Happy Home, Happy Skin

Understanding the Link Between Your Home and Skin Health

Your home environment plays a bigger role in skin health than you might think. Factors like air quality, humidity levels, cleaning products, and even the materials in your furniture can influence your skin barrier and overall complexion. Creating a skin-supportive home helps minimise irritants, reduce inflammation, and maintain a healthy glow.

How This Can Present on Skin

• Harsh cleaning products with synthetic fragrances or alcohols can irritate the skin, leading to dryness, itching, or flare-ups.

• Dry indoor air from central heating or air conditioning can deplete moisture and contribute to tight-feeling, flaky skin.

• Hard water may leave mineral residues on the skin, disrupting the barrier and increasing sensitivity.

• Allergens such as dust mites, mould, and pet dander can trigger flare-ups, especially in eczema-prone skin.

• Synthetic fabrics in clothing or bedding can trap heat and irritate the skin.

• Fragranced products like candles, diffusers, or sprays release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can contribute to oxidative stress and skin reactivity.

• Damp and mould from poor ventilation can worsen skin conditions and also affect respiratory health.

• Emotional stress within the home — such as conflict, overstimulation, or lack of rest — may also affect skin health. Stress may contribute to barrier disruption, increased inflammation, or unconscious behaviours like picking or overwashing ([Happy Relationships, Happy Skin, Happy Mind, Happy Skin])

Need a few practical tips?

You’ll find matching flashcards for this topic in the Happy Skin Collection — digital resources designed to support your skin one day at a time.
Browse them in the shop at Skin at Home™ on the main website.

Need Extra Support?

Improving your home environment doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Start small by researching eco-friendly products or allergy-proofing guides for practical advice. Even small changes can make a big difference to your skin.

Is There Public National Guidance on the Effect of the Home Environment on Skin Health?

Not really. While some NHS-affiliated trusts, specialist hospitals, and local councils do acknowledge the impact of factors like central heating, damp, mould, and household irritants on skin—this recognition is scattered. At a national level, there is still no clear public-facing guidance that treats skin health as a benefit of a healthy home environment.

The evidence exists. Many people already recognise that itchy skin gets worse in dry homes, and that fragranced products or mouldy rooms can trigger eczema flare-ups. But this knowledge hasn’t yet been translated into joined-up national messaging or everyday advice.

The Skin Well® project highlights this gap — because when skin is left out of healthy home messaging, the public is left without the full picture.

Trusted Sources (Not a Complete Catalogue)

Here are a few respected UK resources that explore how your home environment can affect your skin:

• Allergy UK – Eczema, Triggers and Irritants
  Highlights common household triggers such as dust mites, cleaning sprays, and central heating. Offers practical steps like washing bedding at 60°C, damp dusting, and avoiding synthetic fragrance.
  https://www.allergyuk.org

• National Eczema Society – Household Irritants and Eczema
  Explains how heating, ventilation, humidity, and cleaning products can affect eczema-prone skin. Suggests maintaining room temp at -18°C and avoiding strong chemicals or sprays.
  https://eczema.org

• Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Environmental Triggers for Eczema
  An NHS dermatology leaflet listing common home triggers, including dry indoor air, fragranced soaps, and over-heated rooms. Offers advice on keeping the environment skin-friendly.
  https://www.newcastle-hospitals.nhs.uk

• NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin – Mild Dry Skin
  Advises that indoor heating dries out skin, particularly in winter. Recommends using moisture in the air (like a damp towel on a radiator) and moisturising often.
  https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk

• Great Ormond Street Hospital – Eczema in Children
  Notes that home factors such as soaps, hard water, and central heating can dry and irritate the skin. Encourages gentle care and avoiding drying conditions.
  https://www.gosh.nhs.uk

• UK Government / UKHSA – Damp and Mould in the Home
  Highlights the health risks of living in damp, mouldy homes - including worsened symptoms for those with eczema or allergies. Offers practical, preventative advice.
  https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/damp-and-mould-health-risks

• Bristol City Council – Damp and Mould in Your Home
  States that mould can worsen conditions like eczema. Offers clear steps for keeping homes warm, dry and ventilated to support healthier living conditions.
  https://www.bristol.gov.uk

• Leeds City Council – Damp, Mould and Condensation
  Notes that persistent damp and mould can lead to irritation of the eyes, eczema, and fungal infections. Offers tips to reduce condensation and protect vulnerable residents.
  https://www.leeds.gov.uk