13 May Summer is Eczema Flareup Season
If you suffer from eczema, everyone else might be stripping down to shorts and tank tops for summer as you worry about flare-ups and people asking you, “What is that?” Don’t worry—at RefinedMD, we have in-office treatments and medical-grade topicals for home to help you get your eczema under control.
Winter months are often the most challenging for eczema patients thanks to dry air and cold temperatures, but at least the flare-ups can be hidden under long sleeves. However, summer months have high humidity and sunshine that create the perfect environment for flare-ups, too. It is not uncommon to itch more in the summer than winter for eczema sufferers. Remember that sweat is an eczema trigger, and you simply sweat more in summer months. It’s how we control our body temperature. Sweat is mostly water, but also contains sodium, calcium, copper, lactic acid, potassium, nickel, chromium, urea, and iron. This can irritate the skin, causing an eczema flare-up.
Summer Eczema Problems
An excess of water, whether from sweat or swimming, can also irritate eczema. Add in hot temperatures, which cause the blood vessels to dilate, and itching increases as inflammatory cells gather at a faster clip. Eczema patients may want to put cold packs on their eczema breakouts in order to discourage a larger flare-up and provide relief.
Summer months are prime for blocked sweat glands, too. With two sweat glands in the body, eccrine and apocrine, there are plenty of opportunities for blockage. In severe cases, a rash called miliaria may occur on the back and may lead to itching and triggering eczema.
For many eczema patients, there are activities that only take place in the summer months which provide perfect opportunities for eczema to appear. This includes swimming in chlorine-rich pools. Chlorine dries the skin, and the chemicals in pools are irritating. Wearing sunscreen more diligently is always a good idea, but popular ingredients like oxybenzone can cause a photoallergic reaction. Eczema patients should only use certain sunscreens recommended by their dermatologist.
Help Your Skin This Summer
Skin care experts play a crucial role in helping patients control their eczema by providing personalized treatment plans, education, and ongoing support. Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by redness, itching, and dryness. While there is no cure for eczema, dermatologists can offer a range of treatments and management strategies to help patients effectively control their symptoms and improve their quality of life.
One of the primary ways dermatologists help patients manage eczema is by conducting a comprehensive evaluation to assess the severity of the condition and identify potential triggers. By examining the patient’s medical history, conducting a physical examination, and possibly performing additional tests, dermatologists can gain valuable insights into the underlying factors contributing to the patient’s eczema symptoms. This allows them to develop a customized treatment plan tailored to the individual needs of the patient.
Getting the Help You Need for Eczema
Treatment for eczema typically involves a combination of skin care practices, topical medications, and lifestyle modifications. Dermatologists may prescribe emollients and moisturizers to help hydrate the skin and repair the skin barrier, reducing dryness and itching. Additionally, topical corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and control flare-ups. In cases of severe eczema, systemic medications such as oral corticosteroids or immunosuppressants may be needed to manage symptoms effectively.
In addition to medication, dermatologists can educate patients about proper skincare practices to help prevent flare-ups and minimize irritation. This may include recommendations for gentle cleansers, avoiding harsh soaps and detergents, and using hypoallergenic skincare products. Dermatologists can also provide guidance on managing triggers such as stress, certain foods, environmental allergens, and temperature changes, helping patients make informed lifestyle choices to reduce the frequency and severity of eczema flare-ups.
Loving the Skin You’re In
These experts also play a vital role in monitoring patients’ progress and adjusting treatment plans as needed. Regular follow-up appointments allow dermatologists to assess the effectiveness of treatment, address any concerns or questions the patient may have, and make modifications to the treatment plan as necessary. By closely monitoring the patient’s response to treatment, dermatologists can optimize outcomes and ensure that patients are receiving the most appropriate care for their eczema.
If you suffer from eczema, do your best to keep cool this summer in temperatures around 65 degrees. Avoid being outdoors between 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and be certain to drink at least 60 ounces of water per day. Wipe away sweat immediately, and make sure you have a sunscreen that uses zinc oxide as the base. Contact RefinedMD today for more tips, or for help treating your eczema flare-up—give us a call during business hours or use the online contact form now.