The Environment and Eczema: How Your Surroundings Affect Your Skin
Eczema is often linked to genetics, allergies, and lifestyle—but your environment plays a major role too. Whether you’re indoors or outside, the world around you can either soothe your skin or make your eczema worse.
Understanding how environmental factors impact eczema is key to reducing flare-ups and keeping your skin calm and healthy.
Weather Changes
The weather is one of the most noticeable environmental triggers for eczema.
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Cold Weather: Winter months often lead to dry, cracked skin due to low humidity and indoor heating.
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Hot Weather: Heat and sweating can irritate the skin, cause itching, and increase the risk of infection.
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Wind: Strong wind can strip moisture from your skin, leaving it exposed and vulnerable.
What You Can Do:
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Use a good moisturiser daily
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Avoid overheating and sweating too much
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Use a humidifier indoors during winter
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Air Pollution
Pollution from traffic, factories, and even cigarette smoke can worsen eczema. Fine particles in polluted air can:
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Penetrate the skin barrier
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Increase inflammation
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Trigger itching, rashes, and flare-ups
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Tip: If you live in a polluted area, wash your face and exposed skin after spending time outside and keep your home air clean with an air purifier or houseplants.
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Indoor Irritants
Many people spend most of their time indoors—but your home could be full of hidden eczema triggers:
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Dust mites in carpets, mattresses, and curtains
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Mould and dampness, especially in poorly ventilated spaces
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Strong-smelling cleaning products and air fresheners
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Pet dander, especially from cats and dogs
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What You Can Do:
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Keep your home well-ventilated and dry
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Use anti-allergy bedding and vacuum regularly
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Choose fragrance-free, eczema-safe cleaning products
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Water Quality
The water you bathe or shower in can also affect eczema. Hard water (which contains high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium) can:
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Make your skin feel dry and tight
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Reduce the effectiveness of soaps and moisturisers
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Lead to more frequent flare-ups
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Tip: Consider installing a water softener or using an emollient bath oil to protect your skin.
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Stressful Environments
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Stress isn’t a physical part of the environment, but your surroundings can influence your mental state. Busy, noisy, or high-pressure environments can raise stress levels—one of the biggest eczema triggers.
What You Can Do:
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Create calming routines
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Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or stretching
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Design your space to be peaceful and clutter-free
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Final Thoughts
Eczema doesn’t just live on your skin—it reacts to the world around you. From air quality and weather to your own home and stress levels, your environment matters.
By becoming aware of your surroundings and making simple changes, you can reduce flare-ups and give your skin the healthy, calm conditions it needs to thrive.