.”
This isn’t as much of a habit as a condition, but it’s a significant factor in causing dry skin, dull skinand aggravating sensitive skin, especially during the holidays.
“Even if you are moisturizing regularly, your skin can feel drier because cold winter air holds less moisture,” explains Holzinger. “When the air is dry and there is less humidity, your skin does not hold onto water like it does in the summer months. Furthermore, indoor heating also pulls moisture from your skin.”
As you phase out skincare products with harsh, irritating ingredients that can worsen sensitive, dry, and dull skin, Holzinger recommends replacing them with dermatologist-recommended winter skincare products that hydrate, soothe, rebalance, and brighten the skin instead. These are her favorites for fresh holiday skin:
If your skin still feels irritated, flaky, dull, or inflamed—even after simplifying your routine and making seasonal adjustments—you’re not alone. Holiday skin issues can be stubborn, and some conditions need more targeted support.
“If you are using a gentle cleanser and moisturizer and your skin is still excessively dry, I would recommend scheduling an appointment,” says Holzinger. “Sometimes, ‘dry skin’ is something more, like atopic dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, or psoriasis. Additionally, if your acne, rosacea, or other chronic skin condition is flaring, I recommend seeking professional evaluation.”
Apex Skin specializes in diagnosing and treating these concerns so you can get relief fast and protect your skin barrier long-term. And because the holiday season is hectic enough, we offer same-day appointments—so you don’t have to stress about finding time when your skin needs help now.
If your skin isn’t bouncing back, Apex Skin is here to help.
