Fast answer
An eczema flare-up is a period when eczema symptoms become worse than usual. During a flare-up, the skin may become itchier, redder, drier and more inflamed. Some people also experience burning, cracking or increased sensitivity. While flare-ups can't always be prevented, understanding your triggers and following a gentle skincare routine can help reduce how often they occur and how severe they become.
For a complete guide to eczema, visit our Eczema Hub. You can also explore our Eczema Collection for products developed to support dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin.
Introduction
Living with eczema often means living with uncertainty.
Your skin may feel comfortable for days or even weeks before suddenly becoming dry, itchy and inflamed again. These periods of worsening symptoms are known as eczema flare-ups.
Flare-ups can be frustrating because they often seem to appear without warning. However, many people discover that their skin is responding to a combination of triggers rather than one single cause.
Learning to recognise the early signs of a flare-up and understanding what may be triggering it can help you take action sooner and support your skin before symptoms become more severe.
What is an eczema flare-up?
An eczema flare-up is a period when your eczema becomes more active and symptoms temporarily worsen.
During a flare-up, the skin barrier becomes more compromised, allowing moisture to escape while making the skin more vulnerable to irritation from the environment.
As inflammation increases, the skin may become:
• Itchy.
• Dry.
• Red or inflamed.
• Rough or flaky.
• Tight.
• Sensitive.
• Cracked.
For some people, flare-ups are relatively mild. For others, they can significantly affect comfort, sleep and everyday life.
What happens during a flare-up?
Healthy skin acts as a protective barrier.
When that barrier becomes weakened, moisture escapes more easily and irritants can penetrate the skin more readily.
During an eczema flare-up, this process accelerates.
Inflammation increases, the skin becomes drier and itching often becomes more intense. Scratching can then damage the skin further, creating the well-known itch-scratch cycle that many people with eczema experience.
Although flare-ups can feel sudden, they often begin several days before obvious redness appears.
Many people first notice:
• Tight skin.
• Mild itching.
• Increased dryness.
• Slight sensitivity.
Recognising these early changes may allow you to support your skin before symptoms become more severe.
Common symptoms of an eczema flare-up
Although every person's eczema is different, flare-ups commonly cause:
• Persistent itching.
• Dry, rough skin.
• Red or inflamed patches.
• Flaking.
• Burning or stinging.
• Cracked skin.
• Increased sensitivity.
• Difficulty sleeping because of itching.
Some people also experience swelling or small fluid-filled blisters depending on the type of eczema they have.
If you're experiencing one particular symptom, our Eczema symptoms guide explains each in greater detail.
What causes eczema flare-ups?
There isn't one single cause.
Flare-ups usually occur when several factors combine to weaken the skin barrier and increase inflammation.
These factors often include:
A weakened skin barrier
When the skin loses moisture, it becomes more vulnerable to irritation from everyday environmental triggers.
Genetics
People with eczema often inherit a tendency towards a weaker skin barrier and a more reactive immune system.
An overactive immune response
The immune system may respond more strongly to everyday irritants, contributing to inflammation during flare-ups.
Environmental triggers
Weather, allergens, skincare products and stress can all influence when flare-ups occur.
If you'd like to explore these underlying causes in more detail, read our complete guide to What Causes Eczema, where we explain why eczema develops and why some people are more prone to flare-ups than others.
Common eczema flare-up triggers
Every person's eczema is different, but certain triggers appear again and again.
Cold weather
Cold air contains less moisture, while indoor heating dries the skin further.
This combination commonly leads to winter flare-ups.
Hot showers
Although hot water can feel soothing at the time, it may remove the natural oils that help protect your skin.
Fragranced skincare
Products containing fragrance are a common trigger for sensitive skin.
Choosing fragrance-free skincare is often recommended for people with eczema.
Stress
Many people notice their eczema becomes worse during stressful periods.
While stress doesn't directly cause eczema, it may increase inflammation and make flare-ups more likely.
Allergens
Pollen, dust mites, mould and pet dander may contribute to flare-ups in some individuals.
Frequent washing
Repeated washing, particularly with harsh soaps, can weaken the skin barrier and increase dryness.
Why flare-ups are different for everyone
One of the most frustrating aspects of eczema is that no two people experience it in exactly the same way.
Some people mainly struggle during winter.
Others notice flare-ups after periods of stress.
Some react to particular skincare products, while others find that pollen or pet dander plays a bigger role.
This is why learning your own triggers is often more helpful than comparing your eczema with someone else's.
Keeping your skincare routine simple and paying attention to when flare-ups occur can help you recognise patterns over time.
Different types of eczema flare-ups
Although the underlying process is similar, flare-ups can occur on different parts of the body and each area may have its own challenges.
Facial eczema flare-ups
Facial flare-ups often cause redness, dryness and sensitive skin.
