A shaved head in winter: your hat, your shower and your moisturizer

Turn the hat inside out before choosing it

You can see the colour and the knit from a distance. Inside, inspect the seam, folded edge and label: this is the side your skin will be wearing. Move your head as you try it on. If you keep pulling the hat up because it feels tight, look for a different fit.

For dry or sensitive skin, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends soft fabrics next to the skin, such as cotton or silk. This advice concerns clothing in general. For a hat, it gives you a useful way to choose: pay as much attention to the lining as to the outer knit.

Find the source of the discomfort before replacing a hat you like: a scratchy label, a thick seam and rough fabric are different problems. If you remove the label, photograph the care instructions first. You will have them for the next wash.

After your shower, get the timing right

Cold, dry air and indoor heating can make skin drier, as the AAD explains in its winter skin care guidance. For dry skin, it recommends a warm shower lasting five to ten minutes and gently patting dry, then applying moisturizer while the skin is still slightly damp.

Keep your moisturizer next to the towel so there is less reason to put it off. If your usual product still suits you, keep it. If your skin stays dry, check the texture: the AAD favours a cream or ointment over a lotion for dry skin. A richer cream may be worth trying; a change of season need not mean replacing everything in the bathroom.

Choose a fragrance-free formula you tolerate well. If flakes tempt you to scrub, put the exfoliator down: the AAD advises moisturizing rather than exfoliating dry, peeling skin in winter. These tips concern dryness; they do not establish that every flaky scalp is caused by cold weather.

Outside, check what your hat leaves uncovered

The top of your head may be covered while your ears and neck are exposed. Take the hat off and your scalp is exposed too. UV rays are present in winter and on cloudy days: the AAD recommends a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher on uncovered skin. Reapply every two hours outdoors, and immediately after swimming or sweating. Shade and protective clothing provide additional protection.

Keep the tube with the things you take outside. A hat in your pocket and sunscreen forgotten since summer will not protect exposed skin.