Many people with neurodermatitis know the problem in winter: already irritated skin is additionally irritated by cold and dry heating air. For many, this means additional stress, itchy skin and discomfort. Therefore, you should take good care of your skin and yourself, especially during the cold winter months. We have collected interesting and helpful information for you on how to protect your sensitive neurodermatitis-prone skin in winter.
Contents:
1. Why does neurodermatitis actually get worse in winter?
2. Is it possible to only have neurodermatitis in winter?
3. Which body parts should be particularly well cared for with neurodermatitis in winter?
4. Which cream helps with atopic eczema in winter?
5. Proper neurodermatitis care in winter: Our 4 tips
Why does neurodermatitis actually get worse in winter?
Especially in winter, people with neurodermatitis experience increased symptoms, so-called flare-ups. This is mainly due to the winter cold and dry heating air, which causes the skin to dry out even faster and therefore become particularly irritable. Since the skin barrier is already severely weakened in people with neurodermatitis and thus the natural protective function is disturbed, the skin is heavily stressed by the constant change between cold and warmth. The additional friction of rough clothing, such as wool sweaters, promotes the skin to redden and become inflamed. The skin starts to itch and immunological reactions are triggered. The so-called itch-scratch cycle begins.
Is it possible to only have neurodermatitis in winter?
The course of neurodermatitis varies for everyone and is individual. Everyone reacts differently to various stimuli – including the particular stimuli in winter, such as heating air, constant temperature changes, and the associated sweating. Neurodermatitis is a chronic disease, occurs in flare-ups, and lasts all year round. However, some people with neurodermatitis may only experience symptoms in winter and remain largely free of flare-ups in summer.
Which body parts should be particularly well cared for with neurodermatitis in winter?
Even in winter, continuous basic skin care plays a very important role: Your skin needs this to strengthen the skin barrier as much as possible and to prevent further skin irritations from additional trigger factors. Pay particular attention to areas exposed to the cold, such as hands and face, and use a nourishing balm for these areas, but also to your individual sensitive areas that are often affected by a neurodermatitis flare-up.
Which cream helps with atopic eczema in winter?
The key to success is often plenty of moisture! Cream your irritated skin areas at least twice a day with a very moisturizing, fragrance-free cream, such as our med Basic Cream. With its clean, reduced formula of vegetable fats, the cream is ideal as a basic care for very dry and itchy skin.
Did you know that 98% of our customers in our last survey in September 2024 (247 customers) stated that their skin was less dry thanks to the basic cream? In 99% of affected children with neurodermatitis, regular use of the basic cream showed an improvement in skin appearance within the first few weeks. We think that's really great!
You can read all the results of the survey on our med care here!
Proper neurodermatitis care in winter: Our 4 tips
1. The right care routine:
Cream yourself at least twice a day with the right basic care to provide your skin with sufficient moisture. A bath with a lipid-replenishing bath oil, such as our med care bath, complements your winter care routine. However, make sure that you do not bathe for longer than 10 minutes and that the water is not too hot. This way you avoid additional skin irritations.
For particularly dry areas or very sensitive skin, a rich balm can also help. Our med Balm with its hypoallergenic, fragrance-free formula is particularly suitable for very sensitive or very dry skin, even with neurodermatitis.
2. The right sun protection:
Even in winter, you should protect your skin from the sun. We recommend a fragrance-free sunscreen for particularly sensitive skin, such as our med Sun Balm SPF50. It offers extra high sun protection for the face and particularly sensitive skin, even in winter. Natural, nourishing oils provide moisture and protect your skin from the cold!
3. Ventilate correctly!
The dry heating air is the trigger factor for many people with sensitive skin in winter. Therefore, ventilate living rooms regularly. You can also keep the room air moist, for example with a humidifier or a bowl of water on the radiator.
4. The right clothing:
Cuddly warm wool sweaters for winter - unfortunately for many people with neurodermatitis, they are a major cause of itching: rough fabrics, such as wool, can additionally irritate the skin. Our tip: Simply wear a smooth cotton shirt under your favorite sweater! We also recommend gloves, hats, and scarves made of cotton. Also, ensure breathable clothing to avoid heat build-up due to changing temperatures.
O U R E X P E R T
Dr. med Michaela Hagemann I boep founder, doctor & mother of 3
