Eczema can occur at any time of the year but is often worse during the cold, dry winter months. You may notice a rash on your hands, feet, ankles, wrists, neck, upper chest, eyelids, backs of the knees, inside of the elbows, face, and/or scalp. The rash may look red, brown, or gray, thick, cracked, dry, or flaky. It might also feel itchy and sensitive.[1] Eczema also puts you at a higher risk of developing asthma and atopy, which is a syndrome that causes you to be hyperallergic. Someone who has atopy may have eczema (atopic dermatitis), allergic rhinitis (hay fever), or asthma.[2] There is no cure, but there are things you can do to reduce outbreaks.[3]
Method
1
Caring for your Eczema at Home
1
Use moisturizer to soothe dry winter skin. Apply moisturizer to your skin at least twice a day focusing on any dry patches of skin. This will help keep it moist and prevent cracking and irritation. Avoid moisturizers with dyes or perfumes that may irritate your skin. Moisturizers and oils should be applied when your skin is still wet after a bath or shower to seal in the moisture. The following work well:[4][5]
Cetaphil
Nutraderm
Eucerin
Baby oil
2
Try an over-the-counter allergy medication. Allergy medicines contain antihistamines, which may help because eczema is related to allergies. Some good options include:[6]
Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
Fexofenadine (Allegra)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
3
Treat the itching with a topical cream. Some topical creams, such as steroid creams, calamine lotion, and topical calcineurin inhibitors will help to reduce itching. You can apply them to your eczema ta few times per day to get relief. Some options include:[7]
Hydrocortisone cream. A 1% hydrocortisone cream can help to reduce itching. Just keep in mind that frequent use of steroid creams may lead to thinning of the skin, so it is best to use these creams on a short term basis. Ask your doctor first before using a hydrocortisone cream on your face or in between skin folds.
Calamine lotion. Calamine lotion is often used for poison ivy, but it can also help with itching caused by eczema.
Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors. These prescription topical creams provide itch and rash relief, but they do not thin the skin like steroid creams are known to do.[8]
4
Soothe itchy, inflamed patches with a cold compress. A cold compress can help to relieve itching and it will also help to reduce swelling.[9] You can either use a cold, wet washcloth or an ice pack as a cold compress.
To use a wet washcloth, hold a washcloth under cool running water and then wring out the excess water. Hold the washcloth on your skin for about five minutes. Then, dry the area thoroughly and apply moisturizer.
To use an ice pack wrap it in a clean cotton cloth or paper towel first. Then, hold the ice pack against your eczema for up to 20 minutes. Give your skin a chance to return to its normal temperature before using the ice pack again or you may cause tissue damage.
5
Prevent yourself from scratching. If you scratch, you will irritate the area and may break the skin. This will allow bacteria to get in and make you more prone to infection. If you scratch without thinking about it, try:[10]
Putting a bandage on it.
Keeping your nails trimmed.
Wearing a pair of cotton gloves at night.
6
Take a baking soda or oatmeal bath. This is particularly enjoyable on a cold winter day and it may help to reduce itching and soothe your skin.[11]
Draw a warm bath and then sprinkle baking soda, uncooked oatmeal, or colloidal oatmeal into the water.
Relax for 15 minutes, and then get out.
Apply moisturizer to your wet skin. This will help seal the moisture into your skin.[12]
Some people wait 20 minutes after drying the skin otherwise the moisturizer can penetrate too quickly causing added irritation.
7
Dab saltwater onto the eczema. This may sting a bit, but it will help to kill any bacteria that may be growing in the irritated or broken skin. In the summer a swim in the ocean would help, but during winter, you will need to mix your own salt solution.[13]
Dissolve several teaspoons of table salt into a cup of warm water.
Using washcloth, dab it onto the eczema patch and let it dry.
