Expert Tips: How to Ease Eczema Flare-ups This Summer
If you have eczema, summertime can be a challenge. The combination of outdoor activities, water, and increased sweating can lead to flare-ups. Here are some tips from eczema experts on how to ease eczema flare-ups this summer:
Staying Cool is the priority. This can’t be emphasized enough!
Freeze some water-soaked washcloths for the moments when you begin perspiring. You can also take some along to keep in your cooler (in a Ziploc bag or container). This serves two purposes: cooling your body temperature down and keeping your skin hydrated.
Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to keep skin hydrated. Replacing the loss of water through physically active and sweat is essential. Foods rich in water and anti-oxidants like watermelon, peaches, cucumber, apples, and celery.
Here are the water levels for some of these nutritious foods:
- Cucumber
Because it is 95% water, one serving of cucumber has only 8 calories. Cucumber is also a good source of fiber, vitamin K, and vitamin A. - Tomatoes
Tomatoes are a rich source of water as one cup of sliced raw tomato contains 170.14 g of water. - Watercress
The high amount of water in watercress is surely one of the reasons this vegetable topped the list of “powerhouse fruits and vegetables” compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. - Apples
Per a 100-gram serving, apples have 85.56 g of water, making them a perfect snack for staying hydrated. - Celery
Celery is a healthy vegetable that is made mostly of water. A single cup of it contains 115 g of water. - Lettuce
Water makes up over 95% of raw lettuce. In addition to helping you stay hydrated, lettuce helps with bone strength, vision, and sleep. - Watermelon
This juicy fruit gets its name from containing 92% of water serving as a great snack for staying hydrated. Watermelon is also power packed with beneficial nutrients and is a great source of antioxidants. - Peaches
Although the fiber content in peaches makes them a filling food, they are made up of 85% water. - Broth
Broth is a soup base often made by simmering bones in water with seasonings. You can add vegetables to broth to make it extra hydrating. - Zucchini
One cup of zucchini contains 90% water and contains 1 g of fiber that keeps you feeling full.
Protect your skin before heading outdoors. Apply our Ziziphus Concentrated Cream on clean skin to protect and create a barrier from sweat, germs, and heat. Follow up with an ultra-mild, moisturizing Sunscreen.
Do not take hot showers! After a long day out in the heat, help your skin by showering with only cool or lukewarm water. Hot showers will only exasperate your delicate skin and worsen your eczema. We recommend using our Vegan Solid Face & Body Wash to gently remove sweat and germs, while still keeping your skin soft.
Wear lightweight clothes, preferably long sleeve! Choose clothes made of cotton or other breathable materials to keep your skin cool and dry. Any clothing that causes you to sweat will only make matters worse.
SOURCES:
Web MD: “Foods high in water.”
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: “Defining Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables: A Nutrient Density Approach”
FoodData Central: “Celery, raw”
Harvard Women’s Health Watch: “What’s the scoop on bone broth?”
Mayo Clinic: “Dehydration.”
Mayo Clinic: “Water: Essential to your body.”
Mayo Clinic: “Water: How much should you drink every day?”
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine: Dietary Reference Intakes for Water, Potassium, Sodium, Chloride, and Sulfate.”
NutritionData: “Squash, summer, zucchini, includes skin, raw Nutrition Facts & Calories.”
Nutrition Value: “Apples, with skin, raw.”
The World’s Healthiest Foods: “What’s New and Beneficial About Tomatoes.”