The weather has a huge effect on human skin. From hot to cold, the skin tends to suffer from different changes in the atmosphere. For children who have skin conditions like eczema, winter can be really difficult. The cold, dry weather can cause eczema to flare up or become worse. In most cases, eczema improves during summer and gets worse during the cold and damp winter months. Babies have sensitive skin and this means that they feel the effects of the weather more strongly.
Eczema is a fairly common skin condition that leaves the skin feeling dry, red, and inflamed. The condition usually develops during childhood but it can also affect people in adulthood. There is a reason why your baby’s eczema is worse this winter. The cold weather can trigger eczema symptoms. Fortunately, if your baby is suffering from constant itchiness, there are things that you can do to help.
The Connection Between Weather & Skin
The skin acts as a barrier to protect the body from outside elements. Healthy skin offers protection from winter cold and summer heat. When an individual has eczema, the protective barrier fails to work as it should. Moisture leaks from the skin, which causes it to dry out and become more irritated. The weather also affects eczema when wind causes pollen in the air to be blown onto the skin. For people who are allergic, the winter season exposes them to various eczema triggers. The infant skin fails to work at the optimum level due to adverse weather.
Causes & Types Of Eczema In Babies
Eczema is a common skin condition characterized by itchiness and inflammation. Also called dermatitis, the skin condition has commonly been linked to an abnormal skin barrier. The condition has different triggers and it presents itself in different ways depending on each individual. Most babies experience severe itching, tiny raised bumps, and patches of scaly, dry skin. The condition can be spread all over the body or it can appear in a few small patches. In some cases, eczema can remain dormant during most of the year only to appear when winter comes round. This type of seasonal eczema is known as asteatotic eczema or the “winter itch”.
There are different forms of eczema. Allergic contact dermatitis is the type of eczema where the skin flares up due to external agents such as fragrances, preservatives, or metals. Irritant contact dermatitis occurs due to persistent skin irritation. Atopic dermatitis is the most common eczema type that usually begins in childhood or infancy. In this case, the skin is overly sensitive to environmental allergens. This allergic eczema affects one in three children and about one in ten adults. In many cases, infant eczema goes away naturally as the child gets older. However, most people continue to experience constant flare-ups all their lives.
How Colder Months Impacts Eczema
Eczema tends to run in families and it is also associated with conditions like hay fever and asthma. The genetic predisposition means that babies are more likely to get the skin condition when someone in the family has one of these conditions. The skin barrier is compromised due to a mutation in the filaggrin gene. Due to this mutation, microbial and environmental allergens are able to penetrate the skin more easily causing inflammation. Unfortunately, there is no known cure for eczema. Treating the condition requires avoiding triggers and adopting ways to manage the symptoms.
Eczema can be very uncomfortable for a baby. The itchiness can affect your baby’s ability to sleep. This means that your child is likely to be irritable during winter. Apart from the exterior dry air, the use of indoor heating systems also dries the skin. The skin is unable to retain moisture naturally in this condition. Another reason for worsening eczema is winter habits like wearing heavy clothing, hot baths, and too many bed covers. The attempt to keep the baby warm during winter can actually work against the skin. Exposure to allergens like pet dander or dust can make the baby’s eczema worse.
Some of the symptoms that your baby may be experiencing include severe itching, dry and scaly skin patches, and small raised bumps. The bumps may contain fluid and they tend to become scabs when scratched. Your baby may also have thick and cracked skin or sensitive and raw skin. Some things that you can do to keep your child comfortable include using a humidifier, avoiding hot baths, using a gentle soap, and keeping the skin well moisturized. Avoiding materials that irritate the skin will also help.
Sources: aboutkidshealth.ca, verywellfamily.com, patient.info, webmd.com, healthline.com.