You can pretty well count on New Jersey winters to bring a few things: cold temperatures, lots of snow, and dry air. For a lot of people, these harsh weather conditions bring about unfortunate consequences for their skin, including worsening of conditions like eczema. Eczema is a common condition that causes dry, scaly, itchy skin. It typically worsens as winter brings drier conditions because of the weather outside and the heaters running inside. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to help reduce issues and prevent eczema from worsening.

Follow these tips to temper your eczema during cold weather:

• Moisturize: Eczema makes your skin unable to produce moisture, so it’s important to help it out by applying a thick moisturizer or ointment. Slather it on before bed, after a shower, and after washing hands to prevent dryness. If your dermatologist has prescribed an eczema medication, use that.
• Avoid hot baths and showers: A nice hot bath sounds so relaxing in the winter, but the pain that follows will make it not worth it. Heat and steam can cause irritated, dried-out skin. Stick to warm baths and showers.
• Choose comfy clothing: Wool, acrylic, polyester, and similar materials can irritate your skin, so choose a breathable, softer, natural material like cotton.
• Use a mild soap: Gentle soaps will help avoid irritation of sensitive eczema skin.
• Keep it comfy indoors: Overheating your home will cause your skin to dry out. If you do like it warm though, make sure you use humidifiers around the house to replenish moisture in dry rooms.

Eczema is a chronic condition that typically needs extended treatment. Therefore, it’s important to have a board-certified dermatologist to consult with. Your skin care professional can help assess your skin and recommend specific treatments or prescribe medications to help improve your eczema.

If you are dealing with eczema, or any skin, nail, or hair issues, give us a call today. Here at Old Bridge Dermatology, our dermatologist, Dr. Juan Vaillant, has over 30 years of experience treating conditions like eczema. He can help you assess and treat any skin, nail, or hair problem that you are experiencing. To schedule an appointment at our convenient Old Bridge, NJ office, call us today at 732-679-0222.