Why Does Hand Eczema Get Worse in Cold Weather? Pictures of Winter Eczema and Prevention Tips

If you haveeczema, you know that winter can be an especially hard time for your hands. The colder and drier months can cause eczema flare-ups, leaving your skin feeling itchy and raw.

But it's not just the cold weather that causes seasonal eczema. Read on to learn about other causes, how to prevent flare-ups before they start, and what to do if your eczema does flare.

What does hand eczema look like?

Eczema on the hands can appear like dry, scaly, or thickened patches or bumps. In fair skin, eczema is usually pink or red, and in darker skin it can be violet, brown, or white. Sometimes, deep painful cracks can appear on the palms or fingers.

Eczema on the back of the hand can look like violet or white patches or bumps in darker skin.

Eczema on the knuckles and back of the hand can look like red or pink patches or bumps in fair skin. Why does winter weather cause eczema flare-ups?

Most eczema flares happen when the skin gets dry and irritated. This damages the naturally protective skin barrier. During thewinter months, the skin is exposed to damage from a wide range of situations, such as:

• Cold weather
• Frequent temperature changes, as people go in and out of heated vehicles and buildings
• Low humidity from indoor heat
• Hotter and longer baths and showers
• Irritating winter clothes (think wool scarves and mittens)
• More viral illness, whichcan worseneczema

How to prevent winter eczema flare-ups

If you have eczema, a little bit of preparation can go a long way to help prevent winter flare-ups. Keep in mind that each person with eczema is different, so one solution won't necessarily work for everyone. But working these habits into your daily routine can help stop winter dermatitis before it starts.

EXPERT PICKS: WHAT TO READ NEXT

• Face eczema:Eczema can affect the face, too. Here'swhat it looks like, and what to do about it. Learn which at-home and prescription treatments work best.
• Dealing with winter eczema:Read howone woman managesthe intense itching that comes with her eczema flares.
• What does eczema feel like?Four peopleshare their experiencewith eczema, and how they manage their symptoms.

Change to a heavier moisturizer Use a heavier cream or petroleum-based ointment several times a day, especially right after you bathe. These thicker formulations are better at locking in moisture than thinner, water-based lotions. Make sure your moisturizer is fragrance-free and dye-free to reduce irritation.

Use a humidifier In the winter, heated air is very dry. This can dry out your skin and worsen eczema. A humidifier in your house or bedroom will help put some moisture back in the air and keep your skin from drying out.

Protect your skin and layer natural fibers When you do go outside,cover up exposed skin. Wear natural fabrics like cotton or silk. And to help prevent overheating and sweating,dress in layersthat you can remove. Wet clothes and sweat can be irritating for eczema, so remove damp clothes as soon as you can, then shower and moisturize if necessary.

Avoid very hot water and fragranced soaps Use comfortably warm water when you wash your hands, bathe, or shower. Water that's too hot can dry out your skin and trigger eczema. It's also important to avoid other irritants, like fragrances and harsh detergents.

Pay special attention to your hands To prevent winter hand eczema, keep hand-washing to a minimum. That's not to say you shouldn't practicegood hand hygiene, though. There are key moments that require you to wash your hands, such as:

• Before, during, and after preparing, handling, or eating food
• After using the restroom for you or a child, or after handling diapers
• After coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose
• After caring for or coming into contact with someone who is sick, vomiting, or having diarrhea
• Before and after any intimate or personal care
• After handling animals, animal food, or animal waste
• When your hands are dirty

Use a soap-free and fragrance-free cleanser, like those from Cetaphil. Moisturize after washing your hands, and do so frequently throughout the day. Avoid hand sanitizers thatcontain methanol, which can irritate the skin, and apply a moisturizer after using the sanitizer.

Finally, protect your hands with cotton gloves when going outside.

Stay healthy Viral illnesses can make winter eczema worse, so it's important to avoid them as much as possible. You can't avoid all viruses, but you can take steps to lower your risk, like getting theflu vaccineand staying away from people who are sick.

Check your vitamin D levels People with eczemamay be more likelyto have low levels of vitamin D.Some studiessuggest that vitamin D supplementation may help improve eczema. Talk with your primary care provider before starting anything new because taking too manysupplementscan also have side effects.

Have a treatment plan in place Visit your dermatologist or primary care provider before winter to get a plan in place for what to do if your symptoms start to trouble you. This way, if you do experience a flare you can treat it immediately before it gets worse.

Treatment for winter eczema

Prevention is key when it comes to winter eczema. But sometimes, despite your best efforts, your symptoms can flare. If they do, don't be too hard on yourself. Eczema is a complicated condition, and there may be factors outside of your control.

The first thing to do is reassess how you're treating your skin. For example, many people don't moisturize as much as they should during the winter months. Or maybe you never tried using a humidifier. Going back to winter skin care basics may be enough to manage the flare.

If you need a little extra help, you can try over-the-counter (OTC)hydrocortisonefor up to 1 week. But if that's still not enough to manage your symptoms, it may be time to see your primary care provider about adding prescription creams to your treatment plan.

Preventing and treating winter eczema in kids and babies

Eczema is common in children, so winter flare-ups can be a particular challenge for them. Frequent moisturization with ointments or thick creams is the cornerstone of their eczema prevention.

Beyond the tips above, here are some additional steps you can take to prevent and manage winter eczema in your kids:

• Minimize their itch by using acolloidal oatmeal bathor applying a cool compress to itchy skin.
• Keep their nails short to help prevent breaking the skin when they scratch.
• Stress can worsen eczema, so try tolower any stressyour child (or you) may be experiencing.
• Avoid telling them to stop scratching. This often doesn't work and can add to their stress.
• Let their teachers know they have eczema so they can moisturize at school if needed.
• For tough flares, use OTC hydrocortisone for up to 1 week. If that doesn't work, you may need to see a healthcare professional for prescription-strength creams.

When should you get medical care for winter eczema?

If you're not able to manage your (or your child's) winter eczema despite the strategies above, it may be time to see your dermatologist or other healthcare professional for additional treatment.

Other signs that a visit to a healthcare professional is in order include:

• Trouble sleeping
• Uncontrolled itching
• Anysigns of infection(like yellow crusting or oozing)

Frequently asked questions

Can vitamin deficiencies contribute to winter eczema?expand_more How vitamins and vitamin levels affect eczema - if at all - is still being studied.

Some people with eczema havelow levelsof vitamin D. For them, supplementing with vitamin D may help improve skin symptoms. Somestudiesshow that low levels of iron, zinc, and vitamins A and D may contribute to why some people develop eczema. But, more research is needed to know for sure.

It's best to get the vitamins and nutrients you need through awell-balanced, nutritious, whole-food diet. Talk with your primary care provider if you're worried you may be deficient in a certain vitamin.

What can aggravate eczema?expand_more

• Which soaps can help heal eczema?expand_more
• h2]:mt-0
  [&h2]:mb-[12px]
  [&h2]:font-header-m
  sm:[&h2]:font-header-l
  [&p:first-of-type]:mt-0
  [&ul:first-of-type]:mt-0
  [&ol:first-of-type]:mt-0
  [&*:last-child]:mb-0
  [&*:last-childli:last-child]:mb-0
  " data-qa="ContentCalloutH2Title" The bottom line
• For many people, winter can bring dry skin and uncomfortable eczema flare-ups. But this doesn't have to be the case. Taking simple preventive measures - like moisturizing more and using a humidifier - can help keep winter eczema under control. If your skin does worsen, treating it with OTC hydrocortisone or prescription creams is usually enough to get relief.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.