11 Reasons Your Home Is Causing Your Dry, Itchy Skin

Dry and itchy skin goes by many names and has just as many causes. But no matter what you call it or how you get it, this uncomfortable skin condition can feel unbearable at times. While people suffer from irritated and itchy skin for all sorts of reasons, many of the causes can be found inside the home. If you suffer from this problem, you should know the ways your home can be the cause of dry and itchy skin, and how to fix the issue for good.

High heat and dry air in your home are common causes of dry and itchy skin. Excessively hot and long showers can also dry out your skin, causing it to itch. Poison ivy and other contagious skin conditions can spread in your home, as can pet dander. Dust mites and mold can cause severe itching and other issues as well. The chemicals in detergents and cleaning products can also dry your skin.

Dry skin can lead to itching, which can cause long-lasting and even chronic health conditions like dermatitis and eczema. If you notice your skin is particularly itchy and dry at home, you’ll want to find the cause before the problem escalates. Below is a list of all the most common reasons why your home is causing your dry and itchy skin.

11 Ways Your Home Can Cause Dry And Itchy Skin

1. Not Enough Humidity

One of the main ways your home causes and contributes to dry and itchy skin involves arid air. Dry skin is usually caused by a lack of moisture in its outer layers. If your home has little to no humidity, then moisture will leave your skin, causing it to become dry.

While low humidity is common in the winter, it can be an issue throughout the year in certain climates. If you have both dry skin and low moisture in the home, try methods to increase humidity in the home. Start with a humidifier, especially where you sleep. You can also try other creative methods to boost moisture levels in your home.

2. Harsh Soaps And Detergents

Another common cause for dry and itchy skin is caused by soap and detergent. We all want our bodies and clothes to be clean, but sometimes the products people use to clean themselves and their clothing can do more harm than good.

Some hand soaps smell amazing, but these frangrances are made of chemicals and alcohol, rather than natural oils. In turn, it can dry out your skin. The same goes for clothing detergent. Remember that just because something smells good doesn't mean it’s safe for your skin.

There are lots of allergy-sensitive detergents available. There are also simple soaps with moisturizing cocoa butter, aloe, and lotions built into them. Keep these in your home instead of soaps loaded with chemicals and perfumes. Your skin will thank you.

3. Seasonal Allergies

When people think of allergies, usually itchy eyes and sneezing come to mind, but dry and itchy skin are also common allergy symptoms. If you suffer from seasonal allergies, then it’s entirely possible you are tracking these allergies into the home. 

There are many methods to reduce the risk of seasonal allergies in the home, including using air purifiers and cleaning more frequently. Making your home an allergy-free zone can do wonders for your dry and itchy skin, and it can also improve your other symptoms.

4. Pet Dander

If you have a pet, especially a dog or cat that has free roam of your home, then there’s a chance it is the source of your dry and itchy skin. As cute and lovable as pets are, they also carry dander and other allergens in their skin and saliva.

If you have even a mild allergy to animals, this can result in very itchy skin. It’s also possible to develop these allergies over time. Therefore, you may have never been allergic to cats, but then develop a sensitivity years later. If you find your skin is itchy and dry when you are in areas where your pet frequents, your pet may be to blame for your itchy skin in the home.

5. Dust Mites

One pest that you can’t see but can cause severe skin irritation is the dust mite. These microscopic mites can’t be seen by the naked eye, but they can still do plenty of harm. They thrive in dirty and dusty environments, especially areas with dead skin cells. This makes your bed particularly vulnerable, especially if you don’t wash your sheets often.

If you are usually itchy when sitting on your couch or while lying in bed, the source of your itchy skin might be dust mites. Keeping your home cleaner and washing sheets more frequently can put a stop to this issue.

6. Rodents

Rodents can also cause severe itchy skin. Rodents can sneak into your home undetected, particularly in the fall and winter when they are looking for a place to burrow. If your itchy and dry skin is severe and seems to have come out of nowhere, then you need to look for signs there are rodents in your home. 

Eliminating rodents and deep cleaning your home should help relieve your skin irritation.

7. Mold

Mold can cause all sorts of issues. It can slowly destroy your home, it can cause breathing problems, and it can even cause and worsen dry and itchy skin issues. If you have dry and itchy skin issues when you are in the home, check for mold.

If there’s mold in your home, you need to get rid of it as quickly and thoroughly as you can. Untreated mold will likely only worsen and cause more problems. 

8. Poison Ivy And Other Contagious Skin Conditions

Poison ivy is known for its ability to cause horribly itchy skin and unsightly rashes. While poison ivy is found outdoors, it's easy to bring the urushiol that causes the irritated skin issues into the home. 

You can carry urushiol into the home on your clothing, and even your pets can bring it into the house. It is easy to spread this oil around, which can cause everyone in the home to have dry and itchy skin until you contain it.

9. Chemicals In Cleaning Products

Just as detergents can irritate skin, so can cleaning products. If you wash your chairs and furniture with fabric sprays and other cleaning products, make sure they aren’t going to cause dry and irritated skin.

Most cleaning products have warning labels, so read them thoroughly. When in doubt, opt for natural cleaning products on any piece of furniture that comes in direct contact with your skin.

10. Hot Showers

Hot showers after a long cold day can feel amazing. This temporary relief, however, may give rise to long-lasting skin irritation. Long hot showers, especially when the weather outside is cold and dry, can cause dry and itchy skin. 

Try to limit your showers to 10 minutes or less. Instead of using very hot water, take lukewarm showers. This will help minimize skin dryness. After showering, use a quality moisturizing lotion. This will help restore any moisture lost while showering.

11. A Skin Allergy To Nickel Objects In The Home

Did you know you can be allergic to everyday objects in the home? Products made of nickel in particular can cause skin irritation. Touching nickel can cause some people to have contact allergic dermatitis, which is itchy skin. 

Nickel can be found in everything from earrings to doorknobs. So, if you find a particular part of your body is suffering from dry and itchy skin, find out if that part of your body is in frequent contact with nickel.

Summing Up Reasons Your Home Is Making You Dry And Itchy

Your home should be a sanctuary of peace and safety. If you find the inside of your home is causing dry and itchy skin, you’ll want to find out the source of the irritant so you can protect your skin. 

Hot and dry air can cause dry and itchy skin, especially when you combine this with long hot showers. Detergents, hand soaps, and even household cleaning products can irritate skin. Pet dander, dust mites, poison ivy, and a rodent problem can cause skin flare ups, as can many seasonal allergies. 

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