Eczema in Winter

If you live with a dry skin condition such as eczema, you may notice that you experience a flare up during the colder winter months. But why does your skin become dry in winter, and what can be done about it? In this article we’ll share some information to help you get a better understanding of what your skin is going through during the winter season, and what you can do to combat winter flare ups. 

Avoid extremes of temperature 

A combination of moving between dry, cold air outside and indoor environments where central heating decreases humidity, can cause the skin to lose moisture, triggering a flare up of your skin condition. 

While it’s certainly tempting to turn the thermostat up high to keep toasty warm indoors, this will cause a drop in humidity which can trigger eczema flare ups. Try to keep your home at a more moderate temperature to avoid over-heating and drying out your skin. 

Some people also find that using a humidifier to introduce more moisture into the air creates a more skin friendly environment. 

When venturing outside, protect your skin from harsh cold winds by covering sensitive skin with skin-friendly gloves and scarves. 

Skin friendly clothing 

The hats, scarves and jumpers we wear in winter are often made from wool, or synthetic materials with a similar texture, which can itch the skin and cause the urge to scratch. 

Look for soft, breathable materials such as cotton, or silk, which are much gentler on the skin. 

Layering with skin friendly materials also provides the added benefit of allowing you to remove a layer of clothing as needed, to prevent over-heating. 

Bath-time techniques 

Taking a long hot bath can seem appealing during the winter months, but this can have a detrimental impact, stripping the skin of its natural protective oils. It is advised to keep the water temperature warm, rather than hot, and to limit the length of time bathing to under 10 minutes to avoid drying out your skin. Pat (rather than rub) skin dry and apply your emollient immediately after getting out to lock in moisture. 

Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise 

Keeping up with a regular moisturising routine is key to maintaining your skin barrier. Consider switching to an ointment emollient such as Emollin® to help skin more effectively hold in moisture, and to protect from external irritants. 

The NHS advise applying your emollient 3-4 times per day to maintain your skin barrier. 

Eczema-proof your home

During winter, most of us spend more time indoors, so it is important to be aware of potential triggers within the home. Dust, mould and pet dander can trigger a flare, particularly for those with Atopic Dermatitis / Eczema. 

Try to establish a regular cleaning routine; regularly changing bed linen, airing your mattress, ventilating daily by opening windows, and damp dusting surfaces (particularly those that often gather dust such a bookshelves) will all help to make your home a more skin friendly environment.