Here are some tips to avoid eczema flare ups in the summertime

1. Keep hydrated: try to help your toddlers and children drink enough water!
   • A helpful trick to figure out how much water your child needs is the number of 8 oz cups is equal to their age in years
   • 1 year old needs 1 cup of 8 oz, and a 2 year old needs 2 cups of 8 oz water each day
   • Once your child is 8 years and older, it is 8 cups of 8 oz water a day
2. Keep cool! Try to prevent sweating.
   • Sweating is an irritant for eczema
   • Crank up the AC (my son likes a wide range of 73-75°F)
   • Target playtime outside in morning or late afternoon. Some sunlight is good since UV exposure is helpful to reduce inflammation in eczema.
   • If you see sweat: Use a cold soaked towel to gently wipe off sweat, dry off, and change to dry clothes
3. Try swimming pool with chlorine water
   • Swimming pools are similar to bleach baths which help lower skin inflammation
   • Important: Always be next to your child at all times to prevent drowning
   • Try to limit pool time to 10-15 minutes. Longer times in chlorinated water can dry the skin more.
   • Immediately after pool time, change out of wet clothing, wash off, then moisturize
4. Wear loose fitting clothes (100% cotton).
5. Use a safe sunscreen. Physical blockers are safer then chemical sunscreens. Remember to moisturize first then put on the sunscreen. Read our blog about the best baby sunscreens!
6. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Read our hypoallergic skincare regimen for the purest products.
7. Summer is tree and grass season! Your child may be allergic to these pollen which can trigger eczema flare. See your allergist to get checked for environmental allergies! Read more about our allergen avoidance strategies here.