Mastering Eczema Care: A Guide for Challenging Seasons and Stressful Moments

Managing eczema during certain situations can be difficult. Some children’s eczema flares during changing seasons due to many factors which may include changes in temperature, humidity and even allergies. Other’s may find their eczema flares during periods of stress.

Espere’s Guide to Managing Eczema in Difficult Scenarios

Summer Holidays

Keeping children with eczema comfortable, safe, and healthy during the summer can be a real challenge.

Stay in the shade

Shaded areas will not only help your little one to reduce the need for sunscreen but is also very important when trying to stay cool in warm weather. When not in the shade it is important to wear a hat and cover-up as much as possible to protect delicate areas of skin from harmful UV rays.

Eczema friendly sun cream

We should all aim to wear sun cream outside, even on cloudy days. Unfortunately, this can be difficult for eczema sufferers as many common sun creams contain ingredients that can cause reactions in sensitive skin, such as parabens and fragrances. Also, if you are looking for a skin repair cream with UV protection, check out our Alhydran SPF cream for comprehensive care and relief.

Create a holiday checklist

If travelling for a few days, be sure to create a checklist of things to prepare before you go. It’s easy to forget things like ensuring you have enough prescribed medications for your trip or packing unusual items such as your own sheets and pillowcases if laundry detergent is a trigger.

Stay cool

Keeping common areas such as the car, living room and your child’s bedroom cool will help minimise skin irritation. DermaSilk Therapeutic Clothing can help your child stay cool, even in warm places. It is made from sericin-free silk which is knitted so airflow is not restricted. This, unlike standard silk, allows free movement of air meaning overheating is prevented. It also has a greater ability to absorb and disperse moisture than cotton, making it a natural candidate for an atopic friendly fabric.

Christmas and Wintertime

Does your child’s eczema worsen in winter? Colder weather can aggravate eczema, extreme temperatures are a common cause of flare-ups. However, temperature isn’t the only reason eczema is triggered at this time of year.

Food Allergies

Ingredients that can trigger an eczema flare-up in some individuals such as cheese, milk, eggs, wheat, and nuts are used year-round but are particularly popular at Christmas. It’s important to make sure friends and family are aware of your child’s triggers and that these foods are kept out of reach of kids wandering hands.

Clothing

Festive outfits such as Christmas jumpers and dressing up clothes are often made from fabrics that irritate sensitive skin. If these items are unavoidable aim to dress your child in a protective base layer of smooth fabric such as DermaSilk Therapeutic Clothing. With DermaSilk you don’t need to worry about overheating when dressing in layers thanks to the way the sericin-free silk is knitted, allowing airflow between the fabric and the skin.

Christmas Trees

The needles on real Christmas trees can also be a trigger for eczema-prone skin. The oil terpene found in some plants, including natural Christmas trees can cause contact allergies. Artificial trees are a better alternative but be sure to wash them down to remove any reaction-triggering dust.

Central Heating

Many people overheat their homes in the winter. This reduces humidity and dries the skin. Not what you want with an eczema sufferer around. It’s still ok to have the heating on but be careful not to turn the heat up too much when it’s cold outside. Instead, set the thermostat at a cool, comfortable temperature of around 20°C.

Christmas Presents

Toiletries are a popular Christmas gift but can contain many eczema-triggering ingredients that can dry out the skin. To avoid receiving gifts that may go to waste, agree with friends and family to share wish lists, and create a list with your child that contains eczema safe products such as specific toiletries and clothing that you know is safe for your child, toys or even an experience day that you can enjoy as a family.

Stressful Periods

Anxiety and stress are common triggers of eczema flare-ups. This is because when we experience a stressful situation, the brain sends a distress signal which causes the body to enter fight or flight mode, prompting the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol. Too much cortisol can suppress the immune system and cause an inflammatory response in the skin, which is bad news for children with eczema.

Friends and family providing support for a person suffering with eczema

Identifying potential areas of stress in your child’s life can be a good place to start in helping find ways to prevent it from having a detrimental effect on their eczema. These may include: