Are you feeling itchy this winter? You may have eczema.
Stepping outside to fresh snowfall, winter sports, hot toddies, and warm gear are just a few of the pleasures that come with winter. However, for many people, colder days come with a drawback: winter eczema. Dry skin diseases like eczema are typically exacerbated by exposure to the chilly outdoor climate and bursts of dry indoor heat, which can damper the season.
So, would you like to know how to prevent eczema during winters? If you have winter eczema, you do not have to suffer through the colder months alone. Instead, with some information about the causes, symptoms, prevention, and treatment of winter eczema, you can find out how to better manage your eczema so that it has a lesser impact on your life.
What is Eczema?
Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin ailment that becomes dry and itchy. Other common symptoms comprise a swollen, bumpy rash, cracked and scaly patches, raw or sensitive skin, and swelling.
Eczema isn’t inherently damaging to your skin, but it can be uncomfortable and painful, depending on how it appears. It’s a chronic condition, which means it’ll last a long time, and many people will have flare-ups where their symptoms intensify. Winter, for example, is a difficult season for many people.
What Causes Eczema?
Eczema is caused by a mix of factors, including immune system activation, environmental triggers, genetics, and stress.
Immune System
Your immune system overreacts to irritants or allergens if you have eczema, and your skin may become inflamed because of this overreaction.
Allergens are substances that cause an allergic reaction, such as pollen, pet hair, or foods.
Genetics
If your family has a history of dermatitis, you are more likely to have eczema. If you have a history of asthma, hay fever, or allergies, you are at a higher risk.
A change in your genes that controls a protein that helps your body maintain good skin may also be present. Your skin will not be healthy unless you have an appropriate amount of that protein.
Environment
Your surroundings/environment can irritate your skin in different ways. Tobacco smoke, air pollution, harsh soaps, woolen garments, and skin creams are just a few examples.
Your skin may feel dry and itchy due to low humidity (dry air). Heat and extreme humidity can induce sweating, which can aggravate the itching.
Stress Levels
Your stress levels might aggravate or cause eczema. Stress manifests itself in two ways: mental/emotional and physical.
They are as follows:
Mental/Emotional signs:
- Low self-esteem.
- Anxiety, perpetual worry.
- Depression.
- Difficulty in relaxing.
- Difficulty in concentrating.
- Feeling overwhelmed.
- Irritability, short temper, mood swings.
- Use of alcohol, illegal drugs, or tobacco to relax.
Physical Signs
- Aches and pains.
- Constipation.
- Diarrhea.
- Muscle tension.
- Nausea and dizziness.
- Sleeping too little.
- Sleeping too much.
Symptoms of Eczema
Eczema symptoms include:
- Bumps on the skin.
- Crusting skin.
- Dry skin.
- Itchy skin.
- Red rashes.
- Scaly, leathery patches of skin.
- Swelling.
If you have eczema, you may also have a condition that isn’t related to it but often occurs with it:
- Allergies.
- Anxiety.
- Asthma.
- Depression.
- Sleep loss.
Winter Eczema and How to Treat it
To minimize eczema outbreaks and soothe irritated skin during the winter, people can try the following methods:
Avoid Rapid Temperature Changes
When your skin is exposed to rapid temperature changes, it becomes dry, itchy, and irritated. Our skin jumps back and forth between temperature extremes in the winter. Moving from the chilly air outdoors to the warm, dry air inside can cause the skin to become dry and damaged.
Avoiding rapid temperature changes can help people with eczema flare-ups. Keep your hands and body warm by wearing scarves, caps, and gloves when outside.
By not taking hot showers every day and moisturizing shortly after washing, you can prevent changing the skin’s temperature too frequently.
It may be tempting to wash your hands in warm water when you come in from the cold; however, the sudden temperature change might irritate the skin. Before using warm water, wait until you’ve warmed up.
Frequently Moisturize Your Skin
Moisturizing is a vital element of eczema skincare; particularly during the winter, people’s skin may require a thicker moisturizer, such as shea butter.