8
Experiment with alternative medicines. Always consult your doctor before trying alternative medicines, particularly herbal supplements, which may interact with other medications. These methods have not been scientifically proven to help, but anecdotal evidence suggests they may help some people:[14]
Supplements of vitamin D, E, zinc, selenium, probiotics, or various oils
Herbal supplements like St. John’s wort, calendula flowers, tea tree oil, German chamomile, Oregon grape root, licorice, rice bran broth (topically)
Acupuncture or acupressure
Using aromatherapy or color therapy to increase relaxation
Massage therapy
9
Try light therapy to reduce inflammation. During the winter, the days are shorter and we spend more time indoors, reducing the amount of light we are exposed to throughout the day. Light therapy can be done by deliberately exposing yourself to sunlight, or using artificial ultraviolet A, or narrow band UVB light. However, this can be harmful and is generally not used on children. Side effects include:[15][16]
Early aging of the skin
A risk of developing skin cancer
source: http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Winter-Eczema
Method
1
Caring for your Eczema at Home
1
Use moisturizer to soothe dry winter skin. Apply moisturizer to your skin at least twice a day focusing on any dry patches of skin. This will help keep it moist and prevent cracking and irritation. Avoid moisturizers with dyes or perfumes that may irritate your skin. Moisturizers and oils should be applied when your skin is still wet after a bath or shower to seal in the moisture. The following work well:[4][5]
Cetaphil
Nutraderm
Eucerin
Baby oil
2
Try an over-the-counter allergy medication. Allergy medicines contain antihistamines, which may help because eczema is related to allergies. Some good options include:[6]
Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
Fexofenadine (Allegra)
Diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
3
Treat the itching with a topical cream. Some topical creams, such as steroid creams, calamine lotion, and topical calcineurin inhibitors will help to reduce itching. You can apply them to your eczema ta few times per day to get relief. Some options include:[7]
Hydrocortisone cream. A 1% hydrocortisone cream can help to reduce itching. Just keep in mind that frequent use of steroid creams may lead to thinning of the skin, so it is best to use these creams on a short term basis. Ask your doctor first before using a hydrocortisone cream on your face or in between skin folds.
Calamine lotion. Calamine lotion is often used for poison ivy, but it can also help with itching caused by eczema.
Topical Calcineurin Inhibitors. These prescription topical creams provide itch and rash relief, but they do not thin the skin like steroid creams are known to do.[8]
4
Soothe itchy, inflamed patches with a cold compress. A cold compress can help to relieve itching and it will also help to reduce swelling.[9] You can either use a cold, wet washcloth or an ice pack as a cold compress.
To use a wet washcloth, hold a washcloth under cool running water and then wring out the excess water. Hold the washcloth on your skin for about five minutes. Then, dry the area thoroughly and apply moisturizer.
To use an ice pack wrap it in a clean cotton cloth or paper towel first. Then, hold the ice pack against your eczema for up to 20 minutes. Give your skin a chance to return to its normal temperature before using the ice pack again or you may cause tissue damage.
5
Prevent yourself from scratching. If you scratch, you will irritate the area and may break the skin. This will allow bacteria to get in and make you more prone to infection. If you scratch without thinking about it, try:[10]
Putting a bandage on it.
Keeping your nails trimmed.
Wearing a pair of cotton gloves at night.
6
Take a baking soda or oatmeal bath. This is particularly enjoyable on a cold winter day and it may help to reduce itching and soothe your skin.[11]
Draw a warm bath and then sprinkle baking soda, uncooked oatmeal, or colloidal oatmeal into the water.
Relax for 15 minutes, and then get out.
Apply moisturizer to your wet skin. This will help seal the moisture into your skin.[12]
Some people wait 20 minutes after drying the skin otherwise the moisturizer can penetrate too quickly causing added irritation.
7
Dab saltwater onto the eczema. This may sting a bit, but it will help to kill any bacteria that may be growing in the irritated or broken skin. In the summer a swim in the ocean would help, but during winter, you will need to mix your own salt solution.[13]
Dissolve several teaspoons of table salt into a cup of warm water.
Using washcloth, dab it onto the eczema patch and let it dry.
8
Experiment with alternative medicines. Always consult your doctor before trying alternative medicines, particularly herbal supplements, which may interact with other medications. These methods have not been scientifically proven to help, but anecdotal evidence suggests they may help some people:[14]
Supplements of vitamin D, E, zinc, selenium, probiotics, or various oils
Herbal supplements like St. John’s wort, calendula flowers, tea tree oil, German chamomile, Oregon grape root, licorice, rice bran broth (topically)
Acupuncture or acupressure
Using aromatherapy or color therapy to increase relaxation
Massage therapy
9
Try light therapy to reduce inflammation. During the winter, the days are shorter and we spend more time indoors, reducing the amount of light we are exposed to throughout the day. Light therapy can be done by deliberately exposing yourself to sunlight, or using artificial ultraviolet A, or narrow band UVB light. However, this can be harmful and is generally not used on children. Side effects include:[15][16]
Early aging of the skin
A risk of developing skin cancer
source: http://www.wikihow.com/Treat-Winter-Eczema
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