Itchy all over due to changing seasons

The change of seasons is a bad time for patients with rhinitis, because most of them show signs of worsening symptoms during the change of seasons. At the same time, for some people with sensitive skin, the change of seasons is also very painful for them, because when the air is changed, the weather changes more obviously, causing their skin to become itchy easily. But why does the change of seasons cause itching all over the body?

Causes of skin itching in autumn and winter

1. Reduced secretion of sebaceous glands causes the skin to lack sebum protection

Many people know that dry and itchy skin, which is common in autumn and winter, is related to the dry weather. In this regard, Xu Hongjun, a dermatologist at the Civil Aviation General Hospital, said that due to the decrease in human activity and metabolic rate in autumn and winter, the secretion of sweat glands and sebaceous glands is relatively reduced.

In this case, the skin has low water content and lacks sebum protection, making it fragile and lacking in elasticity. External stimuli can easily lead to the destruction of the skin's barrier function, causing skin sensitivity, itching and other phenomena.

2. Skin care misunderstandings such as frequent washing and ironing can easily lead to sebaceous eczema

Taking a bath every day is a habit of many people. Some even take a bath twice a day, morning and evening. Some patients find their skin itchy and think it is due to insufficient cleaning, so they scrub their skin vigorously and wash it with hot water. The consequences of these situations are that the more you rub, the more itchy it becomes, and the more you wash, the drier it becomes. In fact, the itching of these patients is caused by a special type of eczema - seborrheic eczema.

Seborrheic eczema is a special type of eczema caused by a lack of the skin's protective lipid layer. Due to skin aging and reduced synthesis of the skin's "natural moisturizing factor" in middle-aged and elderly people, the water retention capacity of the skin's stratum corneum decreases, resulting in rough skin and flaking.

In autumn and winter, the ambient temperature is relatively low. If you still take a bath as frequently as in summer, habitually scrub your body, overuse soap or shower gel, etc., which may damage the skin barrier function, it is more likely to induce sebaceous eczema. Generally speaking, mild cases only show up as chaff-like, cloud-like, and fine scales, while severe cases will form criss-crossing skin cracks that look like a "dry riverbed" or "broken porcelain", accompanied by obvious itching.

The right skin care method for autumn and winter

1. Keep your skin clean but don’t take a bath frequently

In autumn and winter, the secretion of sebaceous glands slows down. If you take a bath every day, it will damage the sebum layer on the surface of the skin, thereby destroying the skin's natural protection and moisturizing function. Therefore, in the autumn and winter seasons, if there is no high-intensity exercise or sweating, you can take a bath less frequently. At the same time, do not overuse soap, shower gel and other toiletries during bathing to avoid further damage to the sebum layer.

In addition, remember to apply body lotion after bathing. For example, you can choose skin care products with strong moisturizing properties such as glycerin, vaseline, and olive oil to lock in moisture on the skin surface and relieve dryness and itching.

2. Bath water should not be too hot

Overheated bath water can easily wash away the sebum on the skin quickly, affecting the skin's normal metabolic function and aggravating the loss of skin moisture, thus causing symptoms of skin itching. Generally, a water temperature of around 35 degrees Celsius is just right.

3. Do not scrub hard when taking a bath

Do not rub repeatedly during bathing. Instead, choose a bath towel with a mild texture to reduce the damage to the cortex caused by rubbing, so as to relieve itching and protect the skin.

4. Underwear should be made of pure cotton

In autumn and winter, the material of underwear is very important. Clothes made of pure cotton fabrics can keep you warm while maintaining good breathability. They will not generate any static electricity that will dry out the skin and can relieve skin itching to a certain extent.

5. Drink more water to relieve skin itching

People with itchy skin can drink more water to replenish the body with water. If the body is well hydrated, the skin will naturally not be dehydrated. At the same time, you can use a humidifier to relieve dry skin.

6. Eat more foods rich in vitamin A and E

In terms of diet, to prevent and treat skin itching, you must take in more certain vitamins. Try to consume more foods rich in vitamins A and E, such as carrots, cabbage, peanuts, sesame seeds, mushrooms, etc. If necessary, you can also supplement the appropriate amount of vitamins as prescribed by the doctor.

At the same time, people with itchy skin should eat less coffee and hot pot and other spicy and irritating foods, such as tobacco, alcohol, chili, pepper, garlic, onion, mustard, ginger, coffee, etc.; eat less high-fat foods, because high-fat foods will increase the burden of oil on the skin, especially the pores on the skin surface are prone to blockage; eat less sugary foods, too much sugar will increase the reproduction of bacteria on the skin, irritate the skin, and cause skin itching; eat less seafood such as fish, shrimp, crab, etc., which can easily release active substances around the blood vessels of the skin, aggravating the itching of the skin