To protect the skin from the cold, dry winter air, keep a moisturizer on hand and apply it liberally multiple times a day.
Look for moisturizers approved by the National Eczema Association when buying. Moisturizers and emollients based on oil are particularly beneficial.
Use Mild Skin Care Products
The skin becomes more sensitive as the weather changes in the winter. This implies that skincare products that generally do not bother the skin can cause issues like contact dermatitis.
Harsh chemicals or perfumes in soaps and detergents can irritate delicate skin. To reduce irritation, choose natural or unscented skincare products.
People should avoid excessively washing their hands, faces, or bodies during the winter since water can dry up skin by removing its natural, protective oils.
Vitamin D
When people’s skin is exposed to sunlight, it produces vitamin D naturally. Because the sun is less visible in the winter, obtaining the vitamin D that our skin requires to restore itself can be more challenging.
Vitamin D supplements can improve the symptoms of eczema or atopic dermatitis.
Even if the sun is less intense in the winter, people should still use sunscreen. Sunburn can exacerbate eczema by drying out already dry skin.
Use a Humidifier
Both inside and outside the house, the air becomes drier in the winter, which might irritate the skin and cause it to crack and become uncomfortable.
People can use a humidifier inside the home to add moisture to the air and moisturize their skin regularly. This can help prevent cracking and irritation of the skin.
Keep the Skin Dry
Remove wet garments immediately after spending time outside in the snow or rain, as the cold and moist climate can aggravate eczema.
After getting wet, always practice good hygiene. Fungal growth can thrive in cold, moist settings.
Use Prescription Ointments
Eczema can be treated with several lotions, medicines, and ointments prescribed by a doctor or dermatologist.
Even though people do not require prescription drugs for the rest of the year, it may be prudent to keep them on hand for when winter arrives.
The National Eczema Association suggests the following eczema treatments:
- Hydrocortisone steroid creams to relieve itchiness
- Over-the-counter or prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines
- Phototherapy, or light therapy, to reduce inflammation
- Topical calcineurin inhibitors, which are medicated ointments
Natural Remedies
Natural therapies for eczema are still being researched. Natural supplements such as evening primrose oil, borage oil, and Chinese herbal medications have been studied by researchers. However, it is unclear how beneficial these treatments are for eczema.
According to the National Eczema Association, some persons may benefit from the following
- Acupuncture or acupressure
- Coconut oil on the skin
- Massage
- Probiotics
- Sunflower seed oil on the skin
- Vitamin D
Eczema Friendly Foods
Several studies have found that specific foods aggravate eczema symptoms in atopic dermatitis. Food allergies are common causes of eczema, with milk, shellfish, and eggs being the most common culprits.
On the other hand, foods containing prebiotics may aid in the reduction of eczema symptoms when consumed in combination.
Fatty fish, berries, probiotic-rich foods, coconut oil, pineapple, manuka honey, bone broth, and vegetables are among the best foods for eczema.
People might consult a doctor to see if food allergies are to blame for eczema flare-ups, especially if their diet varies from season to season.
Wear Layers
Layering is an essential tactic for preventing eczema flare-ups in the winter. People who dress in layers are better able to adjust to shifting temperatures. It also means that they can keep their skin at a consistent temperature while enabling it to breathe when necessary.
Sweat, in addition to the cold, can worsen eczema. Therefore people should avoid getting too heated in the winter.
Choose natural fibers when wrapping up. Winter clothing sometimes contains harsh fibers, such as wool, which can irritate your skin even more.
The Bottom Line
In the winter, being warm, layering, adding moisture to the skin and the air, and avoiding irritating items can all assist with eczema.
Eczema symptoms can be alleviated by teaching youngsters the significance of remaining warm and using clothes correctly to avoid the hot-cold cycle.
People can check the National Eczema Association’s “member’s guidelines” for avoiding flare-ups during the winter for more ideas on managing eczema in the winter.
