Eczema is more than just an itch and can be especially pervasive during the winter months. But there’s good news: There are ways to manage this chronic skin condition and soothe the symptoms of redness, rashes, and itching. Check out our tips to help you relieve and prevent eczema symptoms.
Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is one of the most common skin conditions. During an eczema flare-up, red patches can show up anywhere on the body, including the hands, feet, thighs, ankles, cheeks, forehead, and neck. Anyone who has experienced eczema will tell you: It stings, itches, and is generally uncomfortable!
In addition to itching and red patches, eczema can cause other symptoms, such as the following:
Eczema can often be mistaken for other skin problems, as the symptoms may look similar. A health care professional can provide you with the correct diagnosis.
Eczema can affect people of all ages, but babies and children under the age of five are most prone to the condition because of their sensitive skin. Fortunately, eczema symptoms tend to improve over time.
No, eczema is not contagious. You can’t contract the condition by touching patches on another person’s skin. So what triggers an eczema flare-up? Learn more about the main triggers of eczema.
Although it can be difficult to determine what exactly causes eczema, we know that genetics and environment play a major role. For instance, if one of your parents suffers from eczema, your chances of getting the condition are higher.
Eczema flare-ups can also be caused by:
Whatever eczema is caused by, your skin plays a key role in preventing this condition by acting as a barrier that protects the body from irritants, germs, and other foreign substances in your environment. To do its job, however, your skin needs to be healthy and well hydrated. That’s why moisturizing is the first of our 10 essential tips to prevent and treat eczema. Let’s go over them together!
1
Even if your skin doesn’t feel dry or irritated, it’s important to moisturize to keep eczema at bay. But first, you need to know the difference between dehydrated skin (which lacks water) and dry skin (which lacks sebum). Treatments for dehydrated skin are not the same as treatments for dry skin.
To tell these two conditions apart, keep in mind that dry skin is characterized by a lack of oil on the face, whereas dehydrated skin is characterized by desquamation (peeling or flaking) or a feeling of tightness and discomfort.
To prevent eczema and keep your skin hydrated, consider adopting the following habits:
Pro tip:
For intense relief, keep your favourite skin cream in the refrigerator. The cool feeling against your skin is extra soothing!
2
Pollen, pet dander, mould, diet, dust, and dust mites: All of these can potentially trigger or exacerbate an eczema flare-up! It’s important to identify your eczema triggers so that you can avoid them whenever possible. Your pharmacist can help.
3
Soaking in a hot bath can be extremely invigorating at the end of a cold winter day, but it’s not a good idea if you’re trying to prevent or treat eczema. Bathing in water that’s too hot can destroy your skin’s lipid barrier, which is the top layer of your epidermis that allows your skin to stay hydrated.
In addition to decreasing the water temperature, we recommend adopting the following practices:
4
Winter means dry weather, and dry weather often triggers eczema flare-ups. Low humidity causes the skin to become dehydrated, which can lead to eczema. To remedy this, consider using a humidifier in your bedroom, your children’s bedroom, and anywhere your family spends a lot of time. The recommended humidity level in a home during winter is between 30% and 50%.1
Pro tip:
Make sure to clean your humidifier filter regularly to remove dust and mould that can aggravate asthma and allergies, which can trigger eczema.
5
We know, we know: Eczema is itchy, and you want to scratch! But listen. Even if scratching makes you feel momentarily better, you need to resist the urge to do it! Scratching does nothing to help, and it will even make things worse by exacerbating any damage or redness you’re experiencing. In fact, it will only make you feel itchier.
Scratching your eczema creates a vicious cycle of itch, scratch, rash. You feel itchy, you scratch, you get temporary relief, but the rashes only get worse. In other words, scratching does the opposite of what you’re looking to achieve.
Pro tip:
Instead of scratching, it’s better to rub or pinch your skin.
6
Cotton is a comfortable fabric that lets the skin breathe and helps prevent irritated skin, which makes it a great choice if you’re prone to eczema flare-ups! In general, you should always choose light, breathable fabrics that don’t rub against or scratch your skin, especially when exercising or playing sports.
Conversely, many synthetic fabrics (spandex, polyester, chlorofibre) and materials such as wool, hemp, and linen are irritating to the skin and can cause eczema flare-ups.
7
Stress can impact eczema by boosting the production of cortisol, a hormone that weakens the immune system and the skin’s protective barrier. It’s been shown that this physiological response can be harmful to the protective functions of your skin, which can lead to inflammation, eczema, psoriasis, acne, and other skin problems.
Eczema flare-ups often increase during stressful periods, like when you’re overworked or dealing with personal problems. This inflammatory response to stress creates a vicious cycle: eczema flare-ups can increase stress, which in turn worsens the symptoms.
Often, eczema can be treated and prevented by adopting better stress management techniques. Anything you do to reduce your stress levels can be helpful!
8
Excessive heating decreases humidity levels, which dehydrates the skin and causes eczema flare-ups. It can also make you sweat, which irritates the skin even more. Therefore, you should avoid turning the heat up too high in your home during the winter months. Instead, make sure to keep your room on the cool side at night and use light bedding, preferably made of cotton.
9
Cosmetics, soaps, hair products, perfumes, scented lotions, and shaving creams can all contain ingredients that irritate the skin and promote eczema flare-ups. Choose fragrance-free products for sensitive skin. There are also a number of products designed specifically for eczematous skin.
The Eczema Society of Canada maintains a list of their approved products, which are free of known irritants and made with ingredients that are usually safe for sensitive skin.
Before you use a new product, we recommend that you test it thoroughly by applying it to a small patch of skin and waiting 24 hours. This is a great way to check whether the product will cause you to have a skin reaction.
10
Aside from the tips above, medication can also be prescribed to help control eczema. These drugs can reduce inflammation and alleviate itching.
The most commonly used eczema medications are creams and ointments that are applied directly to the skin, such as topical corticosteroids (cortisone creams). Phototherapy (ultraviolet light therapy) is reserved for more severe cases.
Your doctor or pharmacist can help you understand the differences between these treatments and how to use them most effectively. It’s important to follow your doctor’s treatment instructions to better manage your eczema.
3 key ingredients for hydrating your skin
Taking care of eczema-prone skin
Eczema: more than just an itch
1 Institut national de santé publique du Québec
Last updated on January 27, 2025
Listen to this episode of the French-language podcast MaSanté sans tabous.
"Eczéma, psoriasis ou réaction allergique?"
Red patches on the skin are not normal. How can you tell whether it’s eczema, psoriasis, or an allergic reaction? Annie-Soleil and Brunet-affiliated pharmacist-owner David Gauthier demystify the most common skin problems.
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