The weather has turned cooler and this can play havoc with eczema prone skin.

Many people notice a change in their skin condition when winter arrives, with flare ups common, but there are some things you can do to try to prevent these flares.

Moisturise

Air tends to be drier in the winter, making dry eczema prone skin even more likely to itch. Apply moisturiser or emollient several times a day and don’t let the skin dry out.

Wrap up

Wear gloves and a hat during cold weather to protect skin from the elements. Try wearing a hat with cotton lining to prevent irritation from wool. Going between hot indoors spaces to the colder outside can make skin dry, cracked, sweaty and itchy. Dressing in multiple thin layers can help regulate skin temperature, so the changes in air temperature don’t affect the skin so much.

Humidifier

Central heating makes the air inside your home even drier so you could consider using a humidifier to add moisture back into the air. As a cost-free alternative, we suggest sitting a bowl of water on top of a radiator to achieve a similar effect as a humidifier.

Baths

When it’s cold weather, many of us want to jump into a hot bubble bath, but this will only further dry out the skin. Avoid any chemicals in your bathing water and don’t have the water too hot.

Avoid damp clothes

You might not be able to avoid getting caught in the rain, or perhaps you’ve had fun in the snow, but make sure wet socks and trousers don’t stay on too long. Cold, damp environments can make eczema worse and are a perfect breeding ground for bacteria.

Wear layers

Wearing layers means you can keep the skin at a more even temperature when moving between indoors and outside. Make sure the fabrics used are soft and avoid harsh materials like wool and polyester.