What’s It Like to Experience Eczema in Different Climates?
Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes dry, itchy skin and other symptoms.
If you have eczema, triggers may worsen your symptoms. Your triggers might include certain climate or weather conditions. But triggers vary from person to person, meaning certain conditions may improve eczema symptoms in some people but worsen them in others.
Climate describes the average weather conditions of a region. Some climate zones tend to be warmer or cooler than others. Some are wetter or dryer. Some have more daily or seasonal variations in temperature and humidity.
Different climate zones also tend to have different levels of plant pollen, mold, and other environmental allergens. These allergens are eczema triggers for some people but not all.
Read on to learn about five climate zones and how their average conditions may affect eczema.
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Depending on your specific triggers, you might find that your eczema symptoms are better or worse in certain climate zones or weather conditions.
Seasonal changes may also cause your symptoms to get better or worse symptoms during certain times of the year.
On the one hand, cold, dry air may increase your risk of dry skin, which may worsen other eczema symptoms. Central heating systems help warm indoor air but often make it dryer.
On the other hand, warm, humid conditions may raise your risk of exposure to some common eczema triggers, such as sweat, pollen, and mold. If these are triggers for you, your symptoms might get worse in warm, humid conditions.
Talk with your doctor if you think that seasonal or climatic triggers are worsening your eczema symptoms. They can help you learn how to identify and manage your triggers.
For example, they might encourage you to use a humidifier when the air is dry or a dehumidifier when the air is moist. They might also recommend changes to your lifestyle habits or treatment plan to limit exposure or reactions to common environmental allergens, such as plant pollen and mold.
Last medically reviewed on March 15, 2023
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- About cold weather and eczema. (n.d).
eczema.org/information-and-advice/triggers-for-eczema/weather-and-eczema/ - Climate zones. (n.d.).
weather.gov/jetstream/climates - Eczema causes and triggers. (n.d.).
nationaleczema.org/eczema/causes-and-triggers-of-eczema/ - Luschkova D, et al. (2021). Atopic eczema is an environmental disease.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8383845/ - Nguyen GH, et al. (2018). Climate change and atopic dermatitis: Is there a link?
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijd.14016 - What are the different climate types? (2023).
scijinks.gov/climate-zones/
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