Tips to manage eczema flare-ups during winter

WRITTEN BY: FATHIMATH SHAJAA JIHAAD CLASS OF 2025

This blog gives tips for managing the flares-ups of a common skin condition called eczema during winter, the time period it often gets worse.

INTRODUCTION

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis type) is a result of an overactive immune system that causes the skin barrier to become dry and itchy. It isn’t just itchy, it hurts. Since creases of the skin, especially the flexural areas behind the knees, elbows, lower legs and other areas of skin rub against each other it can lead to irritation and alot of the times scaly eczema patches tend to form on these areas. They are often fissured during movements and form open wounds which are very painful. It is estimated that 1 in 10 individuals will develop eczema during their lifetime. Although the prevalence of it is higher in childhood, many go through this condition during adulthood as well.

Researchers don’t know the exact cause of eczema. People with eczema often have co-existing conditions like hay fever, food allergies and allergic asthma. What the researchers do know is, that people develop eczema due to an interaction between genes, stress and environmental triggers.

One of the main environmental triggers that you will come across right now if you have been diagnosed with Eczema is the current weather (AKA Winter).This happens due to factors like air in winter being dry, which takes away moisture from our skin and constant temperature changes (cold weather outdoors to central heating indoors).

As someone who goes through having eczema flare-ups during seasonal changes and learned to manage it, I thought giving you some tips about how to manage flares-ups of this condition in winter would be of some help.

It is important to remember that eczema and its symptoms aren’t the same for everyone. The skin care routine that works for the affected areas on skin of one individual, may not be the same for others. Your eczema may not look the same on you, as it does on another adult or a child. Your eczema triggers also may not be the same as of others who have it.

With that being said, I hope the following tips will help you manage the eczema flare-ups you might get during this winter:

1. MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE:

I cannot stress enough how important it is to keep your skin moisturized at all times.Proper, consistent skin care is very important for prevention and management of eczema. Try different moisturizers and choose what works for you. Make sure it has moisture holding components like ceramides. Ceramides prevent irritants, allergens or even bacteria from entering into your skin and prevents loss of moisture from the skin by forming a protective barrier over your skin. Avoid using moisturizers that contain fragrances, since fragrances can often irritate sensitive skin. Before you get to the point of the eczema patches getting scaly and ultimately having to use topical steroid creams, it’s always best to keep your skin moisturized at all times to prevent it from happening. Topical steroid withdrawal symptoms you will have after you stop using them are worse than initial symptoms of eczema: red or darker burning skin, fatigue, mood swings (Been there, it was horrible and painful). Hence, keep your skin (specially the places that often get eczema patches) moisturized well.

2. DO NOT SCRATCH YOUR SKIN WHEN IT GETS ITCHY:

Yes, when you have scaly, itchy patches on your skin, it’s very tempting to scratch and pick on them. However, this will lead to consequences like worsening the itching, oozing of clear fluid from the patch and it being more painful as well. This forms open wounds on skin and can even lead to the area being infected. Repeated scratching or rubbing the skin will worsen and thicken the layer of the patch on skin.

This is known as lichen simplex chronicus. If it gets very itchy, try taking an antihistamine like cetirizine at night before you go to sleep. This will prevent you from scratching your skin during sleep as well.

We now see alot of soothing creams specifically targeted for eczema relief. Such creams can also help soothe the pain and itchiness.

3. AVOID HOT SHOWERS:

As nice a hot shower feels during a cold winter's day, unfortunately, it's not good when trying to manage eczema. The heat from the bath can cause your skin to dry out. Alternatively, take a shower using luke-warm water (don't stay in too long), or try to take quick hot showers instead, if you really want one. Dry your skin immediately after coming out of the shower and avoid sitting in or wearing wet clothes. Damp environment can contribute to eczema. Moisturize your body very well immediately after it.

4. AVOID CLOTH FABRICS THAT CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION:

Fabrics like wool and nylon can actually irritate the skin and make eczema worse. They may cause overheating, which also causes excess moisture and bacteria ultimately leading to flare-ups. Choose breathable soft fabrics, such as cotton, and avoid wearing too many layers. However , If you want to layer up with fabrics like wool, make 100% cotton as your base layer. Wrap up your body well when you go outdoors, in comfortable clothes and protect the sensitive areas of your skin from rapid temperatures changes.

6. MANAGE STRESS AND TAKE CARE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH:

Eczema symptoms and flare-ups can get worse when you’re feeling stressed. Obviously not something we can avoid easily if semester exams are going to start soon. However, try to plan ahead of time for the exams and prepare yourself for it mentally. You may get stressed during winter just knowing the fact that you have eczema. Anxiety or stress are very common triggers that cause eczema to flare up. This then creates more anxiety and stress, which then leads to worsening of eczema flare-ups. It’s a vicious cycle. Calm yourself down and live in the moment. Know that you have taken all the preventative measures you could take and keep in mind that even if a flare-up occurs, you’ll moisturize and tackle that as well. Being optimistic in these situations helps a lot.

CONCLUSION

It is important to keep in mind that it is not a contagious skin condition that you’d “catch” through physical contact with them. People with eczema already have a risk of having mental illnesses like anxiety or depression along with having body dysmorphia due to the appearance of eczema patches on their skin.

The findings from a survey done by the National Eczema Association showed that more than 30% of people with atopic dermatitis type eczema were diagnosed with depression and/or anxiety which may occur due to the way the bodies of people with eczema, communicate with their brains during an inflammatory response.

So, treat them no differently from others and be kind to one another.