Our skin is not only the envelope that protects us and holds everything in, it’s our first physical interaction with others. When something isn’t quite right with our skin, we can feel and see it, and others can too. (Updated Mar 21, 2024)
We can spend a great deal of money and time to care for our skin. No matter how much we lavish, however, when cold weather sets in, our skin seems to forget all that we’ve done for it and we can quickly develop a dry skin rash.
The reasons for this are a perfect storm, as it were: lower temperatures mean lower humidity in the air and dry indoor heat sucks it up even further. This causes the water normally stored in the top layers of skin to evaporate. (1)
What is a Winter Rash?
When the skin becomes overly dry, it can become irritated and develop into a winter rash. This is common and can occur every year as winter sets in. Symptoms of dry skin rashes differentiate them from basic dry skin.
They include:
- redness
- swelling
- itching
- flaking
- sensitivity
- bumps
- blisters
- scaly red patches
- cracks in the skin
These signs are often found on the extremities but can appear anywhere on the body, causing irritation and discomfort. Areas affected can be large or small, with dry patches on the skin here and there.
People with the following existing conditions are more prone to winter rash (2):
- eczema – a chronic inflammatory, painful skin condition that results in rashes and/or blisters with dry, cracked, scaly patches. There in no one cause of eczema but it is a known symptom of a compromised immune system.
- rosacea – a bacterial infection of the skin that appears red with pus-filled bumps (3)
- dermatitis – a term for a group of inflammatory dry skin rashes including eczema, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, and radiodermatitis (4)
- allergies
- asthma
- sensitive skin
- diabetes
- hypothyroidism
If you combine the reduction in environmental humidity that occurs during colder months with other triggers, you become more susceptible to a rash from dry skin:
- sensitivity to personal care, household, and environmental chemicals
- bacterial or viral infection
- latex allergy
- stress
- fatigue
- sunburn (snow reflects up to 80% of sunlight)
- hot showers
If your carnal envelope is lovely and supple in warmer months but turns into dry itchy skin when it gets cold, the problem is most likely a case of moisture loss. If you experience the visible signs of skin rash, however, special care is required. Fortunately, we have some great remedies to share.
12 Home Remedies For A Dry Skin Rash – Say goodbye to itchy skin and a painful dry skin rash!
1. Coconut Oil
“Xerosis” is the medical term for dry skin. A 2004 study tested the efficacy of coconut oil versus mineral oil as a moisturizing treatment for xerosis. It found that coconut oil is more effective than its counterpart in hydrating the skin and increasing skin lipid (fat) levels with no adverse side effects. (5)
This is excellent news, as mineral oil is a petroleum product that uses harmful chemicals in its distillation and is a known carcinogen.
Coconut oil is light and gentle enough to even soothe a dry skin rash on your face.
Best of all, the oil is easy to find and easy to apply: simply scrape a little out of the jar (use a separate jar for your skin than you do for cooking) and rub it in as often as you like. Hydrating effects will last quite a while. Click here for a guide on different varieties of coconut oil and what to look for.
2. Olive Oil
Olive oil is exceptionally nutritious, whether applied topically or ingested. In fact, studies have shown it to be an effective prevention against radiodermatitis. (6) In addition, the phenolic compound oleocanthal in olive oil offers anti-inflammatory properties to soothe dry skin and reduce irritation. (7) This fruit oil has been used since ancient times to treat a variety of skin conditions, including many types of rashes, wounds, and burns. (8) Lastly, it’s worthy of note that oleocanthal kills cancer cells in less than an hour. (9)
To use olive oil to treat winter dry skin: eat at least 2 ounces of unheated organic, cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil a day to get at inflammation from within and apply topically to moisturize and prevent precious water from evaporating from your skin.
3. Neem Oil
Neem is a herb found in the Near East and is used extensively in Ayurvedic medicine for skin health, and maintenance of the gums. Its extract has antibacterial properties and is known to relieve boils, blisters, and acne. (10) Even chronic skin conditions respond to neem, as it is effective in the treatment of psoriasis, eczema, ringworm, and warts. (11)
Neem oil conditions skin and locks in moisture. They contain the phytochemicals nimbin and nimbidin are part of the limonoid family of compounds, which are antioxidant, antibacterial, and contain natural steroids that calm the immune system, stopping itch and reducing inflammation. (12, 13)
Some people are sensitive to neem, so dab a little on the inside of your elbow and wait 24 hours to monitor any reaction before applying more widely.
To use neem:
- Crush a few neem leaves, mix them with 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder and apply it to your skin.
- Mix neem oil with a carrier oil (such as coconut or olive) using a ratio of 1-3 drops of neem to 1 teaspoon of carrier. Apply to the affected area 3-4 times daily.
4. DIY Dry Skin Body Oil Recipe
This recipe includes hemp seed oil, which has been found to significantly improve atopic dermatitis. Its omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids nourish