Anyone living with eczema can attest to the impact this skin condition can have on daily life. The intense itching and cracking can lead to distress and prevent you from engaging in activities you enjoy. Although eczema isn’t life-threatening, people with eczema report higher levels of anxiety and depression than those without the condition. During the summer months eczema is often at its worst. Learning how to best care for your skin and manage flares during hot months can have a positive impact so that you can enjoy the summer sunshine. Here are our tips on keeping summertime eczema flares in check.
Eczema can be challenging during months when hot weather dominates. Something that most people take for granted, like playing in the park during the summer or sunbathing on the beach, can trigger bothersome eczema symptoms that leave you itching and frustrated.
People with eczema have skin that is delicate and sensitive and an immune system that reacts more aggressively to common elements and circumstances. The summertime heat and humidity can trigger flares and make skin itchier than cooler months. Working to keep your symptoms under control is key to staying comfortable this summer.
People with eczema have dry, itchy skin that can become inflamed when temperatures are too hot. Areas such as the creases of your elbows and knees are especially prone to eczema flares. This means you need to stay vigilant about keeping yourself cool.
If you’re outdoors on a particularly warm day and you start to feel too hot, move indoors where you can cool down and escape the heat. Check your local temperatures, and plan on limiting outdoor time if the heat is expected to climb too high. If you must be outdoors, carry a small personal fan and a bottle of cold water to keep yourself cool.
Staying cool and dry in the summer might seem impossible, after all summertime is synonymous with sweat. When it comes to eczema, though, sweat is the enemy. Sweating is the natural way your body regulates temperature and keeps you cool on sweltering summer days. However, people with eczema have skin that loses moisture rapidly and becomes irritated easily, making for a not-so-great combination.
Sweat contains sodium and other minerals that can irritate delicate skin and trigger a flare-up or make a current flare worse. Before you know it, your skin begins itching like mad without relief. Talc-free baby powder or cornstarch can help you stay dry. If you start sweating, wipe the sweat away immediately, and avoid allowing it to stay on your skin. It helps to carry a small hand towel with you during the summer for this purpose.
People with eczema have dry, scaly, cracked skin that can ooze and feel quite uncomfortable. Hydrating your skin with moisturizers specifically designed for eczema can keep your skin moist and reduce flares. At our practice Dermatology Associates of Central New Jersey, our team can recommend a moisturizer to best protect your skin. These moisturizers are formulated with ingredients designed to protect your skin from harsh temperatures and other weather elements and keep it hydrated. Light formulas that are non-greasy will keep your skin feeling better throughout the summer.
Though it’s great to smell like fresh lilies in the summer, your skin is highly sensitive. Sunscreens, moisturizers, and other products that contain fragrances can trigger a flare-up. When it comes to products you’re placing on your skin, look for fragrance-free versions to avoid triggering inflammation. If you need recommendations, our team would be happy to provide them.
Left untreated, eczema can make your summer miserable. To learn more about controlling your eczema this summer, we invite you to schedule an appointment with our team at Dermatology Associates of Central New Jersey by calling our Old Bridge, Freehold, Union, or Tom’s River, New Jersey, office or booking online.
