Ah, winter. ‘Tis the season for cozy sweaters, crackling fires, mugs of hot cocoa — and eczema flare-ups!
Plunging temperatures signal it’s time to pull out the cozy knitwear and gather around the fireplace (or heater) on those chillier nights. For people with eczema, winter also heralds a season of drier, more sensitive skin. Lower humidity, icy wind and indoor heating can all sap much-needed moisture from your skin.
Here are some tips to help you and your loved one's deal with winter eczema:
Shorten your shower.
When its cold outside, nothing warms us up like a long hot shower or bath, bathing or showering for too long in hot water can cause the skin to dry out, worsening eczema symptoms. Try to limit bathing to 10 minutes or less, use a gentle glycerin based soap and moisturize your skin immediately after. Many common shower habits can irritate or dry out the skin, which can trigger eczema symptoms.
Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize! You should already be doing it daily, ideally right after you bathe year round. But it’s especially important when the weather is cold. Make sure you apply the cream on any body parts that might be exposed to cold air, like your face and hands. Think of cream as an extra barrier you need to help lock in moisture and protect your skin, even more beneficial to apply a second time each day - Morning and Before Bed.
Guard against itchy clothes. Pay most attention to the fabric closest to your skin before you layer up and go outside. For the base layer, I always recommend 100% cotton, to minimize your exposure to allergens in clothing, also lets you remove layers as you warm up to help prevent overheating. People with eczema can flare if they overheat, so breathable fabrics like cotton allow for better airflow to keep the skin cool.
Avoid wool fabrics
You should also avoid wool in winter accessories like scarves and gloves.
For winter gloves, it is best to wear gloves that are 100% cotton or made of a breathable material that does not cause your hands to overheat. If you’re concerned cotton gloves may not provide sufficient warmth, you can try wearing a thin, cotton glove next to your skin and then layering a different glove over it for extra protection.
Promptly remove wet clothes
Whether you got wet socks from playing in the snow or a sweaty undershirt after walking home in warm layers, the winter elements can leave you with damp clothing. When you go indoors to warm up, make sure to shed your wet clothes and shoes immediately. Wet clothes next to the skin can cause irritation and a flare if worn for too long.
Use a humidifier to replenish moisture in the air
Humidifiers can be very helpful in alleviating symptoms of eczema in the winter. During these cooler months, the air inside our homes is already dry due to the weather, and then becomes even more dry as we turn our heat on around the clock. Our skin suffers as a result.
When our skin cannot take in moisture from our environment, the more dry and cracked it can become. To help replenish your skin’s moisture, running a humidifier when you go to bed or during the day if you spend significant time at home.
And . . .
Eat a healthy diet, get plenty of rest and maintain good hand hygiene, especially in public places.