What Causes Breakouts During Seasonal Changes
Seasonal changes can throw your skin off balance, leading to unexpected breakouts. Shifts in weather, like drops in humidity or spikes in heat, disrupt how your skin protects itself and produces oil.
Your skin has a natural barrier made of lipids and ceramides that keeps moisture in and irritants out. When seasons switch, this barrier gets hit hard. For example, moving from fall to winter means low humidity and cold winds strip away moisture fast. Your skin loses up to 25 to 30 percent of its water content in just days if you do not adjust care. In response, it pumps out more oil to compensate, but this extra oil mixes with dead skin cells and clogs pores, sparking acne.
High humidity in spring or summer does the opposite for oily skin types. It ramps up oil production and congestion, making pores look bigger and breakouts more likely. Sweat from heat adds to the mix by trapping bacteria and dirt. Temperature swings stress things further. Cold air tightens blood vessels, slowing repair, while heat opens them up and boosts inflammation.
Indoor factors pile on. Heating systems in winter dry the air even more, and heavy creams people slather on can block pores instead of helping. Holiday stress raises cortisol, a hormone that fuels inflammation and spots along the jawline. Less sunlight in shorter days messes with sleep and mood, indirectly worsening skin reactivity.
Not every season hits the same way. Winter often brings the worst for many, with dry surface skin hiding oily buildup underneath. Summer challenges come from greasy shine and pollution. Transitions like winter to spring cause sensitivity spikes as skin readjusts to wetter air and changing temps.
Routine changes matter too. Sticking to summer products in fall or skipping sunscreen in cooler months invites trouble. Dehydration from drinking less water makes everything reactive.
Sources
https://skinsureclinic.com/why-your-skin-acts-up-during-season-change/
https://www.medindia.net/news/healthwatch/why-acne-gets-worse-in-winter-and-how-to-stop-it-221929-1.htm
https://www.oreateai.com/blog/breaking-out-during-winter/f1746a23c69da0534bc6b83c501b00fb
https://www.coastalbeautyaesthetics.com/ultimate-guide-to-preventing-winter-breakouts-medspa-acne-solutions
https://www.aboutfaceaesthetics.com/winter-hormonal-skin-changes-south-carolina
https://www.drbatras.com/can-summer-and-heat-cause-acne-breakouts
https://www.henryford.com/Blog/2025/12/Transitional-skincare
https://londondermatologyclinics.com/does-acne-get-better-in-the-summer-months/
https://www.newriverdermatology.com/blog/how-to-manage-hormonal-acne-during-menopause
