Health Science | Why does your body itch when the weather gets colder?

After the Frost Descent

The cold is getting stronger day by day

A wave of cool autumn weather arrives

But the temperature is gradually getting cooler

The temperature gradually becomes cooler in autumn. The lower temperature causes the skin and subcutaneous blood vessels to contract, and the secretion and excretion of sebaceous glands and sweat glands also decrease. The dry air makes the skin lack moisture, and the epidermis becomes thin and brittle, which makes it easy to experience symptoms of skin itching.
Internal diseases of the body can also cause skin itching, such as low immunity, allergic constitution, metabolic disorders, mood changes, endocrine dysfunction, etc. So how to deal with skin itching in autumn?

Causes of dryness and itching

- Relative humidity drops

The most direct reason for this is that the relative humidity of the indoor air is decreasing (this has a lot to do with the season), and the skin cannot adapt to it in a short period of time.
A drop in relative humidity affects the skin in several ways:
On the one hand, this will affect the water content of the skin surface . When the relative humidity drops quickly, it will aggravate the dryness of the skin.
On the other hand, in addition to dry skin, the skin will be rougher and less elastic, which will make fine lines more obvious in the short term.

Skin problems

Not just drying...

Everyone's ability to adapt to climate change varies. When they are unable to adapt, some people experience tight and dry skin after washing their face, some experience increased fine lines on their skin, some experience itchy skin, some develop new eczema, and some experience a recurrence or worsening of existing skin diseases.
1

Dry skin

Simple dry skin refers to redness, granulation or obvious itching of the skin. This condition is very common, but fortunately it is relatively mild. The most common dry areas are the face and hands, and some may also appear on the lips, calves and heels.
If your skin is dry due to dry climate and low relative humidity, the countermeasures are relatively simple, mainly to strengthen the skin's moisturizing on a daily basis , such as applying moisturizing cream, moisturizing lotion, body lotion or face cream as needed. If your lips are dry, you can use Vaseline lip balm, and pay attention to ensuring a normal amount of water intake. Don't lick your lips frequently, as the more you lick, the drier they will become.

In addition, you can also choose a humidifier according to the actual situation . Data show that after using a humidifier in a dry room, the symptoms of dryness will be significantly alleviated. If you turn on the humidifier, it is more appropriate to control the relative humidity at 40% to 60% , which is suitable for most people. However, there are individual differences because everyone's adaptability is different. As long as the dry skin is improved after using it, it is fine.

2

Dry eczema

Dry eczema is also called seborrheic eczema, and the key point is dry skin and less oil. This is usually caused by dry climate, air conditioning/heating, and low relative humidity. The arms, legs, buttocks and other parts may be affected, showing redness, cracking and itching of the skin.
In addition, if the sebaceous glands are less active (in the elderly), rubbing the skin, bathing too frequently or for too long, or using a lot of perfumed or medicated soaps, it will make the dry skin worse and eczema more severe.
To deal with this type of eczema, you should pay attention to:

• You should use moisturizing products regularly. You can apply them after washing your face, taking a shower, or when your face feels dry.
• Choose gentle bathing products that do not harm the skin, such as weakly acidic shower gel. Do not use ordinary soap or medicated soap.
• The bathing time does not need to be too long, generally 5 to 10 minutes is enough, and it is not recommended to exceed 15 minutes. The water temperature should not be too high, preferably not more than 42℃, 38 ℃ to 40℃ is suitable for most people.
• Pay attention to the indoor temperature . If the air conditioner or heater is set too high, the air will easily become dry.
• You can pay attention to the relative humidity in the room. If it is lower than 40%, you can consider turning on a humidifier . Most people are more accustomed to a relative humidity of 40% to 60%.

Finally, if the condition is serious, or there is no improvement after taking precautions, it is necessary to see a doctor and take some medication.
"Snake skin" and "chicken skin"

In this season, both "snake skin" and "chicken skin" may be more obvious. "Snake skin" refers to the medical "ichthyosis" , which likes to grow on the calves and manifests as flaky dandruff that is not easy to fall off, like snake skin. "Chicken skin" refers to the medical "keratosis pilaris", which likes to grow on the cheeks, upper arms and thighs. Many small particles grow around the hair follicles. There are often curly hairs in the center of the particles, and some particles can squeeze out white substances. Although these two problems cannot be cured, there are many ways to care for and improve them:
Don’t take a hot bath every day

If your skin itching is caused by dry climate, don't take a hot bath every day. Your skin will only become drier and more itchy, creating a vicious cycle.

The water temperature for bathing should be kept at 39℃, the water temperature should not be too high, the frequency should not be too frequent, and avoid using strong alkaline bath products; the rinsing time should not be too long, and try to wash less or reduce the frequency of using detergent. After taking a bath, you can use urea ointment, vitamin E cream, and moisturizing lotion for external use, and the thickness should be enough to cover the scales on the skin.

Dermatitis and eczema require medication

If the skin itching is caused by internal factors such as low immunity, allergic constitution, lack of certain trace elements, etc., it may be an itching symptom caused by dermatitis, eczema or urticaria.
When itching occurs, you should pay attention to it and go to the dermatology clinic as soon as possible. Use professional testing instruments for differential diagnosis. If necessary, go to a regular medical institution and receive regular treatment. Choose appropriate drugs according to the morphology of the skin lesions.

Avoid ingestion or contact with allergens

When itchy skin occurs, if you scratch repeatedly, scratches, blood scabs, pigmentation, and even lichenification or eczema-like changes will appear on the skin, which will cause the skin to become thicker and rougher, and even cause secondary skin infection or bacterial infection after scratching, and severe cases may cause ulcers. At the same time, you should also avoid eating or contacting allergens, such as seafood, spicy food, alcohol, inhaled pollen, dust mites, cold weather, contact with chemicals, soaps, detergents, etc., which are common causes of skin itching. In short, the direct impact of dry climate on the skin is due to the decrease in relative humidity, which reduces the skin's ability to retain water, and then causes a series of related problems. Paying attention to daily protection can help alleviate these symptoms.