Get Eczema Summer Savvy with Some Great Tips
Some eczema sufferers find that their skin conditions get worse in the summertime due to such triggers as the heat, the humidity and sweating. This is often the case for those suffering from the most common kind of eczema, atopic eczema (or atopic dermatitis). Other people find that summer is a blessing to eczema prone skin and that winter is the season when they suffer significantly from their eczema symptoms. Let’s take a look at some tips for staying savvy in the summer when the sun is beating down!
First of all, remember to always keep yourself as cool as you can and avoid overheating or sweating as much as possible. One of the ways to prevent this is by staying out of the sun between the hours of 10am and 4pm when the sun’s rays are at their most intense. Plan your summer walks, your lawn and gardening work, and all other outdoor physical activities for early morning or early evening when it is cooler. Also bear in minds that the sun can be draining on the system and those with a weaker immune system are likely to tire even quicker. Taking an afternoon nap during a hot summer day would be a good way to recharge your batteries and give you energy for the rest of your day!
Always have meds on hand if your itching becomes a problem. Steroid creams are good for this purpose as are some of the new anti-inflammatory medications that don’t contain any steroids whatsoever. Two examples are Elidel and Protopic, which are both extremely effective for controlling eczema flare-ups.
Wearing a sunscreen (sometimes referred to as sunblock) with an SPF (sun protection factor) of 15 or 30 is a must as is wearing a hat and sunglasses when you are sitting in the direct sunlight. Try a variety of different brands of sunscreens to find one that is gentle on your sensitive skin. Avoid ones that are too greasy and ones that contain PABA. Look for a brand that specifies that it is hypoallergenic and non comedogenic (which means it won’t clog pores). Sunscreens that come in the form of lotions are better than those that are in gel form and it is preferable to find one that has a titanium dioxide base and is designed for sensitive skin. You might want to consider using a sunscreen that is designed for children and babies. If it is delicate enough to use on young skin that it should be delicate enough for those with sensitive skin.
You can burn worse in the water than out of the water so if you are swimming in a pool, the ocean or a lake reapply sunscreen more often and wear a tee shirt over your bathing suit to protect your arms and chest area. You can still burn during cloudy days in the summertime due to the ultraviolet rays. If you are outdoors on those days wear long pants and a long sleeve shirt as well as sunscreen on your face to protect your skin.
