Temperatures are on the rise and summertime can be particularly challenging when it comes to managing eczema flare-ups.
Warmer temps can leave our skin feeling extra itchy and more prone to flare-ups if we’re not mindful. And if you live in the South like me—well, let’s just say the humidity speaks for itself.
Quick Tips to Stay Ahead of Eczema Flare-ups and Beat the Heat (and Humidity!) this Summer:
1. Regulate your body temperature
Be extra mindful of the time you and your family spend outdoors. Put extra emphasis on this between the hours of 10 am – 2 pm when the sun is strongest.
Wear loose-fitting, breathable clothing, and consider keeping a cooling towel on hand. You can dip one of those dry-fit towels into ice water, ring it out, and pat it on the skin.
2. Stay hydrated
Drinking water and eating hydrating foods (like fruits and vegetables) helps prevent your skin from becoming dry and more prone to flare-ups.
Aim to drink 6-8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes. Drinking smaller amounts of water more frequently throughout the day is more effective than drinking large amounts of water less frequently, especially on a hot summer day.
There’s a rule of thumb for kids to drink half their body weight in ounces of water per day. For example, a 40-pound child should drink at least 20 ounces of water per day. However, they should drink more water the hotter it is outside and the more active they are.
To stay hydrated on the cellular level, we suggest mixing electrolytes to your water. You can also try freezing them to make tasty, hydrating popsicles.
3. Rinse off sweat
Sweating is SO good for our systems. We detoxify through sweat, which is great. But it can also irritate the skin, especially in areas like the inner elbows and behind the knees.
After a good sweat sesh, be sure to rinse off as soon as possible and change into fresh clothes. Also, remember to keep a towel on hand to wipe off sweat during the activity.
4. Keep your skin moisturized
Just as we want to keep ourselves hydrated by drinking water, we also want to be sure to keep our largest organ, our skin, hydrated topically.
An organic manuka skin-soothing cream is a part of our HKHM Eczema Jump Start Kit, which is safe for even the most sensitive skin.
Pro Tip: Keep lotions or gels in the refrigerator so they’re cool to the skin when you apply them!
5. Protect your skin from the sun
Don’t skip the sunblock! For prolonged sun exposure, apply SPF 30+. We like the Babo Botanicals mineral-based sunscreen.
It’s made with natural zinc oxide, and it’s vegan, fragrance-free, water-resistant, and safe for all ages and those with sensitive skin.
For added sun protection for your little ones, use a rash guard (ideal if they’ll be in and out of water throughout the day!).
A Different Approach to Treating Eczema
In our practice, we treat eczema by addressing the skin microbiome (in particular, we treat the excess staph bacteria that contributes to persistent flares), while also addressing the gut microbiome.
A great place to start this summer for extra support with eczema is our free Eczema Jump Start Guide. It outlines the holistic approach we’ve used to help hundreds of children.
If your child has significant eczema and you’ve tried everything (i.e. you have a bag full of prescription topicals that no longer work), a more individualized approach with our office may be a great next step for your family.
I encourage you to book a 15-minute informational call with our team to see if you are a good fit for our Private Practice.
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