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A Parents’ Guide to Managing Eczema Flare-Ups This Winter
Eczema is a term for several types of inflammatory skin conditions that cause scaly, dry patches that vary in severity. Outside conditions can contribute to eczema flares, which is why many people experience severe cases during the winter.
If your child has eczema, it’s essential to know how to treat a flare, especially in cold weather. Dr. Sindu Pillai and her team are experts in pediatric care, offering well-child, sick, and nurse visits to keep your child healthy all winter.
Understanding eczema
Eczema isn’t just one disease – it’s a term that describes various skin conditions that lead to patches of dry, itchy, and scaly skin. It can affect anyone at any age, but it more commonly begins in childhood.
People experience eczema when the skin’s protective barrier becomes compromised, allowing irritants to enter. An exaggerated immune response also causes eczema symptoms, which may include:
- Cracked or bleeding skin
- Intense itching
- Dry, irritated skin
- Rashes or skin inflammation
- Swelling in certain areas
- Crusty areas that may ooze
Certain triggers can worsen eczema symptoms, including fragrances, soaps, and detergents. Specific allergens may also lead to eczema, as well as changes in weather and low humidity, or severe cold.
Why winter causes eczema flares
Eczema can flare at any time of year, but kids are especially prone to flares over the cold winter months – but why? The reason lies in the humidity.
The winter months are often cold and dry, meaning there’s less moisture in the air. Indoor heating also reduces air moisture, which is detrimental to the skin’s protective barrier.
When humidity is low, the protective barrier isn’t hydrated, which leads to dry, itchy skin and, ultimately, eczema flares. The drier your child’s skin, the more susceptible it is to irritants, which can lead to worsening eczema symptoms.
Hot showers or baths to warm up also cause symptoms to flare. They strip the skin of essential hydrating oils, promoting dryness and irritation. Less sunlight contributes to eczema because vitamin D is necessary for skin repair.
Tips to manage your child’s eczema
Managing eczema over winter is tough, but we offer strategies to reduce flares:
Moisturize daily
It’s essential to use thick creams or ointments instead of simple lotions. They retain moisture better than thinner options. It’s crucial to apply them to the skin right after a bath or shower when the skin is still moist.
Keep it humid
Although you can’t control the outside humidity, you can run a humidifier in the house to help with dryness. Aim to keep a cool-mist humidifier at 40-60 percent humidity to help prevent eczema flares.
Manage temperature
Keep the heat indoors just enough to stay warm, but not so high that you get too hot. Managing temperature helps keep the skin from drying out too much, which can cause a flare.
Bathe carefully
Bathe your child in lukewarm water to keep the skin’s oils intact and aim to keep the bath under ten minutes.
Protect their skin
Keep their skin protected from the cold with scarves, gloves, and winter clothing. However, it’s essential to protect their skin from harsh fabrics, including wool.
Use gentle products
Use products that are gentle on the skin and don’t contain dyes, harsh chemicals, or strong fragrances.
Manage it internally
You can manage eczema internally by keeping your child hydrated and giving vitamin D supplements to support skin repair.
To learn more about managing eczema in your child, call our Murrieta, California, office to book a well-child visit with Dr. Pillai, or click here to schedule your consultation today.
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