December 26, 2023 – “Eczema is my constant companion in winter,” says Ali Zagat, 42, of Philadelphia. As soon because it gets cold, she gets dry, red patches on her hands and painful cracks on her knuckles and fingertips. “I have sensitive skin and eczema in general, but when the air is drier and it's cold outside, it gets worse.”
There are clear reasons for this, says Julia Tzu, MD, assistant clinical professor within the department of dermatology at New York University School of Medicine and director of Wall Street Dermatology. “Our skin is subject to constant environmental fluctuations. In the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the humidity drops significantly and the temperature drops – it's an (extremely dry) condition, so your skin loses a lot of water.”
All sorts of trouble
Zagat’s experience will not be unusual – studies have shown that eczema victims usually tend to seek treatment when temperatures drop. And individuals who live in cold climates are affected way more continuously than people living in warmer regions. More than 31 million Americans suffer from any type of eczema, also called atopic dermatitis.
Other skin conditions also are inclined to flare up in winter. Cold and wind, for instance, can trigger the redness of rosacea. And seborrheic dermatitis, a scaly rash (referred to as dandruff on the scalp), gets worse with a chilly. In a study of several thousand individuals with psoriasis, greater than half had more trouble within the colder months.
Amy Kelly, 44, lives on a farm on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. She has suffered from psoriasis since childhood and knows to expect the worst when frost hits.
“At its worst, my psoriasis itches so much that I compulsively scratch until it bleeds,” she said. “And if the scratching breaks the skin, it burns too.”
All of those problems have one common cause: winter destroys the skin barrier.
“The skin barrier is essentially a fortress that seals off your body,” Tzu said. As the highest layer of your epidermis, the barrier accommodates waxy ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids that help lock in moisture and keep out environmental irritants. When the ambient air is incredibly dry, as is commonly the case in winter, it could actually strip the skin barrier of its natural moisture.
What makes it worse?
Unfortunately, a few of our actions in response to winter weather may cause further problems:
- The heat indoors, which is so essential in your well-being, removes moisture from the air and ultimately out of your skin.
- Hot water looks like a simple approach to warm your hands and body, however it has a drying effect. Think about how well hot water helps clean greasy dishes. On your body, which means that a part of the skin barrier is dissolved.
- Rubbing vigorously with a towel will dry your skin quickly, but it can also damage the skin barrier.
- Hand sanitizers, that are so helpful this time of 12 months to forestall colds, flu and COVID-19, contain not less than 60% alcohol – which could be very drying.
- Wool and artificial fabrics could also be warm, but they will irritate sensitive skin. You will probably want to reconsider your favorite knitted hat or your grandmother's fluffy mittens.
Often the skincare products themselves are the perpetrator. Many anti-aging products may be too aggressive for winter skin.
“Basically, avoid anything that irritates,” advises Tzu. “If you use a retinoid in the summer, reduce the frequency in the winter. Avoid or reduce products with ingredients like vitamin C, glycolic acid, beta hydroxy or alpha hydroxy acids and retinols, or even physical exfoliators.”
And it's not only the energetic ingredients that could cause problems. Fragrances also trigger skin rashes for many individuals.
“It may smell good, it may feel good, but avoid fragrances, natural or not,” says Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, a dermatologist on the Cleveland Clinic. “Poison ivy is natural, and look what it does to our skin.”
What makes it higher?
Once your skin is dry and flaky, it's only a stone's throw from itching and burning. Here's how you'll be able to relieve the discomfort:
- Focus on repairing your skin barrier. Look for products with ingredients like ceramides, cholesterol, colloidal oatmeal, glycerin, hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 (also referred to as panthenol), Tzu and Khetarpal said. You will probably want to avoid thin lotions that dispense from a pump and as a substitute search for thicker creams and ointments that are available a tube or container. If you're using a prescription topical medication, apply that first and follow with a moisturizer.
- For dry and cracked areas like heels or elbows, a petroleum-based product like Vaseline or Aquaphor can quickly soften the skin. “But remember, oil and water repel each other,” Khetarpal said. “These products are fine to use, but you're not going to get a permanent improvement in the skin barrier by doing this. It's just a lubricant that sits on top of the skin.”
- These petroleum-based barrier-building products may soothe chapped, cracked lips. Apply them often and check out to not lick your lips—that little moisture could also be helpful at first, but because the water evaporates, it dries out your lips much more.
- If you employ scented skincare products, switch to unscented options or products labeled for sensitive skin. “Free and Clear” laundry detergents may additionally be helpful.
- Wear several layers of 100% cotton as a base and canopy as much skin as possible when outdoors. Less exposure means less drying out. At home, be sure your bedding is 100% cotton – just consider how much time your skin spends on that fabric.
- Covering up helps indoors, too. Zagat relies on gloves when she does dishes and in addition when she sleeps. Every night before bed, she applies her prescription cream and a layer of moisturizer to her hands, then puts on 100% cotton gloves. The soft fabric not only locks in moisture, but in addition prevents her from scratching an excessive amount of while she sleeps.
- Use a humidifier so as to add moisture to the air in your room. It's OK to run it only at night, Khetarpal said. “When you wake up in the morning, you'll notice your skin doesn't feel as dry.”
Don't wait too long to hunt help in case your skin is causing you discomfort. “If it's just your skin, no obvious rash, you haven't noticed anything else, try moisturizing for a week,” Tzu said. “If it doesn't go away, go see a dermatologist.”
Stop problems before they arise
Even if you have got never had skin problems in winter, problems can still arise. With just a few preventative measures, you'll be able to avoid problems from the beginning:
- Wear sunscreen each day. The sun's UV rays should not as strong in winter as they're on a summer day on the beach, but they still reach your skin. The radiation penetrates and damages skin cellsKhetarpal recommends a UPF of 30 or higher, similar to in summer.
- On the opposite hand, some Sunshine appears to be good for winter skin. This psoriasis study of 1000's of individuals found that those that worked outdoors were less prone to report winter breakouts. Smaller studies have found that vitamin D, which sunlight helps the body produce, plays a task in each. eczema And psoriasisIf it's too cold to spend time outdoors, seek advice from your doctor about taking a vitamin D complement.
- Drink loads of water to hydrate your skin from inside. “If you're dying of thirst in the desert, a jar of moisturizer isn't going to help you much,” Tzu said. “Most moisturizers don't really work unless you have moisture in the environment.”
- When indoors, wear an additional layer of clothing slightly than turning up the warmth.
- Bathe and wash your hands and face with lukewarm water. Pat your skin dry and leave it a little bit damp. Wet it inside 3 to five minutes to retain moisture within the skin. Tzu recommends carrying a travel-sized container in your bag so you'll be able to apply some each time you wash your hands.
- Pay attention to your stress level – each eczema And psoriasis may be triggered by this.
Whether you're seeking to heal your skin or keep it healthy, it is sensible to take a multi-pronged approach. Amy Kelly, who has psoriasis, springs into motion once temperatures begin to drop. In addition to covering up when she goes outside, she takes a vitamin D complement and drinks loads of water. “I also watch my sugar, alcohol and stress intake — all of those things combined make it worse,” she said. “If I can eliminate other stressors, the cold doesn't have as much of an impact.”