If you live with eczema, you may have noticed your skin doesn’t behave the same everywhere. Style and beauty influencer Monica Veloz of MonicaStyleMuse, who has lived with eczema since high school, has experienced that firsthand. Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, cold winters often meant worse symptoms.
“I loved a hot shower when it was cold,” she says. “And if you ever had eczema, you know hot water feels so good because it feels like it’s soothing the itch, but it’s actually making things worse.”
For Veloz, managing eczema became a constant, climate-dependent routine. Most importantly, it was moisturize, moisturize, moisturize.
“Growing up in cold New York means I don't play about moisturizing,” says Veloz. “I moisturize in the morning, in the car, in the night — I'm always glossy. We're never skipping it. Because once the skin is dry, it's over.”
Later, when Veloz moved cross-country to California, she noticed yet another environmental trigger.
“In New York, you can drink from the sink,” she says. “But once we got to L.A., every time I got out of the shower, I’d be white. It was because of the hard water.”
While eczema itself doesn’t change from place to place, climate and environment can affect how it feels and whether it flares. A move, a vacation, or even a seasonal change can suddenly bring more itching, dryness, or flare-ups.
On the flip side, a climate shift can sometimes improve symptoms. Once you know more about what to expect from your skin in certain conditions, you can better prepare for and manage it.
How Climate Affects Eczema
Eczema happens when the skin barrier doesn’t work as well as it should. Healthy skin keeps moisture in and irritants out. Skin with eczema has trouble doing both.
Because of that, things like dry air, heat, sweat, sun, pollution, and even indoor heating can irritate the skin and trigger flares.
Eric Simpson, MD, director of the CLEAR Eczema Center at Oregon Health & Science University, says early in his career he tried to better understand which season was worst for eczema symptoms, but he stopped because the answers were all over the map.
“Some people would say summertime sweat made them itch, but springtime pollen caused flares because of allergies,” says Simpson. “Fall change of weather was another trigger, and wintertime dried out skin because of the heaters. So basically, here was no good climate or season for eczema. There's something bad about every season, potentially.”
In other words, climate doesn’t cause eczema, but it can make symptoms better or worse depending on the person. The key, says Simpson, is keeping your eczema well controlled no matter the weather.
“When you have good control over your eczema, those experiences really reduce,” he says. “The impact of the environment on your eczema is so much more minimal if you get it treated.”
Here’s how common climate conditions may impact your eczema.
Cold, Dry Weather
Cold climates like those in the Northeast or Midwest in winter are especially tough for many people with eczema. Cold air holds less moisture, which dries out skin. Indoor heating makes the effect even worse. That dryness allows moisture to escape from the skin more easily, leading to itching, cracking, and inflammation.
Hot water strips away the skin’s natural oils, which makes your already compromised skin barrier even weaker. Simpson recommends short, lukewarm showers instead, followed by moisturizer right away.
“Apply it within two minutes of getting out to trap in the moisture from your bath,” says Simpson.
Using a humidifier indoors can also help replace some of the moisture lost to heating systems. Make sure you’re protecting your skin outdoors with scarves, hats, and gloves — but make sure they’re non-scratchy and made from natural fibers such as 100% cotton so you don’t make itchy skin worse with scratchy fabric.
Hot and Humid Climates
Warm, humid places can feel like relief for people whose eczema flares from dryness. Moist air helps slow water loss from the skin. But humidity isn’t always a cure. Heat and sweat can irritate the skin, and friction from damp clothing can trigger itching.
Simpson says some people see improvement when they visit tropical places, while others feel worse.
“High UV and lower stress can help,” he says. “But it’s not predictable. Sand and saltwater may make it worse.”
Sunlight in controlled amounts can help eczema. Dermatologists sometimes use phototherapy (light therapy) with UVA or UVB light to help reduce inflammation and itch. But too much sun can damage your skin and raise the risk of skin cancer. That’s why dermatologists recommend sun protection.
“Something that I wished I learned earlier with my eczema journey was to wear my sunscreen,” says Veloz. “I remember going to the Dominican Republic for the summers and I don't remember wearing sunscreen. It probably would have saved me a lot of time and money on my skin today.”
Air and Water Quality
Hard water, which has higher levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium, may increase eczema symptoms by leaving a residue on your skin that’s hard to get off, which can irritate it. Hard water can also affect your skin’s pH, which makes the skin barrier weaker.
Veloz and her fiancé installed a water-softening system and immediately noticed a positive difference.
“If you have sensitive skin, I definitely recommend it,” says Veloz. “Even a water filter can make a big difference.”
Air quality matters, too. Pollution, pollen, and wildfire smoke can all trigger inflammation and worsen eczema. Simpson says clinics often see more people with eczema flares during wildfire seasons. Tiny particles in the air irritate the skin and immune system.
If you aren’t able to avoid air triggers an air purifier can help. Your doctor can also suggest medications like antihistamines to help address environmental allergies.
Living Well in Any Climate
Many people wonder if moving to a different climate will improve their eczema. The answer isn’t a simple yes or no, says Simpson.
“It can go either way,” he says. “I try to encourage my patients not to make big life decisions based on their eczema in terms of moving to an area of the country unless they're really confident and it's happened multiple times for them that this is a better choice, because it's just never a guarantee.”
Improvements may be related to stress levels, allergens, water quality, or lifestyle changes, not just weather, he says. But what he does know is that well-controlled eczema reacts less to environmental changes. Use your treatments consistently, moisturize daily, make lifestyle adjustments for climate triggers, and see your dermatologist regularly.
“When eczema is under good control, weather changes don’t affect people as much,” Simpson says. “If the climate feels like it’s running your life,” He says, “it may be a sign your eczema needs better treatment.”
