How to Reverse Winter's Impact on Your Skin: Doctor-Led Solutions

Professional treatments and tailored care reveal brighter, firmer, younger-looking skin in time for spring.

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Winter may be beautiful, but for our skin it can be unforgiving. Cold, dry air outside and artificial heating inside strip away hydration and weaken the skin's barrier. Fine lines look deeper, redness is more pronounced, and complexions lose their natural glow. By the time spring arrives, many people feel as though they have aged overnight.

The good news is that this seasonal ageing is not permanent. With the right sequence of treatments, it is possible to restore the barrier, rebuild collagen, and reveal luminous, youthful skin just in time for warmer days. At Skin Renewal, South Africa's leading aesthetic clinic group, doctors recommend a structured approach: first rehydrate and repair, then stimulate collagen, followed by improving tone and definition. This stepwise method creates both immediate radiance and long-lasting resilience.

Step 1: Hydration and Barrier Reset

The first priority after winter is restoring the barrier and replenishing hydration. Without this foundation, stronger treatments may aggravate sensitised skin.

• HydraTouch Facial: An advanced hydradermabrasion protocol that combines deep cleansing, exfoliation with AHA/BHA medical peels, and infusion of hydrating actives using transdermal mesotherapy. The treatment finishes with tightening and occlusive masks that lock in moisture and restore glow. Ideal as a first step post-winter, it smooths surface roughness, refines pores, and strengthens barrier function.

• Photodynamic Therapy (PDT): Red and near-infrared LED light accelerates repair, calms inflammation, and boosts recovery. It is often combined with HydraTouch and most treatments for enhanced results.

Why it matters: Rehydration softens fine lines instantly and prepares the skin for collagen-stimulating procedures.