Eczema Skincare In All Types of Weather

by Ben Gallivan
(Cardiff, UK)

Whatever time of year it is, those suffering from sensitive skin will no doubt have some kind of regime that gets them through the hot and cold. It is unlikely that these will follow the same guidelines the whole year round and many people find themselves affected in different ways as the seasons change.

I have been an eczema sufferer since I reached double figures, and now – even twenty-five years on – I still find it difficult to perfect my regime.

Living in an intemperate climate such as that of the UK, one never knows what the weather will be like for one minute to the next but it is important to get the basics right in order to be as comfortable as possibly the whole year round.
Here are some ideas to help you maintain your skin’s health whatever the weather.

Diet

Watching what you eat and drink is one of the most important things you can do to prevent or at least relieve any discomfort that you may be experiencing. When it comes to allergies and eczema, the disappointing thing is that the process is generally on a ‘trial and error’ basis.

Even if you have had an allergy test in the past, there is still no guarantee that you will be completely allergy free as something else may come along that disagrees with you.

Acne however is different. There are many foods that you can avoid or at least eat in moderation in order to prevent a spread of acne on your skin.

Dairy produce is something of a pest when it comes to acne, and doing as little as using reduced-fat (or preferably fat-free) milk, along with butters and cheeses will go a long way to easing the suffering.

Avoiding refined and cooked carbs will also help greatly; as much as it might sound unappealing, giving up things like chips and crisps will do you the world of good.

The same goes for other fatty and fried foods, but these will help all sorts of ailments rather than just skin complaints.

The healthier you eat, the healthier your skin so eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will help, as will keeping your skin constantly hydrated by drinking plenty of water and laying off alcohol.

Climate

Wherever in the world you are, you’re pretty much guaranteed some hot and cold spells. These affect our skin in different ways, especially those of us with sensitive skin.

During hot weather it is essential that we protect ourselves with high SPF lotions and sprays. UVA rays are present all year around but it is in the summer when the more harmful UVB rays can harm the skin much more.

If you have sensitive skin, then the higher SPF you use the better. Even on days where you think the air is a little cooler, the sun can still cause harm, so don’t be afraid to use a sunscreen, even if the weather looks more likely to require an umbrella than a parasol.

Another important thing to remember is that these lotions and sprays need to be washed off in order to unblock the pores. Blocked pores will lead to even more problems (I know, it sounds like a vicious circle, but these are the sacrifices we have to make sometimes. Thorough washing with water or better still, a pore cleansing wash will say goodbye to any remnants of your cream.

Cold weather of course provides us with different problems. Skin becomes much rougher and drier and therefore more prone to cracking. You may have a prescribed cream or lotion which prevents or soothes this, but if not than an intensive moisturiser will definitely help you.

Again, there is a downside to an apparent positive. In cold weather, we are more likely to cover up our bodies, so it is important to make sure that you are not allergic or sensitive to any of the clothing you’re padding yourself up with otherwise it may do more harm than good.

Given that you’ll also be covering your face up a little more, it is also good to seek out hypoallergenic products, including washing powders and liquids.

There are many different ways to maintain your skin’s health as the seasons change, but hopefully these pointers will enable you to have a more active life throughout the year.

Ben Gallivan has suffered with eczema since he was ten years old, and has tried and tested many different treatments in his time. He writes for Escentual.com, a company carrying high quality skincare products.