Column October 29, 2025
Recurring Seasonal Skin Dryness and Barrier Damage
Hyo-seop Kim
Chief Director
Table of Contents
Your skin cracks every change of season
During the spring and autumn transitional seasons and in winter, humidity drops sharply and the skin's ceramide barrier weakens. Moisture escapes and external irritants penetrate easily, leading to dryness, flaking, itching, and red sensitivity all at once.
The Korean medicine view of dry skin: Blood deficiency with wind-dryness (血虛風燥)
- Blood deficiency (血虛): When blood is insufficient, nutrients and moisture are not adequately supplied to the skin, leading to dryness
- Wind-dryness (風燥): Dry winds (wind) deplete the skin's body fluids, causing itching and flaking
- Body fluid deficiency: An overall lack of bodily fluids (jin-ye)
Therapeutic formulas
- Modified Samul-tang (四物湯): Danggui, Cheongung, Jakyak, and Sukjihwang replenish blood and nourish the skin
- Maekmundong-tang: Replenishes body fluids to relieve dryness of the skin and mucous membranes
- Acupuncture: Hyeolhae (血海) and Sameumgyo (三陰交) tonify blood; Hegu and Quchi modulate skin immunity
Moisturization and lifestyle care
- Apply moisturizer within 3 minutes after cleansing or showering — the "3-minute rule" minimizes water loss
- Choose moisturizers containing ceramide and hyaluronic acid
- Maintain indoor humidity at 50–60% (use a humidifier)
- Hot water washing strips skin oils and worsens the condition → use lukewarm water