Itching of the outer skin is at best aggravating; however when accompanied by redness and inflammation, mere aggravation feels like torture. Skin conditions such as allergies and dermatitis affect the skin's surface, causing itching, redness, flaking and inflammation, especially during certain times of the year. Colder weather tends to dry your skin further, worsening skin irritation and symptoms.
Causes
When dealing with itchy, red skin annually, take note of the different causes and factors contributing to your discomfort. Dry skin is one of the main factors causing aggravation. Colder weather tends to sap moisture from your skin, causing chapping and itching. With the chapping come inflammation and redness, leaving your skin thirsting for additional moisture. Other conditions to consider, according to MayoClinic.com, are rashes and allergies to seasonal plant growth.
Treatment
Home treatment is the first step to finding relief from the discomfort of annual skin conditions. Limiting bathing time and changing the temperature of your water can help. According to DermNetNZ, bathing in lukewarm water is more beneficial than using steaming hot water. Hot water further dries your skin, lending to itching and inflammation. Apply a topical corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and itching, and use bath oils or other oil-based lubricants to penetrate your skin. Thicker moisturizers are better for skin that is broken and flaky.
Conditions
Conditions associated with annual skin problems include poison ivy exposure in the summer, eczema, rosacea and psoriasis. Atopic dermatitis is the most common form of eczema, according to the American Academy of Dermatology, and its symptoms can worsen in the winter and appear anywhere on the body. Rosacea is a skin condition that is not weather-specific but tends to flare up one to two times a year, lasting for months at a time. Psoriasis is another condition visible by silvery scaling of your skin. This is due to white blood cells attacking healthy skin cells, causing them to flake and scale onto your skin. According to MayoClinic.com, psoriasis flare-ups are more predominant in colder temperatures.
Symptoms
Besides the appearance of redness and itching, other symptoms will help your dermatologist make the right diagnosis. Scaling can occur during psoriasis flare-ups, while flaking is apparent with extremely dry skin. Scaling refers to the rapid shedding of skin cells, forming a scale like patch on the skin's surface, while flaking refers to normal skin cell shedding apparent by white flakes that are easily removed from your skin. Eczema is denoted by chronic inflammation and, in some cases, a rash-like appearance. Rashes from poison ivy, poison oak and chemical sun protectants used during the warmer months are accompanied by bumps that may be filled with fluid.
Considerations
Although it may be difficult, never scratch itchy red skin. Scratching can open you up to the risk of infection and scarring, according to MayoClinic.com, or spread the condition further, as with poison ivy. If your rash does not improve with two weeks of treatment, consult your dermatologist for further testing and treatment options.
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