Your Eczema Summer-Skincare Guide

Not everyone gets to get their glow on during the summer. Because between the scorching heat and sticky humidity, the summer months can wreak havoc on your skin—especially if you’re living with eczema, aka atopic dermatitis.Science backs this up—eczema loves to make an unwanted appearance when temperatures rise, compromising your weakened skin barrier. That, in turn, can trigger an outbreak of even more symptoms, like red or discolored skin rashes; thick, raised patches; and oozing or crusting sores.Not exactly the look you were going for? We hear you. That's why we spoke to leading dermatologists about how to avoid the most common summer eczema triggers—plus ways to find relief from them. Beat the Heat There’s something about the heat that increases an urge to itch. As in, like, constantly. "Heat causes more dilation [in the blood vessels], which can bring more inflammation to the skin," says Mamina Turegano, MD, a dermatologist in Metairie, Louisiana.Find relief: Skip the scratching (we know, easier said than done!) and try this cool trick instead: pop an ice cube in your mouth, Dr. Turegano says, it can help cool you down, constricting those blood vessels and calming your skin.Sunlight Saavy You may have heard that the sun is good for eczema, but the truth is a little more complicated. While sunlight may help suppress inflammation in the skin (that's also why light therapy can improve eczema symptoms), it also contains harmful UV rays that can trigger a sunburn. And a sunburn can be more than just painful—it can also set off a flare, says Dr. Turegano.Find relief: This is where a good sunscreen comes in handy: Choose a mineral-based formula that contains zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, which tend to be less irritating to already sensitive skin than chemical-based ones, she says.Apply your sunscreen at least 15 minutes before you go outside—that's how long it takes for your skin to absorb it. And remember to reapply it every two hours, or right after you go swimming.Sweat Smart There's another reason why heat may exacerbate your eczema: "Sweat itself can irritate the skin, especially if your skin is sensitive," says Dr. Turegano. That's because the substances in it can penetrate the weakened skin barrier and cause itching, according to some research: "We tend to see a lot more symptoms inside the elbow creases and behind the knees," she says—both areas of the body where we tend to sweat easily.If you live with eczema, you may also be less likely to be physically active overall, according to some research—possibly because exercise makes you sweat. But just because you have eczema doesn’t mean you can't work out.Find relief: The right clothes can help you stay dry. "Wear loose-fitting clothing in cotton fabrics," says Dr. Turegano. Cotton is a light, breathable material, and wearing it loose will minimize the constant rubbing of fabric on your skin. "Friction can set off irritation and inflammation," she points out.Skip synthetic fabrics like nylon or polyester, since they can trap more heat and cause more sweating, Dr. Turegano adds. One exception: moisture-wicking fabrics that are specially designed to reduce the amount of sweat that remains on the surface of the skin, says Marisa Garshick, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. Pro tip from Dr. Garshick: Prep your sensitive spots with thick moisturizer or ointment before working up a sweat. "This creates a barrier on the skin that may minimize irritation from sweating." Then, hit the shower ASAP after exercising to reduce the chances of sweat building up on your skin. Pool Party Protocol There's a reason swimming pools always look so clear and refreshing: chemicals, specifically chlorine. Unfortunately, its effects on your skin are quite the opposite, according to the National Eczema Association.Find relief: Rinse in a shower as soon as you're finished swimming, says Dr. Turegano, and if you're slipping into a hot tub, limit your soak to no more than 10 minutes, since much like hot showers they can parch your skin and trigger a bout of symptoms.Another thing: After any and all soaking or bathing, apply moisturizer within three minutes. This will lock in moisture while your skin is still damp, which can help keep it hydrated.Stress Less Hot Girl Summer? Hardly. When temperatures rise, our stress management skills can totally tank— and that's bad news for eczema-prone skin. We're not just talking about not the erratic sleep schedules, or not having enough money to vacation in Biarritz (or even Myrtle Beach). Research shows that when temperatures are high, you're less able to cope with stress and have less control over our emotions. That stress, in turn, can trigger an eczema flare, since it can ramp up inflammation levels in the body and interfere with our skin's ability to repair itself, according to the National Eczema Society.Find relief: Okay, you can't avoid all stress, all the time—but you can take a few minutes to cool down (pun intended) by doing a few breathing exercises or following some guided meditation on your phone.The Treatment Lineup When eczema crashes your summer party there's help available. "If, at any point, eczema is bothersome, it warrants treatment," says Dr. Turegano. That's not just important in the short term, to ease itching or reduce redness—it will also help ward off skin discoloration and thickening skin over the long term, she says.The first line of defense against eczema is usually a prescription topical-steroid medication, which is applied directly to the skin to reduce inflammation. Options here include calcineurin inhibitors, PDE4 inhibitors, and Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors.For those more severe or stubborn cases, there are immunosuppressant medications that help tamp down the amount of inflammation the body produces, which can ease eczema flares.Then there are prescription biologic medications. Biologics work by blocking chemicals in the body called interleukins, which are responsible for triggering inflammation from eczema. Rather than suppressing the immune system on a broader level, biologics work in a more targeted manner—so they usually cause fewer side effects, says Dr. Turegano.Your best bet: Book an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist, who can recommend the best medication for your skin. Clear and comfortable skin can be yours this summer—we promise.

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