Lifestyle
Dr. Gilroy's Fall Skin Health Tips & Tricks
Small seasonal changes that can help keep your skin barrier supported as temperatures and humidity fall.
Published Oct 12, 2026 · 4 min read
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Dr. Christine Gilroy, Zerigo Health’s Chief Medical Officer, knows that every fall brings the same patterns for people living with eczema and psoriasis. Here’s what she recommends doing before a flare gets out of hand.
1. Switch your moisturizer for the season
“The lightweight lotion that worked fine in July isn’t going to cut it in October,” Dr. Gilroy says. Fall calls for a thicker cream or ointment, something that can actually hold up against dry indoor air.
2. Shorten your showers, and turn the temperature down
“One thing I always recommend is treating hot water like a treat, not a daily habit,” she says. Long, very hot showers strip away the oils your skin barrier depends on. Cleveland Clinic gives the same advice: warm, not hot, water.1 A few minutes shorter and a notch cooler makes a real difference over weeks.
3. Layer your skincare, not just your clothes
Just like you’d layer a shirt under a sweater, Dr. Gilroy recommends layering a hydrating serum or facial oil under your regular moisturizer during the driest months; it helps lock in more moisture than either product alone.
4. Don’t forget your hands and lips
Hands are getting washed constantly, and lips have no oil glands of their own, so both dry out first and fastest in fall. Keep a moisturizer or balm within reach: at your desk, in your bag, and by the front door.
5. Don’t wait for a full flare to act
“Early intervention matters,” Dr. Gilroy says. “The people who do best aren’t the ones with the most complicated routine; they’re the ones who react to the very first sign of dryness or irritation, instead of waiting until it’s a full flare.”
6. If your cream isn’t keeping up, ask about phototherapy
Dr. Gilroy’s advice: if you are doing everything right and your skin still will not settle, it is worth asking about light. Phototherapy is a prescribed, precise wavelength of light (narrowband UVB).2 It is not tanning, not sunlight, and not a drug, and it is delivered to the affected skin rather than the whole body.3 It can now be done at home instead of requiring three trips a week to a clinic, and fall is a sensible time to bring it up, because this is the season when most people notice their skin getting harder to manage.
“Safe, effective, and supported... without the side effects.”
– Dr. Christine Gilroy, Chief Medical Officer at Zerigo Health
The takeaway
You don’t need to overhaul your entire routine overnight. Pick one of these six and start today; consistency with one change beats perfection with all of them. And if you have already tried the first five and your skin still isn’t settling, number six is the one to bring to your doctor.
Wondering if light therapy is right for you?
The next step is a short conversation with a clinician about whether phototherapy fits your skin and your history. The two-minute check tells you whether it is worth having.
Is light therapy a fit for you? Find out in 2 minutes.Questions first? Chat with our experts (real people, not a bot)4 or call (877) 738-6041.
Footnotes
- Cleveland Clinic. “Eczema: What It Is, Symptoms, Causes, Types & Treatment.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9998-eczema
- AAD = American Academy of Dermatology. Narrowband UVB phototherapy is recommended by the AAD for the treatment of psoriasis and eczema. Elmets CA, Lim HW, Stoff B, et al. Joint American Academy of Dermatology-National Psoriasis Foundation guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with phototherapy. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;81(3):775-804.
- Narrowband UVB phototherapy does not involve systemic immunosuppression. Consult your physician regarding your full treatment plan.
- ZerigoCare(TM) licensed team includes licensed clinicians and/or supervised licensed healthcare professionals. Program is supervised and personalized. ZerigoCare(TM) is a trademark of Zerigo Health.
This article is for general education, not medical advice. Check with your own doctor about your care.
