Why Eczema and Dry Skin Get Worse in Winter (and What Helps)

If your skin has started to feel tight, itchy or rough since the heating went on, you're not imagining it. Winter is hard on skin, and if you live with eczema or naturally dry skin, it's often the time of year when everything seems to flare at once.

 

So here's why it happens, what the NHS and Ayurveda both suggest for the colder months, and the small changes I'd make first.

 

 

Why winter is so hard on your skin

 

The outer layer of your skin is made of flattened cells held together by fats, mostly ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids. Those fats keep water in and irritants out, and I've gone into how that barrier works in How to Repair a Damaged Skin Barrier Naturally.

 

Those fats also change with the seasons. A UK study that sampled skin at different times of year found the levels were dramatically lower in winter than in spring and summer (Rogers et al., 1996), and more recent research points the same way. A 2025 review found that cold, dry winter weather weakens the skin barrier and is linked with more eczema flares across Europe and Asia (Russo et al., 2025). So your skin heads into winter with less of the very thing that holds water in, right as the weather starts drawing it out.

 

The air does the rest. Cold wind outside and central heating inside both leave the air dry, and dry air pulls moisture out of your skin. The NHS lists cold and dry weather among the common triggers for eczema, and NHS guidance from Evelina London explains that central heating lowers the humidity indoors, drying the skin and making it itchy. Even switching between a warm house and the cold outside can be enough to set off a flare (Evelina London).

 

None of this means your skin is doing anything wrong. It's reacting to its surroundings, and once you know which parts of winter are getting to it, most of them are easy to work around.

 

 

The winter triggers worth knowing about

 

A lot of the advice below comes from Eczema UK (until recently the National Eczema Society), whose cold weather guidance is well worth a read whether you have eczema or skin that runs dry in winter.

 

The heating. Keep your home at a steady temperature, with around 18°C being ideal, and wear thin layers you can add or take off as you go. Try not to sit right up against a radiator or the fire, and a bowl of water near the radiator can put a little moisture back into the air.

 

Keeping the windows shut. It's tempting when it's cold out, but closed up rooms are where dust mites and mould thrive, and both are common eczema triggers, so it's worth opening the windows for a while each day, even in winter.

 

Hot baths and long showers. I know, there's nothing nicer on a freezing evening. Heat is a common eczema trigger, though, so the NHS advice is to keep the water lukewarm and pat your skin dry afterwards rather than rubbing it (NHS Healthier Together). The same guidance recommends skipping bubble bath and perfumed products, and if you have eczema, washing with your emollient or a soap free wash instead of soap, which can dry the skin out further.

 

Wool and scratchy layers. Wool and synthetic fabrics are both on the NHS list of eczema triggers. You don't need to give up your favourite jumper, though. Keep something soft between it and your skin instead, ideally as close to 100% cotton as you can find for anything that touches your skin directly, like underwear, nightwear, socks and tights. Soft, seam free hats, scarves and gloves are much kinder than scratchy ones too.

 

Going in and out of the cold. Your face and hands take the brunt of it, so it helps to reapply your balm or emollient regularly when you're out and about, and to wear gloves. Try not to lick your lips either. It feels like it helps in the moment but leaves them drier than before, which I've written about in Why Your Lips Get Drier the More Product You Use.

 

Colds and feeling run down. Colds and flu can make eczema worse, sometimes all over and sometimes only around your nose from all the blowing. Looking after your general health through winter, with a healthy diet, plenty of rest and good hand hygiene, is part of looking after your skin.

 

 

What Ayurveda says about the colder months

 

Ayurveda has a lot to say about this time of year. Dryness, cold, lightness and roughness are all qualities of Vata, the dosha associated with air and space, and winter brings plenty of each. Dry, flaky skin, cracked heels and chapped lips are classic signs of Vata running high.

 

The classical texts describe a seasonal routine, called ritucharya, for each time of year. For early winter (Hemanta, which begins around mid November) and late winter (Shishira), the advice is to stay warm, eat warm and nourishing food, and massage the body with warm oil each day, a practice called abhyanga (Thakkar et al., 2011).

 

Abhyanga is traditionally done before a warm bath, and there's a nice overlap with modern eczema advice here. Eczema UK's advice for when water stings is to smooth your emollient on before getting into the bath or shower, gently wash it off, then apply more once you're out. Mind your footing, as oil makes the bath slippery.

 

The one place I'd follow the NHS over tradition is the water temperature. The classical advice is a hot bath, but if you have eczema, warm rather than hot is the kinder choice.

 

You don't need a special oil to try abhyanga. A balm works beautifully: warm a little between your palms until it melts, then use slow strokes along your arms and legs and gentle circles over your joints. If your skin is flaring, skip the massage and smooth it on in downward strokes, in the direction your hair grows, rather than rubbing it in, which is how the NHS recommends applying emollients. Either way, it's a calming few minutes to yourself at the end of the day, and I've written about why scent works so well alongside a ritual like this in Scent and the Limbic System.

