Eczema in the Summer

While many parents don't find a specific trigger for their child's eczema, it is sometimes worse in the summer, when kids swim and are outside in the heat sweating.

There is no cure for eczema and the main treatments are aimed at controlling and preventing inflammation and itching and avoiding triggers.

Other treatments include frequent bathing and hydrating of the skin, liberal use of moisturizers and lubricants, and the use of steroid creams and new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, like Elidel and Protopic, for flare ups.

During the summer, you may have to take extra steps to keep your child's eczema under control, including:

• help your kids keep cool and avoid sweating a lot by avoiding playing outside when the sun is at its hotest (10am to 4pm)
• wash chlorine off your child's body with soap or a soap substitute and then quickly (within 3-5 mintues) apply a moisturizer. If you can't bath or wash off the chlorine, at least apply a moisturizer right away as soon as he gets out of the water, whether he has been in a pool, the ocean or a lake.
• help control itching as soon as it starts
• experiment with sunscreens and insect repellents to find one that works well and doesn't trigger your child's eczema. In general, avoid gels, consider using a titanium dioxide based sun block, and look for products that are designed for kids with sensitive skin. If your child can't tolerate using a sunscreen or insect repellent, take other steps, like wearing a hat, long pants and long sleeve shirts to avoid sunburn and bug bites.
• consider avoiding greasy moisturizers which some people think are too occlusive and can obstruct sweat ducts and make eczema worse in the summer. For many kids, these moisturizers, like Vaseline and Aquaphor, work great though, even in the summer.

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