Eczema and the Weather

Sunday, February 5th

Eczema and the Weather

If you suffer from eczema, you likely already know that the disorder can be exasperated by common materials, activities and even the weather. While it can be challenging to avoid all of the triggers that may make your skin rash worse, it is very important to do all that you can to keep your eczema under control.

Since eczema can be triggered by sweat, physical activity can be a challenge. Climates that are especially humid or warm can also be hard to deal with. But there are some things that you can do to keep your eczema under control while at the same time trying to live a normal life.

Cold Weather and Eczema

Cold, dry conditions can lead to cracked and painful skin conditions in people with otherwise healthy skin, so imagine how hard these weather conditions must be on an eczema sufferer. Here are just a few ways that you can make the cold weather more bearable:

• Be sure to use plenty of moisturizer. Try using a heavy moisturizer with a higher content of oil as the cold wind can zap your skin of vital moisture.
• Continue to use sun block even on not so sunny days. You would be surprised by how much UV light you can be exposed to on even the cloudiest days.
• Make sure that you cover as much of your skin as you possibly can before going out in the cold.
• Use a humidifier.
• Dress with a cotton layer closest to the skin surface if you are bundling up to go outside. If your hands sweat, put on a pair of cotton gloves under your regular gloves to soak up any sweat.
• Avoid extremely hot showers that will zap your skin of moisture and be sure to moisturize immediately after exiting the shower.

Warm Weather and Eczema

As mentioned earlier, sweat can be a major trigger of eczema symptoms. For this reason, extra care is needed during the warm months. Follow these tips to keep your eczema under control:

• Wear light, airy clothes to avoid sweating.
• Sleep with fewer clothes on and use light sheets to avoid night sweats.
• Be sure to keep your air conditioning set to a cool temperature.
• Use sun block every day and avoid going out in intense heat and sun.
• Avoid strenuous activities on hot or humid days. Try to keep sweating to a minimum.
• Try to choose activities that will not result in a lot of sweating.
• Save outdoor physical activities for the evening after it has cooled off.
• Use cold, wet rags or compresses to relieve itching and irritation.
• If you swim, apply an emollient both before you take the plunge. Make sure that you shower immediately after leaving the pool to remove any chlorine on your skin and follow up with a moisturizer.

Granted, taking care of your eczema can be quite a chore especially when the weather is less than favorable. But by following these pointers you can decrease the amount of flare ups that you have and lessen their impact on your skin and life.