 

 

The bits winter gets to first

 

Most skin needs a little more in winter than it does in summer. Eczema UK recommends switching to something richer in colder weather, like an ointment for very dry areas, because ointments are so good at holding water in the skin. A balm works on the same principle. There's no water in it at all, only oils, butters and waxes that sit on your skin and slow down water loss.

 

Your face. Cleanse once in the evening, and if your usual cleanser leaves your skin feeling tight, try the Cleansing Oil, which lifts makeup and the day away without that squeaky feeling. Follow with the Barrier Repair Balm if your skin is stinging or reactive, as it's the gentlest balm I make and the lowest in essential oils. If your skin is dry, mature and in need of softening overnight, the Intensive Night Balm is the richer, more plumping choice.

 

Your body. NHS advice is to apply your emollient straight after washing, once you've dabbed your skin dry (Evelina London), and a balm spreads furthest while there's still a little dampness on your skin. The Hydrate & Calm Balm was made with this moment in mind. It's the only balm I make with aloe vera, so it feels cooler going on, and it's the one most parents choose for little ones.

 

Your hands. Winter usually means more hand washing, which is what we should all be doing with colds going round, but it's hard on skin. Dry your hands properly afterwards and follow with a little balm, and wear gloves when you head out. For very dry hands, the Ultra Rich Balm is the richest I make, but it also has the most essential oils, so if fragrance tends to bother your skin, the Barrier Repair Balm is the better fit.

 

Your lips. A layer of lip balm before you head out into the cold and again before bed goes a long way, and they come plain or with a sheer tint if you fancy a little colour.

 

Your heels. Heels are often the first place dryness shows, and once they crack they can get sore quickly. The Foot Balm is lovely overnight under a pair of cotton socks.

 

If you're not sure which balm suits your skin, my guide to the balms goes through each one in more detail.

 

Eating for your skin in winter

 

Eating well is one of the most important things you can do for your skin, whatever the season. Ayurveda leans towards warm, cooked, nourishing meals in the colder months, and it's a good instinct to follow: soups, stews, dal, porridge and roasted vegetables, with plenty of colour on the plate and some healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, seeds or oily fish if you eat it. I've gone into the research on food and skin in What Eating Well Actually Does for Your Skin.

 

One supplement worth knowing about is vitamin D. In autumn and winter the sun in the UK isn't strong enough for your skin to make it, so the NHS advises everyone to consider a daily 10 microgram supplement. Take it for your bones and general health, and think of any benefit to your skin as a bonus.

 

 

A quick word on Christmas

 

December can be a tricky month for sensitive skin, with a pile of new toiletries arriving all at once. Bubble bath and perfumed products are both on the NHS list of things to avoid if you have eczema, so if you're unwrapping a few, try them one at a time and patch test first. That way, if your skin does react, you'll know exactly what caused it. I've explained how I think about fragrance and allergens in Essential Oils and Allergens.

 

And if you're buying for someone whose skin struggles in winter, the Barrier Repair Balm is the one I'd choose. You can add a magnetic gift box to any order so it arrives ready to give, or there's a gift card if you'd rather they choose for themselves.

 

 

When it's more than winter dryness

 

A balm can be a lovely part of your winter routine, but it's there to look after your skin rather than treat a condition. If you've been prescribed an emollient or a steroid cream, keep using it and let your balm sit alongside it. And if your skin is weeping, crusting, painful or keeping you awake at night, please see your GP.

 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

Why does eczema get worse in winter?
Cold air outside and central heating inside both dry the air, which draws moisture out of your skin, and research has found the fats that hold water in your skin are lower in winter too. Add hot baths, wool and the switch between warm rooms and cold air, and it's no surprise so many people flare at this time of year.

 

Does central heating make dry skin worse?
It can, because it lowers the humidity indoors. Keep your home at a steady temperature (around 18°C is ideal), avoid sitting right next to radiators and open the windows for a while each day. A bowl of water near the radiator can put a little moisture back into the air.

 

Are hot baths bad for eczema?
Heat is a common trigger, so the NHS advice is lukewarm water instead. Pat your skin dry afterwards and apply your emollient or balm straight away.

 

Is wool bad for eczema?
Wool and synthetic fabrics can both irritate eczema prone skin. Keep soft cotton next to your skin and wear wool over the top if you love it.

 

Should I use a richer moisturiser in winter?
Often, yes. The thicker and richer the product, the better it holds water in the skin, so it's worth switching to an ointment or balm for very dry areas when the weather turns. Balms are made without water and sit on the skin to slow down water loss.

 

What does Ayurveda recommend for dry skin in winter?
Ayurveda links winter dryness with Vata, and the classical winter routine includes daily warm oil massage (abhyanga), staying warm and eating warm, nourishing food. If you have eczema, keep your bath water warm rather than hot.

 

Should I take vitamin D in winter?
The NHS advises everyone in the UK to consider a daily 10 microgram supplement in autumn and winter, when the sun isn't strong enough for your skin to make it.

 

 

If your skin is struggling this winter and you're not sure where to start, send me a message and tell me what it's doing. I'll help you work out which balm makes most sense for you.