Tips for Eczema Relief During Summer

It is summertime and you ought to be enjoying the sunny weather and all. Yet, for some of you who are having eczema, summer is not exactly a great time to go through.

Eczema during summer can get worse than normal because of the heat and humidity. Excessive sweating is usually experienced if you have the most common kind of eczema called atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis. You are more prone to itching and scratching yourself due to the sweat. Of course, on the reverse end, there are those with eczema that experience greater discomfort during the cold and dry months of winter.

For those of you that get intense itches during summer, here are some tips for eczema relief during summer.

It is important to avoid the heat as much as possible in order to avoid overheating. Staying cool will ensure that you sweat very little. Sunlight during summer is strongest between the hours of 10am and 4pm with the 12pm to 2pm period being exceedingly hot especially in the sun. Try to schedule your outdoor activities like lawn or gardening work, walks, etc. either in early morning or in the evening when things are cooler. Apart from the heat, direct sunlight also saps your strength and people with weak immune systems will overheat faster. If you feel tired, then take a nap in the afternoon to recover lost energy.

Itching is not easy to control for everyone. For those who find they just cannot help itching, please keep topical medication close by for eczema relief. However, make sure that you use them as sparingly as possible. There are also some new anti-inflammatory drugs, like Elidel and Protopic that contain no steroids that are very good at controlling eczema.

If you are going to be exposed to direct sunlight, always wear a hat and sunglasses. You have to be extra careful about using sunscreen as they may worsen or irritate your skin if you select the wrong brand or type. You may wish to try out several brands of sunscreens to find the one that best suits your skin. Best is to avoid being in direct sunlight altogether if you are not able to find a suitable sunscreen.

Do not be fooled if you are in water. Sunburn while swimming is usually faster than in dry direct sunlight. So if you are in a pool, ocean, or lake then you may even have to consider wearing a tee-shirt over your bathing suit. Keep your arms and chest areas covered.

Hot days can also mean make you thirsty. Drink plenty of water to keep your body temperature cool. Unsweetened drinks are best; so plain water is recommended above ice cold lemonade.

It is not easy to manage your eczema during summer. You can get totally depressed about the measures that you have to take in order to keep your temperature cool and the eczema in check. Yes, it sounds ridiculous to be covered up during summer but if these measures for eczema relief can help prevent itching and scarring of your skin, I say why not?

For more tips on eczema treatment , read my latest blog.