Learn more in our Facial eczema guide.
Hand eczema flare-ups
Because the hands are constantly exposed to water and irritants, flare-ups commonly cause cracking and soreness.
See our Hand eczema guide.
Eyelid eczema flare-ups
The delicate skin around the eyes can become itchy, swollen and flaky during a flare-up.
Our Eyelid eczema guide explains more.
Scalp eczema flare-ups
Scalp flare-ups often involve itching, dryness and flaking.
Read our Scalp eczema guide for more detailed advice.
How to treat an eczema flare-up
Although eczema flare-ups can feel overwhelming, the goal isn't to make the symptoms disappear overnight. Instead, treatment focuses on calming inflammation, supporting the skin barrier and helping your skin recover as comfortably as possible.
The earlier you recognise a flare-up, the sooner you can begin supporting your skin.
Many people find that responding quickly to the first signs of dryness or itching helps prevent a mild flare-up from becoming much more uncomfortable.
Avoid scratching
Itching is one of the most frustrating parts of an eczema flare-up.
Unfortunately, scratching damages the skin barrier further, increasing inflammation and making the itching even worse.
This creates what's often called the itch-scratch cycle.
Although avoiding scratching isn't always easy, these simple habits may help:
• Keep your nails short.
• Moisturise regularly.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing.
• Try gently pressing or cooling the area rather than scratching.
Reducing scratching gives the skin a better opportunity to recover.
Keep your skincare routine simple
During a flare-up, your skin is often much more sensitive than usual.
Adding lots of new products may increase irritation rather than improve it.
Instead, keep your routine simple by:
• Using a gentle cleanser.
• Moisturising consistently.
• Avoiding unnecessary active ingredients.
• Avoiding fragranced skincare where possible.
Many people find that less really is more during an active flare-up.
Try to identify the trigger
Every flare-up is an opportunity to learn something about your skin.
Ask yourself:
• Have I used a new skincare product?
• Has the weather changed?
• Have I been under more stress recently?
• Have I been washing my hands more often?
• Has anything changed in my daily routine?
You won't always find an obvious answer, but recognising patterns over time often helps reduce future flare-ups.
Protect your skin barrier
Supporting the skin barrier remains one of the most effective ways to reduce flare-ups over the long term.
Simple habits include:
• Moisturising daily.
• Avoiding harsh soaps.
• Washing with lukewarm rather than hot water.
• Patting your skin dry with a towel.
• Wearing soft, breathable fabrics.
Although these changes seem small, they often make a significant difference over time.
How long does an eczema flare-up last?
There isn't a simple answer because every person's eczema is different.
A mild flare-up may settle within a few days, while more severe flare-ups can last for several weeks.
How quickly your skin improves often depends on:
• The severity of the flare-up.
• Whether the trigger is ongoing.
• How damaged the skin barrier has become.
• How quickly treatment begins.
If you'd like to learn more, our dedicated How long do eczema flare-ups last? guide explores this topic in greater detail.
Why do eczema flare-ups keep coming back?
Many people become frustrated because their eczema improves before returning again.
This doesn't necessarily mean your skincare routine isn't working.
Eczema is a long-term condition, and flare-ups often occur when the skin barrier is exposed to triggers such as stress, weather changes, allergens or irritating skincare products.
The aim isn't simply to treat individual flare-ups.
It's to improve the health of your skin barrier over time so flare-ups become less frequent and less severe.
What we've learned from supporting people with eczema
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that every flare-up needs a completely different solution.
In reality, the people who seem to manage their eczema most successfully often have something in common.
They don't panic.
Instead of changing five different products overnight, they return to a simple routine that supports their skin barrier.
We've also noticed that people who recognise the early warning signs usually experience shorter and less severe flare-ups than those who wait until their skin becomes extremely irritated before taking action.
Consistency almost always produces better long-term results than constantly searching for a quick fix.
Real customer story
"Whenever my eczema flared up, I'd immediately start buying different creams because I thought I hadn't found the right one. Looking back, I was probably making my skin even more irritated. Once I simplified my routine, moisturised consistently and paid attention to what triggered my flare-ups, my skin became much easier to manage."
Shared with permission, but the customer wanted to remain anonymous. Individual results will always vary.
Hear Ricky's Story
Every eczema journey is different, and we're incredibly grateful to Ricky for sharing his experience.
In this short video, Ricky talks about living with eczema, the impact flare-ups had on his daily life, and his personal experience after discovering Bragan Skincare. His honest story offers encouragement to others who may be struggling with frequent flare-ups and reminds us that finding a consistent skincare routine can make a meaningful difference over time.
Click Ricky's photo below to watch his full testimonial on YouTube.
A heartfelt thank you to Ricky and Nadene for allowing us to share his experience. By speaking so openly about his eczema journey, he's helping others better understand the challenges of living with eczema flare-ups while giving hope to people looking for gentle skincare that supports eczema-prone skin.
