Eczema can turn worse during winters due to the extremely dry air and low humidity. Learn here how to take care of your eczema skin in winters.
The cold air holds less moisture than warm air. The little moisture that is around is quickly consumed by the air as wintertime humidity remains low. This is why winter air is generally dry and rough. Therefore, you experience dry skin and itching in winter more than other season.
The dry, irritated skin during winter is not a pleasant experience for the people with eczema. The extreme dryness will aggravate your eczema flare ups. For a quick refresher, eczema is a chronic skin condition marked by extremely dry skin being prone to inflammation, cracking and oozing. The triggers of dry skin are wind, low humidity, cold temperature and harsh skin products. The low humidity is prevalent in many parts across the USA during winter. The dry and irritated skin worsens the eczema flare up.
Apart from dry air, there are also other factors than can increase your eczema flare ups. For example, wearing woolen clothing can irritate your skin, thereby worsening your skin conditions. Taking hot water bath also makes your skin dry. Then, taking stress or exposure to certain allergens like dust or pet dander can affect eczema.
So the point is here to keep your skin moisturized as possible to prevent eczema flare ups.
Avoid Hot Baths:
Heat can aggravate the dryness of the skin. Therefore, you should avoid taking very hot baths in winter. Instead, use warm water, and they to bathe or shower less often. Add some moisturizing products to the bathtub to keep your skin moist. Limit your time in bath.
After taking bath or shower, pat dry your skin with a towel, instead of rubbing it
Apply A Thick Moisturizer:
An eczema affected skin requires a lot of moisturizing. So use thick moisturizers and apply them within 3 minutes after bathing or showering. It will help lock in moisture inside the skin. Petroleum jelly is a great option. Lotion may not help you prevent extreme dryness in winter.
You can also apply a cream containing hydrocortisone or hydrocortisone acetate. Make sure to talk to your doctor before using these creams. Your doctor may recommend something stronger to batter your flare-up. Make sure to apply moisturizers more than once per day.
Avoid Contact With Certain Materials:
Fibers like wool and nylon can irritate skin and lead to eczema. They may also cause overheating—another trigger of eczema flare-ups.
Wear breathable fabrics like cotton and avoid putting on too many layers. Besides, remove unnecessary layers on the bed and choose the bed linens being made from breathable fabrics. Remove wet clothes and shoes immediately as they can irritate the skin and cause flare-up.
Use A Humidifier:
The heating system generates a lot of hot air into your home. It goes without saying that excessive heat can worsen your eczema-prone skin. Therefore, use a humidifier to deal with the dry heat. A humidifier keeps the air moisturized. Luckily, there are portable humidifiers that can be attached to your heating system. Make sure to maintain the humidifier to prevent the thriving of bacteria and fungi growth. Change the water in your humidifier frequently and clean the machine every week.
Keep Your Body Hydrated:
Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated. Have at least eight glasses of water per day. This will keep your skin moisturized, thereby minimizing dryness. Apart from water, you can take cups of tea, coffee, and your favorite warm winter beverage.
With the help of these tips, you can minimize eczema flare ups in winter.
Do you have other valuable suggestions to cope with winter eczema? Please share with us by commenting below!!!