Why the dry season is hard on skin

Skin keeps itself supple with a thin layer of natural oils and water. Dry air pulls that moisture out faster than the skin can replace it. Add wind, dust, hot showers and harsh soaps, and the surface becomes tight, flaky and easily irritated. Lips, hands and shins usually suffer first.

At Addis’s altitude the sun is also stronger than it feels, even on cool or overcast days. Ultraviolet light damages skin of every tone, causing dark patches, premature ageing and, over many years, a higher risk of skin cancer.

A routine that actually works

Less is more. Wash with lukewarm water and a gentle, fragrance-free cleanser rather than a strong soap. Pat dry instead of rubbing. Apply a plain moisturiser within a few minutes, while the skin is still slightly damp, so it seals the water in. Repeat at night before bed.

Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher on your face and any exposed skin every morning, whatever the weather. Sunscreen is the single most effective skincare product there is, and it is the one most people in Addis skip entirely.

The habits that make it worse

Long, hot showers strip skin. So do scrubbing, bleaching or lightening creams, and products with strong fragrances or alcohol. Many people respond to dry, flaky skin by washing it more, which only makes it drier. Drinking water helps the body, but it does not replace moisturiser on the skin’s surface.

If a product stings, burns or causes redness, stop using it. Skin in the dry season is easily irritated, and a simple routine with two or three products nearly always beats a complicated one.

When it is time to see a dermatologist

See a doctor if dryness cracks or bleeds, if a rash spreads or keeps coming back, if a patch of skin changes colour or shape, or if itching is disturbing your sleep. Eczema, fungal infections and pigmentation problems are all treatable but rarely clear up on their own. Habari’s Dermatology department can see you within days.