Common mistakes people make during an eczema flare-up
When your eczema suddenly becomes worse, it's understandable to want immediate relief.
However, some common habits can accidentally prolong a flare-up or make symptoms more uncomfortable.
Changing your entire skincare routine
One of the biggest mistakes people make is replacing all of their skincare products at once.
If your skin is already inflamed, introducing several new products makes it difficult to know which one is helping and which one may be causing further irritation.
A simple, consistent routine is usually the safest approach during a flare-up.
Scratching the affected skin
Scratching may relieve itching for a few moments, but it also damages the skin barrier and increases inflammation.
Repeated scratching can lead to:
• More itching.
• Increased redness.
• Cracked skin.
• Bleeding.
• A greater risk of infection.
Keeping your skin moisturised and avoiding scratching wherever possible gives your skin a better chance to recover.
Waiting too long before treating a flare-up
Many people ignore the first signs of dryness or itching, hoping the symptoms will settle on their own.
Responding early by moisturising more frequently and avoiding known triggers often helps prevent a small flare-up from becoming much more severe.
Using hot water
Long, hot showers may feel soothing while you're in them, but they often leave eczema-prone skin feeling drier afterwards.
Lukewarm water is generally a better choice during a flare-up.
Forgetting to moisturise once the flare-up improves
As symptoms begin to settle, it's tempting to stop moisturising as often.
However, your skin barrier continues repairing even after redness and itching improve.
Continuing your skincare routine during this recovery phase helps support healthier skin and may reduce future flare-ups.
When should you seek medical advice?
Although many eczema flare-ups can be managed with a gentle skincare routine, medical advice is important if:
• Your skin becomes very painful.
• Your eczema starts to ooze or develops yellow crusting.
• You think your skin may be infected.
• Your symptoms continue to worsen.
• Your flare-up isn't improving.
• Your eczema is affecting your sleep or quality of life.
A healthcare professional can assess your symptoms and recommend appropriate treatment if required.
Common myths about eczema flare-ups
Myth: Every flare-up has the same cause
No.
Eczema flare-ups often result from a combination of factors rather than one single trigger.
Myth: A flare-up means your skincare isn't working
Not necessarily.
Even people with well-managed eczema can experience occasional flare-ups due to weather changes, illness, stress or unavoidable environmental triggers.
Myth: You should stop moisturising if your skin feels sore
In most cases, moisturising remains one of the most important ways to support the skin barrier during a flare-up.
If a product stings or causes irritation, stop using it and seek professional advice if needed.
Myth: Flare-ups happen without warning
Many people notice early signs such as dryness, tightness or mild itching before a flare-up becomes more severe.
Learning to recognise these early changes can help you respond sooner.
Myth: You'll never reduce flare-ups
Although eczema is often a long-term condition, many people find that understanding their triggers, protecting their skin barrier and following a consistent skincare routine helps reduce both the frequency and severity of flare-ups.
Frequently asked questions
What is an eczema flare-up?
An eczema flare-up is a period when eczema symptoms temporarily become worse, often causing increased itching, redness, dryness and inflammation.
What usually triggers an eczema flare-up?
Common triggers include cold weather, stress, fragranced skincare products, harsh soaps, allergens, illness and a weakened skin barrier.
How long do eczema flare-ups last?
Some mild flare-ups improve within a few days, while others may last several weeks. The duration often depends on the trigger, the severity of the flare-up and how quickly treatment begins.
Can stress cause eczema flare-ups?
Many people find that stress contributes to flare-ups. While stress doesn't directly cause eczema, it can increase inflammation and make symptoms more difficult to manage.
Can eczema flare-ups spread?
Eczema itself isn't contagious, but a flare-up can develop on different areas of the body if the skin barrier becomes irritated or exposed to triggers.
Can you prevent eczema flare-ups completely?
It isn't always possible to prevent every flare-up, but understanding your personal triggers and maintaining a consistent skincare routine can often reduce how frequently they occur.
Final thoughts
Eczema flare-ups are a normal part of living with eczema, but they don't have to control your daily life.
Learning to recognise the early warning signs, protecting your skin barrier and understanding your personal triggers can help you respond more quickly and support your skin before symptoms become more severe.
While every person's eczema is different, a gentle skincare routine, regular moisturising and consistency are often the foundations of long-term skin comfort.
Everybody’s Skin is different
Everybody’s skin behaves differently, and no single product works perfectly for every person. Sensitive skin can often react unpredictably depending on stress, environment, routines, and individual triggers. For that reason, our focus has always been on gentle support, consistency, and avoiding unnecessary irritation.
Explore our Eczema Collection for products designed to support eczema-prone skin, or visit our Eczema Hub for more practical advice on managing eczema every day.
