How to Help Avoid Dermatitis Flares this Spring

When skin becomes dry, reactive or inflamed, skincare is often the first thing we reconsider.

Skin health extends beyond skincare. 

What we wash our clothes in, cleanse our body with and come into contact with throughout the day can all influence an already compromised skin barrier.

Spring can bring its own challenges too. Shifts in temperature, increased pollen and allergens, more time outdoors and changes in our daily routines can all coincide with heightened skin sensitivity.

For dermatitis-prone skin, the most considered approach isn't adding more. It's looking at the bigger picture — reducing potential irritants, simplifying what comes
into contact with the skin and supporting the barrier back towards balance.

Here are five places worth looking.

01 — Look at your laundry detergent

Clothing, bedding and towels remain against our skin for hours at a time, making laundry products an often-overlooked consideration for reactive skin.

Synthetic fragrance, dyes, optical brighteners, bleach and residual cleansing agents may all be worth reconsidering when the skin barrier is compromised.

Choose a simple laundry formulation without synthetic fragrance, bleach or unnecessary additives. If you prefer fragrance, look for products lightly scented with natural essential oils that your skin tolerates — keeping in mind that even natural fragrance may not suit highly reactive skin.

An additional rinse cycle can also help minimise detergent residue left behind on fabrics. Fabric softener is worth considering too. It's designed to leave a coating on fabric, which means it remains in contact with your skin. 

02 — Reconsider your body + hair care

We tend to be discerning about what we put on our face, while giving far less thought to the products used everywhere else. But the skin barrier extends well beyond the
face.

Strong surfactants, synthetic fragrance and over-cleansing can remove too much of the skin's natural oils, leaving it more vulnerable to dryness, irritation and moisture loss.

Choose gentle formulations that cleanse without leaving the skin feeling tight or stripped. Follow with a nourishing body oil or moisturiser to replenish lipids and help retain hydration.

Haircare is another consideration. Shampoo and conditioner inevitably travel over the face, neck and body as we rinse — making them particularly worth looking at if irritation appears around the hairline, neck, shoulders or back. 

03 — Consider what you're washing your hands with

Our hands are exposed to frequent cleansing and environmental contact throughout the day.

Hand wash, sanitiser, dishwashing liquid and cleaning products can all place additional demand on an already compromised barrier.

Look for a gentle hand wash without synthetic fragrance or unnecessarily harsh cleansing and preservative systems, with formulations that respect the skin's natural oils and microbiome.

Regular replenishment matteers too. A nourishing hand cream can help replace what repeated washing removes and support the barrier between washes. 

04 — Don't overlook your toothpaste

When irritation appears around the mouth, we naturally start looking at skincare. Toothpaste is another important consideration, used every day in close contact with this delicate area. 

Strong flavouring agents, foaming surfactants and other potentially irritating ingredients may be worth reconsidering for reactive skin.

Look beyond toothpaste too. Lip products, sunscreen and makeup all come into regular contact with the area.

Rather than introducing more products, simplify what touches the skin and remove potential irritants while it settles.

Persistent irritation around the mouth can have several causes, including perioral dermatitis, so ongoing symptoms are best professionally assessed through an online consultation with one of our Corneotherapists.

05 — Less is more

When the skin barrier is compromised, less is more.

Rather than introducing more actives or trying to correct every visible concern, bring the focus back to the foundations of healthy
skin: gentle cleansing, hydration and replenishing what the barrier needs to function well.

Look for considered formulations with skin-supportive lipids, essential fatty acids, humectants and calming botanical ingredients. Harsh exfoliation, scrubs, retinoids and intensive actives can wait while the skin is reactive. 

Give the skin what it needs — and space to return towards balance. 

If your skin is reactive, inflamed or simply not feeling like itself, a personalised approach can help you understand what may be contributing — and how to support it moving forward.

Book a SIHA Skin Consultation for considered, one-to-one guidance and a routine tailored to your skin.