The holiday season is officially here! Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas parties, family gatherings, traveling, late nights, and ALL the delicious food. It's one of my favorite times of year, but if you have acne-prone skin, you might be wondering how you're going to get through the festive season without a breakout.
Between holiday stress, rich foods, cold weather, and changes to your normal routine, your skin can definitely feel the effects.
The good news? You can enjoy the holidays AND keep your acne under control. I've put together this holiday survival guide to help you get through the season with healthy skin and hopefully a few less surprises in the mirror!
1. Let's Talk About Holiday Food and Acne
First things first, I'm not going to tell you to skip Thanksgiving dinner! However, certain foods may contribute to acne flare-ups, especially if you're already genetically acne-prone.
Foods worth paying attention to include:
- Dairy: Milk, cream, and whey protein may aggravate acne in some people.
- Sugar: Desserts, sweetened drinks, and other high-glycemic foods can increase insulin signaling, which may influence oil production.
- Rich foods: Holiday casseroles, creamy sauces, and desserts can contain dairy or added sugars. The richness itself doesn't automatically make a food an acne trigger.
Your oil glands produce sebum, and when excess oil combines with dead skin cells inside the pores, acne breakouts can develop.
My advice? Enjoy your favorite holiday foods, pay attention to your personal triggers, and get back to your normal habits afterward. One meal isn't going to determine the future of your skin!
2. Winter Weather Can Be Rough on Acne-Prone Skin
During the winter months, environmental changes can leave your skin feeling completely different.
Cold weather, dry winter air, and indoor heating can contribute to dehydrated skin, flaky skin, and an irritated skin barrier. Even oily skin can become dehydrated!
One of the most common mistakes I see is people trying to fix winter acne by using more aggressive acne treatments.
Please don't!
Harsh exfoliants, hot showers, and washing your face with hot water can strip the skin of its natural oils and increase irritation.
Instead, focus on hydration.
I recommend Skin+ HylaVera Gel Moisturizer, a lightweight, non-comedogenic moisturizer with hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water molecules, helping the skin maintain hydration. Whether you're using a hyaluronic acid serum, hydrating serum, or hyaluronic acid moisturizer, the goal is to support your skin barrier.
For particularly dry skin, we may incorporate Skin+ NourishRX.
Remember, rich moisturizers aren't automatically better. Some contain oily substances that may be problematic for certain acne-prone individuals. Natural ingredients aren't automatically acne-safe either.
Your skin type matters!
3. Holiday Stress Is Real, and Your Skin Knows It
Shopping, traveling, cooking, entertaining, and trying to make everyone happy. Whew!
The holidays can be a LOT.
When stress levels increase, your body activates its stress-response system, which involves the stress hormone cortisol. Changes in cortisol levels and inflammatory signaling may contribute to acne flare-ups.
Add long days, late nights, and a lack of sleep, and your skin may start looking a little tired.
You might notice dull skin, dark circles, or more visible fine lines.
My recommendation? Give yourself a little grace.
Take a deep breath, drink plenty of water, and prioritize a good night's sleep whenever possible.
Hydration and sleep support overall health and skin function. They won't magically clear acne, but they can go a long way toward helping you feel your best.
And seriously, don't put so much stress on yourself trying to make everything perfect!
4. Don't Abandon Your Skincare Routine While Traveling
I see this happen all the time.
Clients are doing great with their skin care, then they travel for a week and suddenly stop using half their skincare products.
Please pack your products!
Your best skincare routine is the one designed for YOUR skin, and consistent care is incredibly important when managing acne.
Here's what I recommend bringing:
- Gentle cleanser: Skin+ Pro B5 Wash cleanses without unnecessarily stripping the skin.
- Treatment serum: Continue your prescribed Skin+ routine, whether that includes CytoClear, Daily A, or another active.
- Moisturizer: Keep your skin hydrated with HylaVera.
- Broad-spectrum sunscreen: Skin+ UV Daily 30 helps protect against UV rays.
- Vaseline: Cold weather can leave your lips dry and uncomfortable.
Travel-friendly sizes are a great idea when you're packing light.
And yes, sunscreen is still important during the winter season! UV rays can contribute to dark spots, uneven skin tone, premature aging, and skin cancer, even during colder months.
5. Please Don't Attack a Holiday Breakout!
Picture this: It's Christmas Eve, you've got a huge family gathering tomorrow, and suddenly there's a giant pimple on your chin.
Panic!
Your first instinct might be to grab a spot treatment, salicylic acid cleanser, harsh scrub, or every acne product in your bathroom.
Don't do it!
Acne develops beneath the skin long before a pimple becomes visible. Adding aggressive products overnight can leave you with irritated, itchy skin and more inflammation.
At Skin+, our Acne Gel with benzoyl peroxide is designed to be applied across the acne-prone area as directed, rather than used only as a spot treatment.
We also use exfoliating ingredients to help prevent dead skin cells from accumulating inside pores. A gentle exfoliant can be helpful, but adding extra exfoliation without guidance can damage your skin barrier.
You can read more in my blog, The Right Way to Use Benzoyl Peroxide for Acne.
And please, no picking!
I know it's tempting, especially after watching board-certified dermatologist Dr. Pimple Popper, also known as Sandra Lee, work her magic. She's famous throughout the United States, but leave those extractions to the professionals!
Picking can increase inflammation, dark spots, and scarring.
6. Keep Up With Your Professional Acne Treatments
The holidays are busy, and appointments can easily fall to the bottom of your priority list.
However, if you're actively working on clearing your acne, maintaining your treatment plan is important.
At Skin+, we typically see clients every two weeks during the initial clearing process. These appointments allow us to perform professional treatment, extract acne impactions, and adjust your home care as needed.
Acne is a chronic skin condition for many people, and managing it requires ongoing attention.
If you're dealing with severe acne, persistent irritation, or other chronic skin conditions, additional treatment options from a board-certified dermatologist may also be appropriate.
For more information, read Acne Isn't Cured, It's Managed: What Clear Skin Really Takes.
7. Enjoy the Holidays! Your Skin Will Thank You for the Consistency
Here's what I really want you to remember.
You can enjoy Thanksgiving dinner, stay up late laughing with family, and celebrate the new year without obsessing over every little thing that might affect your skin.
A little help from a consistent routine can make a big difference.
And if your skin does experience a breakout, don't panic. We can work through it!
The holidays are also a great time to think about your goals for healthier skin. If clearer skin is on your new year's resolution list, the entire team at Skin+ is here to help you build a routine that works.
Healthy skin and that radiant glow come from patience, the right products, and consistency.
Enjoy the holidays, take care of yourself, and remember that we're always here to help you along your acne journey!
Ready to get your skin on track? Explore Skin+ acne care and start building healthier skin for the new year.
