- What is eczema?
- Why Does Eczema Get Worse in Winter?
- How to prevent and cure eczema?
- Frequently asked questions on eczema during winter seasons
Whether you are suffering from eczema or figuring out if you already do, you know by now that it is painful. Dry skin, itchy patches, redness and unpredictable activators, can make living with eczema difficult. However, as difficult it may be to manage it, addressing the issue and what aggravates it can help you find remedies to calm your skin and relieve it from pain. But before you dive headfirst into build a skincare routine for eczema and search for ways on how to treat eczema, it is best to know what causes eczema and what are the ways to prevent it.
What is eczema?
Eczema is a non-contagious skin condition, also referred to as atopic dermatitis, which can make your skin dry, red and often scaly. The most common symptoms of eczema are excessive itching and patches that appear all over your body. Active eczema can also make your skin moist and crusty. If you repeatedly scratch your skin, the dry patches can eventually become thicker. While atopic eczema is most common, there are variants to this condition that include contact dermatitis and seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Why Does Eczema Get Worse in Winter?
Dry air mixed with the heating systems at our homes can potentially dry out our skin. This causes the Eczema to flare up or worsen aggressively in such weather conditions because our skin isn't moist enough. Eczema flare-ups can also occur due to wearing too many layers of clothing, taking hot showers, not taking adequate care, and more.
Taking care of your eczema-prone skin during the winters can be overwhelming but with little extra prevention, you can get relief from the flares. Once you understand your skin concerns, you can develop a winter skincare routine that works best for you.
If your dry skin is making your eczema worse, do take a look at our remedies for dry skin in winter blog and find a solution that suits your needs.
How to prevent and cure eczema flare up in winter?
Keeping your skin well-moisturised is the best way to prevent itching, irritation, and other mild eczema symptoms. If you are wondering how to cure eczema, its answer lies in maintaining a good skincare routine throughout the year and especially during the winters can help suppress the symptoms of eczema in winters. Managing chronic eczema needs extra precautions and treatments advised by professionals. But whether your eczema in winter treatment needs professional help or not, the skincare routine should mainly focus on:
- Trapping in moisture
- Soothing the skin
- Avoiding environmental triggers
1.Stay Moisturised:
Moisturising your skin adequately is important even if you do not feel any itching, irritation, or eczema flare up in winter. So apply a hydrating moisturiser right after your shower to lock in the moisture. Keep a moisturiser handy to apply throughout the day to soothe cold weather winter eczema on hands on hands, legs and your body.
2.Avoid triggers:
Eczema flares can be triggered by not only cold but other environmental factors as well. Certain foods, pollen, mites, dust etc., can also aggravate winter eczema on hands and the rest of your body. Whenever you feel the outbreak of flares, try identifying the triggers and avoid them as much as possible. Mostly these can be detected by self-assessment but do seek professional help if you need to.
3.Change your shower routines:
Avoid taking hot showers as much as possible because they strip off the natural oil and moisture from your skin. Using lukewarm water will help your skin retain some moisture during the shower. Avoid scrubbing your skin or using products with harsh chemicals as they can deteriorate your skin health. Pat your skin dry using a towel instead of rubbing it against your body. Once you are out of the shower, apply a moisturiser to create a barrier and lock in the nourishment.
4.Wear suitable fabrics:
Wearing uncomfortable clothes can make you itch and scratch your skin very often. Cotton is one of the most comfortable and breathable fabrics, which prevents skin irritation or eczema in winter. Try layering clothes made of fabrics as breathable as cotton. Avoid synthetic, wool, raw linen and similar fabrics, which are the major reasons for skin irritation.
5.Choose your products wisely:
Cosmetics, hair care products, and skincare products may contain certain ingredients that can irritate your cold weather winter eczema on hands and skin. Before you try any products that aren't prescribed by professionals, run a patch test on a small area of your skin. Leave the product on your skin for at least 24 hours to detect any reactions. You may also switch to natural products made from organic ingredients for winter eczema on hands treatment that do not cause any harm to your skin. However, it is advised to perform patch-tests on all kinds of products before using them regularly.
6.Manage stress:
Stress is another concern that aggravates winter eczema on hands or body. Combat stress by indulging in physical activity, meditation, or recreational activities. Regularising your stress levels and aligning your body with a peaceful mind leads to the greater good for your overall health.
If you are treating eczema flares, it is important to use products that are free from any kinds of harsh chemicals. We recommend using the Coco Soul skincare range curated especially with natural, Ayurvedic herbs which are free from harsh chemicals. Use Coco Soul's chemical free body lotion to moisturise your skin and soothe any eczema flares. Enriched with welmi, sandalwood, and virgin king coconut oil, this body lotion keeps you nourished all day long and leaves your skin smooth, glowing, and also promotes cellular repair.
Frequently asked questions on how to treat eczema during winter seasons
1.Is eczema worse in the winter?
While eczema in winter can occur due to many reasons besides cold weather, the condition may flare up more frequently in winters due to a mix of cold and dry air in the climate. But if you know how to treat eczema, it gets easier to deal with.
2.Does the sun make eczema worse?
Morning sun gives your body a dose of Vitamin D and is a form of mood booster for many. However, excessive exposure to the sun can irritate your skin due to perspiration.
3.Can eczema be seasonal?
Eczema triggers are different for every person and they can be caused by many reasons other than weather conditions and seasonal changes. However, skin flares are more frequent during the colder weather while for some, summers are unbearable. Make a note of your triggers aws they can help you avoid them when you face an outbreak.
4.Can cold weather trigger eczema?
A decrease in humidity during winters can cause your skin to flare up as the moisture in your skin is lost and not adequately compensated. Cold weather does trigger eczema but skin flares aren't limited to weather conditions alone.