Eczema is not just about physical pain, it’s not just about the dry inflamed patches. It drains you emotionally as well.
Changing seasons affect skin and hair in different ways. Skin and scalp get dry, itchy, and more. But we do understand that dealing with eczema-prone skin might be difficult for you because it gets triggered not only by a shift in the weather from warm and breezy summers to bone-chilling winters but by numerous other factors too like improper skincare regime, pollutants, harsh soaps, detergents, etc.
Eczema flares up in the winter season because of decreased humidity levels due to drier and cold winds. This results in loss of moisture from the skin and leaves the eczema skin more cracked, dehydrated, and inflamed. Do not lose hope. There are various effective ways that you can follow to take care of your eczema skin while enjoying the winter blissfully.
What factors trigger eczema during winter?
- Increased transepidermal water during cold water.
- Wearing multiple layers of clothes can trigger eczema by blocking airflow and suffocating your skin.
- Exposure of skin to drier and cold wind can snatch away moisture from your skin and turn it dry, scaly, and inflamed.
- Indoor heating systems evacuate moisture from the air leading to dehydrated skin.
Tips to prevent eczema in winter
1. Use a fragrance-free body lotion that is enriched with barrier-strengthening properties
A little extra precaution and care can notch up your atopic skincare regime. One way to hydrate and nourish your body without causing any irritation to your skin is by including a body lotion.
Many studies have explained the therapeutic potential of Madecassoside in treating eczema prone-skin. Using a body lotion enriched with madecassoside along with other ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, and gamma-linoleic, can help restore your dry, inflamed, and itchy atopic skin thus leaving behind nourished and hydrated skin.
2. Opt for barrier creams that are specifically formulated for the face skin
When you have eczema, moisturization is the most crucial step in your skincare routine. But when it comes to managing eczema on your face, you should opt for specially formulated creams that are fragrance-free, lightweight, and can be easily absorbed into your skin.
For facial eczema, you can consider looking for ingredients like Madecassoside, shea butter, and ceramides I, III, and VI. The anticipatory, barrier-strengthening, and skin-calming properties of these ingredients make them an ideal choice for atopic skin.
3. Skip the hot bath as excessive heat dries out the skin
Taking a long hot bath during winter feels relaxing. However, extremely hot water can strip off the protective lipids from the skin that keep your skin barrier healthy. Therefore, try to take a bath in lukewarm water. Dry your skin by dabbing a towel instead of rubbing it.
4. Avoid using harsh ingredients and surfactants in your products
Your regular bathing soaps, dishwasher cleaners, shampoos, detergents, etc can be quite unpleasant to your skin, as they are loaded with harsh surfactants that damage your skin barrier. Use of such harsh products traumatizes your eczema-prone skin by stripping away the natural oil from the skin and leading to dryness.
Thus, it is best to use products that are free from parabens, sulfates, and other harsh ingredients.
5. Opt for a humidifier to add moisture to the air
In winter, continuous exposure to heating systems in your house and office places is the major cause of making your skin extremely dry and itchy. Using a humidifier at such places adds moisture to the air that helps to combat dry skin during winter. However, always clean your humidifier for at least after 3 days as unclean water can spread bacteria in the air which can aggravate your eczema.
6. Choose a fabric that does not irritate eczema-prone skin
Wearing wool clothes or similar harsh fabric can irritate the skin. Therefore it is important to wear light, fabric-breathable clothes like cotton under your sweaters to balance the body temperature and protect your skin.
Hydration is the key to restoring the dryness of eczema-prone winters. Therefore, people with eczema are always advised to moisturize their skin regularly, as their skin gets easily dehydrated due to transepidermal water loss. Try to rehydrate your skin twice or thrice a day with lotions and creams that are specially formulated for atopic dermatitis. Include given tips in your daily routine to achieve hydrated and healthy-looking skin.
P.S.
The harmful rays of the sun may not be that intense during winter, but they can still penetrate through clouds and windows, thus making your atopic skin prone to damage and skin sensitivity.
The best way to keep your skin protected and healthy is by including mineral sunscreen in your skincare regimen. It helps in protecting your skin from the harsh UVA and UVB rays while keeping your skin healthy.
