Winter With a PICC: 3 Tips to Stay Comfortable and Confident

Cold weather means cozy sweaters, heavier layers, and spending more time bundled up — but if you’re living with a PICC line, winter can also bring a few extra things to keep in mind. Extra layers, dry air, and thicker fabrics can all change how your PICC line feels day to day.

The good news: with a few small adjustments, you can stay warm, comfortable, and confident all season long. Here are three practical tips to help protect your PICC line during cold weather and layering season.

Image from Unsplashed

Tip 1: Keep Your PICC Line Secure Under Sweaters and Coats

Cold weather usually means layering up, adjusting sleeves, slipping coats on and off, and carrying bags throughout the day. All of that movement can create subtle pulling on your PICC line — especially when wearing thicker fabrics or if you have extension tubing. Even simple things like pulling a sweater over your head can cause your line to shift or catch.

A well-fitting PICC line cover helps keep your line close to your arm, reducing tugging and unnecessary movement. PICCPerfect® PICC Line Covers are designed to provide gentle coverage and a smooth, breathable barrier between your PICC line and everyday clothing, helping many patients feel more secure — and more like themselves — as they move through winter in their normal clothes.

Tip 2: Choose Skin-Friendly Layers to Reduce Friction

Winter clothes tend to be thicker and more structured, with seams, cuffs, and fabrics that move as you do. Over the course of a day, that movement can create friction around your PICC dressing.

While winter layers aren’t always the most breathable, what you wear closest to your skin still matters. Choosing the softest, most skin-friendly layer you can — and avoiding scratchy knits or bulky seams directly over your PICC site or dressing — can help reduce irritation and keep your arm more comfortable under sweaters, jackets, and coats.

Reducing friction and unnecessary movement is also one way to support long-term PICC care. If you’re curious about common issues and prevention strategies, you may find our article on PICC line complications and how to prevent them helpful.

Tip 3: Support Skin Comfort During Dry Winter Months

Cold outdoor air and indoor heating can dry out your skin, sometimes making the area around your PICC line feel tight or itchy. That awareness can make your line feel more “present” than usual.

Along with following your clinician’s guidance for skin care, small environmental changes can help. When possible, using a humidifier at home may help offset dry indoor air and support overall skin comfort. Many people also notice that winter discomfort shows up most at night. If sleeping with layers feels tricky, our guide on 10 tips for sleeping with a PICC offers simple, practical ways to stay comfortable while you rest.

Making Winter Feel Easier

Protecting your PICC line in cold weather isn’t about being overly cautious or limiting your life. It’s about setting yourself up to feel comfortable, confident, and free to live normally — even during layering season.

When clothing shifts or skin feels dry, it’s natural to want to adjust your PICC line. But frequent adjustments can sometimes create more irritation than relief. Following these tips can help reduce the urge to fuss with your line, making it easier to focus on your day — not your device.

Sources

• Association for Vascular Access (AVA) – Patient education resources on PICC line care and vascular access best practices
  https://www.avainfo.org
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter-related infections
  https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/bsi