How to Stop an Eczema Flare-up This Winter

There are a few realities that come with eczema. For starters, this skin condition is incredibly common and affects approximately 10% of the population in the United States. 

Second, there’s no cure for eczema, which makes trigger management a key piece of the flare-up prevention puzzle. Finally, there is a wide range of eczema triggers, and winter is a common one.

Since winters aren’t exactly mild here in Chicago, the team of healthcare providers at Michigan Avenue Primary Care will focus on preventive practices for eczema. In the following, we dive into some great strategies for staying one step ahead of eczema flare-ups this winter.

Combat the dry air

The air in winter can be much drier than at other times of year — inside and out. While the cold, chilly air outside is one challenge, the bigger one can be the dry heat that you encounter indoors.

While you can’t control all environments, you can control the one at home, and we suggest firing up some humidifiers to keep the air at home full of moisture, which will nourish and protect your skin better.

Use oil-based moisturizers

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, and it can use a little proactive healthcare through moisturization. If you have eczema, you need to double down on these efforts and make sure you’re using the right products.

In this case, we’re referring to oil-based moisturizers, which can better support your skin barrier. 

It’s also a good idea to use products that don’t have any extras, such as artificial colors or fragrances, which can irritate your already sensitive skin.

Cotton over wool

Winter is a time when many people wrap themselves in wool, but this isn’t a good practice for people with eczema. It’s much better for your skin to be next to cotton products than wool, which can be scratchy.

If you’re wearing synthetic fabrics, make sure they’re soft and, more importantly, that they breathe. 

Don’t linger in wet clothes

We’ve all had the unpleasant winter experience of sweating in heavier clothes and then freezing in wet, sweaty clothes afterward. For people with eczema, this can not only be unpleasant, but it can also trigger a flare-up.

So, if you’re out exercising in the cold winter air and you get sweaty, great! We applaud that you’re exercising. That said, please make sure you have a change of clothes and put on these dry garments and get out of your wet ones as quickly as possible.

While you can’t always prevent an eczema flare-up, these practices, alongside your usual ones throughout the year, can go a long way toward keeping your skin healthy this winter.

For expert eczema care and management, or if you have more questions, you can contact us at our clinic in Chicago, Illinois, in The Loop, to schedule a consultation with one of our healthcare providers. You can also visit our urgent care center during operating hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.