Perhaps you used to live in one area of the world where the climate was fairly mild and regular, but also a bit dry, both in winter and summer. Then you moved to a different region and found that even though the summer weather was a bit hotter, it was more often humid, and even when it was cool, the humidity was higher than you were used to. In your previous place of residence, your skin tended to be dry, a little flaky, and had trouble even with a good moisturizer. In this new place, you noticed your skin appeared less dry, hardly flaky at all, and responded better to moisturizer. Only one thing had changed; the climate.

Climates can, in fact, affect the way our skin behaves. Simply put, if there is more moisture in the air, then our skin is able to retain more moisture. Less humidity means drier skin. The trick is that many people never even consider this when dealing with their dry skin. Why? Mostly because the person has lived in one area for so long they do not take it into account when dealing with his or her skin (unless the location is particularly dry, like Arizona, in which case it would be rather obvious). Or the person moves around so often they never bother taking it into account. Or, even more simply, people just do not think it matters.

Climate makes a big difference in some areas. If you live in a region that is often hot and dry, chances are your skin is going to be dry and have trouble retaining moisture. In such cases you will have to look into a heavy-duty moisturizer in order to give your skin the best edge over the dryness you can. Other times, while the summer may not bother you too much, it can be the winter that affects you most.

Living in the mountains or flat plains where winters can be harsh can sap your skin of its moisture. It does not matter that there is precipitation in the form of snow; all that water is frozen, leaving the rest of the area bone dry and offering nothing for your skin.

You can check out a climate change, or even a humidity change, just by looking at the differences at a weather website. Perhaps the old location you lived in had an average humidity level of 34% during August. Now in your new location you notice your skin has drastically improved, and with a quick check, find out that the average humidity level is 73%. That is a huge boost in the amount of moisture in the air, which can be exactly what your skin needs.

Climate changes can also affect what you do to your skin on your own. During cold weather we turn up thermostats to make it hotter in our homes, take nice, long, hot showers or baths, and wear more clothing. These actions can lead to drier skin even if we are not outside in the cold wind. This is a good reason people purchase humidifiers.

A humidifier can increase the amount of humidity in your home, allowing your skin to remain a bit more moisturized. You should also try to avoid taking hot showers or staying under the hot water for a long time as it strips your skin of natural, moisturizing oils, and rubbing your skin with a towel. Pat dry instead to help save your skin from too much dryness and irritation.

The next time you find your skin being difficult to work with, take a look at your current weather and regional climate. It might give you a few clues as to why your skin has trouble staying moisturized. Then you can find extra ways of boosting the moisture in your home and when you are out and about in the weather.