While eczema can technically crop up at any time, it (unfortunately) thrives in winter. Since eczema is a form of severely dry skin, it’s often exacerbated by cold weather and dry air, meaning winter makes the skin issue that much worse, but there are plenty of factors that might cause a flare-up.
“We don’t know the exact cause of eczema,” says Azadeh Shirazi, board-certified dermatologist. “We do know that people develop eczema as a result of genes and environmental factors. People with eczema often report other sensitivity conditions such as asthma and hay fever. There are multiple inherent factors involved, including skin-barrier disruption, imbalance of the skin’s microbiome, and immune dysregulation. Environmental factors such as cold or dry weather; contact with sensitizers such as fragrance, dyes, or preservatives; and stress all play a huge role. Research has found having an imbalance of microbiome in the gut can increase inflammation in the body and exacerbate eczema.”
If you want to try to stop eczema before it starts (or becomes a bigger issue), I asked Shirazi for her best prevention tactics. Keep reading for the tips.
Katie Berohn
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