Managing Eczema in Warm Weather

Summer is the time for the beach and fun in the sun, isn’t it? If you have a condition called eczema, that isn’t always the case. Eczema is a skin condition that has any number of possible causes. It can be hereditary, a genetic disease passed down from generation to generation or the result of an allergic reaction. Even specific irritants like a skin care product or new laundry detergent can trigger eczema in some patients. Something as simple as changes in temperature or humidity can contribute to an outbreak.

If you have eczema, you are not alone. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) publishes some interesting statistics regarding the disease. Did you know that ten to twenty percent of all children, through age 10, develop the most common form of eczema, “atopic dermatitis?”

Eczema also affects about one-to-three percent of all adults around the world. Even though that equates to at least twenty-eight million people of all ages, in the United States alone, how do you know if you have it? What are the symptoms?

If the hot weather is giving you extremely itchy, dry skin, a rash or patches of dry, red skin that may have scales or crusts, you may have eczema. The A.A.D., on its website, refers to it as “the itch that rashes.” Your Derick dermatologist will be able to tell you for sure.

After you schedule your appointment, following your examination, your dermatologist will be able to confirm if you are actually suffering from eczema. With offices in Barrington, Crystal Lake, Elgin and Arlington Heights, IL, Derick Dermatology has experienced, board-certified dermatologists available at each convenient location to help. If the diagnosis of eczema is confirmed, your Derick dermatologist will formulate an individual treatment plan designed to control your particular condition. Treatment can involve the latest prescription topical medications, creams and lotions.

Your program may even begin with a brand new skin care regimen. Your Derick dermatologist will always provide you with his expert advice so that you can feel comfortable using the medications and treatments that he or she prescribes.

Following and between visits with your Derick dermatologist, there are some common sense things that you can do to avoid or minimize the effects of warm weather on your eczema, starting with your home thermostat. Keep your home as cool as possible to improve your own comfort level. Stay cool and dry during the warm, humid summer weather.

Since eczema can occur on your face, neck and the insides of elbows, knees and ankles, it is important to dress in loose, comfortable clothing. Soft, breathable cotton might be a good choice. When you are cool, you are less likely to sweat which helps keep the symptoms of your eczema from breaking out.

If you are extra itchy, stand in front of a fan or apply cold compresses to your skin. Most importantly, never, never scratch and always, always moisturize. If you are going outside, don’t forget the sunscreen. It may be difficult to find one that doesn’t irritate, but it will be worth the extra effort.

You don’t have to suffer in silence. Relief for your eczema is available whenever you are ready. Your Derick dermatologist is a wealth of information about your eczema during warm weather, with proven treatment options. You have only to ask. Call for your appointment today. You won’t be sorry that you did.