Dermatologists say your skin has “winter foam.” Here’s how to spring clean your face.

We’ve all thought of ways to freshen up for a new season: new clothes, uncluttered living spaces, and an emphasis on light, fresh foods. Spring cleaning is happening everywhere, it’s important to remember that your skin has had a long and hard winter too. “Spring cleaning to remove winter grime can be helpful in removing the dullness and dead skin cell buildup that can occur during the winter months,” said dermatologist Dr. Marisa Garshick.

The best place to start is with a good exfoliator. “Exfoliation helps remove dead skin cells and leaves skin looking brighter, brighter and more refreshed,” Garshick said. Dermatologist Dr. Rebecca Marcus agrees: “Winter skin tends to be more prone to dryness and flaking, and it can be nice to gently exfoliate to remove dead, dull skin cells from the skin’s surface. I recommend some kind of peel, a light chemical peel or a laser peel, to help refresh your skin for spring.

Garshick tells her patients to strive for a healthy balance of exfoliation, but she notices a common tendency to overdo it or overdo it. “Some of my patients don’t exfoliate at all, while others exfoliate too much,” she said. “Exfoliation can be helpful as we move into spring, but should be limited to once or twice a week to minimize skin dryness.”

If you tend to err on the side of not exfoliating enough, you can know that your skin is still working hard for you. “The skin’s natural renewal cycle means that cells are constantly being shed from the top layer and regenerated, with or without our intervention,” Marcus said.

Dermatologist dr. Camille Howard Verovic I’ve noticed that while there are times when you might want to speed up your skin’s natural process by exfoliating, those cells will eventually die anyway. “Usually, skin cells move from the lower layer to the upper layer and then shed, in about 30 days,” she said.

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Less is generally considered more by many skin experts. Westbay said it had seen patients using “too many products”, so it also recommended a spring clean of the product range. “Think about product formulation and make seasonal changes,” she said. “For example, increased heat and humidity allow you to switch from heavier cleansing creams or oils in favor of gentler, foaming options.”

One thing you probably won’t need for the next few months is face oil. “They are not moisturizers in themselves and therefore should not be used as a substitute for moisturizers, which is a mistake I see many of my patients make,” Westbay said. “They’re not bad, but they’re definitely not a skincare must-have.”

If you ditch one product (like face oil) this spring, you may have room for another. It might be a good idea if this new change contains vitamin C. “While it’s great year-round, vitamin C is even more important in warmer weather,” Westbay said. “This is because it helps prevent hyperpigmentation, improves the appearance of fine lines, and can help produce collagen by fighting free radicals encountered by UV light.”

“Some people think that when the weather gets warmer, they don’t need to use moisturizer anymore, but that’s not true,” Garshick said. “You should continue to moisturize to help support your skin’s barrier, but instead of a thicker winter cream, you may be ready to switch to a light lotion.”

“In general, I would say, no matter what season you’re in, listen to your skin,” Westbay said. “Pay attention to how it feels, notice how it looks, and consider adapting your skincare regimen so it works best for the surrounding conditions. If you don’t have clear ideas on how to handle the change of season, ask a professional for help.”

All the dermatologists I spoke to emphasized the importance of frequently applied sunscreens. “If you haven’t been consistent in wearing sunscreen all winter, now is the time to choose a formula that you can comfortably wear every day,” urged Howard-Verović.

Facial plastic surgeon Dr. Amir Karam he said: “Probably the biggest mistake people make is not spending enough energy to prevent sun damage. As a result, when spring comes, everyone is happy to get outside and some of those old winter habits stick around. Regardless of the season, sun protection is very important.”