Why is my skin so itchy in winter?

Question

Accepted Answer

Winter itch is dry skin doing what dry skin does. Cold outdoor air holds little moisture, and indoor heating dries it further, so your skin loses water faster than it can replace it - add long hot showers, which strip the skin's protective oils, and you get the cracked, tight, itchy skin the NHS names as a common cause of itching. MedlinePlus lists dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis among the most common causes of itching, and all three flare in winter for the same reason. The fix is a routine, and the NHS version is specific: use an unperfumed moisturiser or emollient regularly (straight after a shower is best, on damp skin), keep baths and showers short and warm rather than long and hot, skip perfumed soaps and deodorants, wash clothes in sensitive-skin detergent, and avoid wool or synthetic fabrics directly against your skin. Pat or tap itchy spots instead of scratching - scratching damages the barrier and starts the cycle again. A pharmacist can suggest antihistamines for some causes and menthol creams that cool the itch. See a GP if self-care is not working after a couple of weeks, the itch keeps coming back, or a new rash, lump, or swelling appears with it. Pymander is a free AI doctor, 24/7 by text, that can help you build the routine.

Why is my skin so itchy in winter?

Winter skin driving you mad? Text a free AI doctor

What to do

Related questions

Sources