Why eczema flares in dry winters, and what helps

Eczema skin has a weaker barrier, so it loses water faster than other skin. In Denver’s dry winter air, with the heat on indoors, that loss speeds up and the itch-scratch cycle starts more easily.

The routine that helps most is simple: short lukewarm showers, a fragrance-free cleanser only where you need it, and a thick cream or ointment within three minutes of drying off, every day, even when the skin looks fine. A humidifier in the bedroom helps more than most people expect.

If you are using a prescription cream more than a couple of weeks a month, or the itch wakes you up, tell us. There are newer non-steroid creams and biologic treatments for eczema that doesn’t settle, and most of our patients find a plan that works within a few months.