Here is an interesting article for those of you who suffer more during the summer!

It is summertime and you ought to be enjoying the sunny weather and all. Yet, for those of you with eczema, that is hardly the case.

Eczema usually worsens this period because of the heat and humidity. You tend to get excessive sweating if you have the most common kind of eczema called atopic eczema or atopic dermatitis. You are inclined to scratch yourself due to the itch caused by the sweat on your skin. Of course, on the reverse end, there are those with eczema that experience greater discomfort during the cold and dry months of winter.

For those of you that get intense itches during summer, here are some tips to help you control your eczema during summer.

It is important to avoid the heat as much as possible in order to avoid overheating. Staying cool will ensure that you sweat very little. Sunlight during summer is strongest between the hours of 10am and 4pm with the 12pm to 2pm period being exceedingly hot especially in the sun. Try to schedule your outdoor activities like lawn or gardening work, walks, etc. either in early morning or in the evening when things are cooler. Apart from the heat, direct sunlight also saps your strength and people with weak immune systems will overheat faster. If you feel tired, then take a nap in the afternoon to recover lost energy.

Itching is not easy to control for everyone. For those who find they just cannot help itching, please keep topical medication close by. However, make sure that you use them as sparingly as possible. There are also some new anti-inflammatory drugs, like Elidel and Protopic that contain no steroids that are very good at controlling eczema.

If you are going to be exposed to direct sunlight, always wear a hat and sunglasses. You have to be extra careful about using sunscreen as they may worsen or irritate your skin if you select the wrong brand or type. You may wish to try out several brands of sunscreens to find the one that best suits your skin. Best is to avoid being in direct sunlight altogether if you are not able to find a suitable sunscreen.

Do not be fooled if you are in water. Sunburn while swimming is usually faster than in dry direct sunlight. So if you are in a pool, ocean, or lake then you may even have to consider wearing a tee-shirt over your bathing suit. Keep your arms and chest areas covered. Even on cloudy days, ultraviolet rays can cause a burn. On cloudy days wear long pants and full-sleeved garments to cover up.

Hot days can also mean make you thirsty. Drink plenty of water to keep your body temperature cool. Unsweetened drinks are best; so plain water is recommended above ice cold lemonade.

It is not easy to keep your eczema itches under control during summer. You may even feel depressed especially when everyone else appears to be enjoying the good weather outside. It is therefore important to take things in stride. Adopt the above tips and you will begin to feel much better!