New research shows that the skin barrier is affected by climatic and seasonal changes.

In tests of skin on 80 adults, the levels of breakdown products of filaggrin changed between winter and summer on the cheeks and hands. Changes were also seen regarding the texture of corneocytes, the study showed.

“Both children and adults suffer from red cheeks in the winter in northern latitudes and some may even develop more permanent skin conditions such as atopic eczema and rosacea,” said senior author Jacob Thyssen, MD, PhD, DmSci of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. “By the use of high magnification we show that the skin cells suffer from shrinkage and therefore change their surface. The clinical message to individuals are that they should protect their skin with emollients in the winter and sunscreen in the summer.

The findings appear in The British Journal of Dermatology.