Summer is here!
Personally I enjoy summer than winter because my eczema is more under control at this time of year. I have in the past had minor flare-ups in summer mainly due to air conditioning, sweating and lack of sleep at night during a heatwave. However, it’s not as severe as winter time.
I know that some people still have issues with eczema in the summer so thought now would be an ideal time to give some tips on how I manage. I have also copied below some useful links/resources from other websites following some research.
- Wear loose /thin clothing of a lighter colour. Linen or cotton are ideal as less likely to sweat which can cause skin irritation. The thicker the clothing the hotter I am likely to be. I also avoid wearing denim (especially black) as tend to get very hot and irritated.
- Drink lots of water as this can affect our skin as well as becoming dehydrated. Our bodies loose more water during summer so it’s important to keep hydrated. Eating watery foods, e.g. salad and fruit also helps.
- As the weather is warmer this will highly likely cause us to itch. Therefore an antihistamine tablet can help. It is also useful if you have allergies or hay fever.
- Avoid scratching (I know this one is easier said than done!) as this makes our skin worse. I have also noticed that scratching actually makes me more hot and sweaty! If you’re trying to break a habit including scratching this may help.
- Keep moisturising as much as possible, ideally a thinner cream rather than a thick ointment as more likely to sweat. I have noticed that at times an ointment which is too thick can also block pores in the skin as well as sweating.
- Shower immediately if possible if you become very sweaty and definitely after swimming – as salt from sweat increases itching and the urge to scratch.
- If you’re like me and enjoy exercise do this early morning or in the evening rather than midday/afternoon when the sun is warmer.
- If possible avoid going outside when the sun is most strong (between 11 am – 4 pm).
- If you use sun cream ensure that it’s good for sensitive skin and eczema friendly.
- Be cautious about air conditioning. Although sitting in this can be great when over 30 degrees outside, staying in air-conditioned places for a long period can severely dry out the skin and can cause issues.
- If your house and/or bedroom gets warm during the summer, try and keep your house cool as much as possible. Having a warm house/bedroom can cause lack of sleep, sweating and discomfort during the night. This then causes tiredness and stress which can trigger eczema. Keep blinds or curtains closed during the day to block out the heat. Personally I find it better to open windows during the evening as cooler and air can circulate around. Also having fans can help at times.
- Unless you’re about to move home, you’ll probably won’t have too much of a choice regarding this final tip. My advice would be if considering moving home to try and find somewhere where your bedroom is not facing south. I rented a room for just over four years with a south-facing garden at the back of the house. Although it was nice to look out the garden and look at the trees, grass and birds etc. having a south-facing garden means that the sun will shine directly on my bedroom window right in the middle of the day which draws in heat. I’ve now upgraded to a bigger room where I live which has north-facing windows. The room feels a lot cooler and has a lovely breeze coming through. Remember that the sun does not shine in the north so this is why north-facing rooms are cooler!
I hope some these tips are useful for you, please see the links below which has some more advise. Happy summer everyone!
Useful links:
https://www.avogel.co.uk/health/skin/eczema/10-top-tips-to-avoid-an-eczema-flare-up-this-summer/
https://www.healthline.com/health/atopic-dermatitis/extreme-temperatures#3
https://www.healthline.com/health/atopic-dermatitis/extreme-temperatures#5