Weather Itch And Eczema
A 2001 study published in the International Journal of Biometeorology investigated the impact of weather conditions on the symptoms of atopic eczema.
The results of the study found that itching was related to the following meteorological factors
- air temperature
- air pressure
- water vapor pressure
The researchers found that eczema patients experienced the greatest relief during weather conditions falling within a range of temperatures and humidity that promotes moisture retention and coolness in the skin.
The results showed that when the weather was too hot and too dry , itching was experienced.
Pool Water Treatment Advisory Group
The PWTAG Code of Practice provides pool operators with a structured plan for the technical operation of their pools. The Code ensures that pools meet quality standards that provide a healthy experience for swimmers. For this reason all UK pools are encouraged to follow it. Following the Code gives an assurance to operators and the public that a pool meets essential healthy pool operational standards. The Code is designed, among other things, to meet the health challenge of one of the greatest threats that the sector has to deal with the chlorine-resistant pathogen, Cryptosporidium.
Check with your local pool that they follow the PWTAG Code.
For more information on swimming pool water, please visit www.pwtag.org.
To obtain the information on this page in a PDF format, please download our Swimming and eczema factsheet, below.
How Can You Reduce Your Skins Exposure To Chlorine
In the bath
To enjoy chlorine-free water on tap, a whole house water filter is an excellent investment. You can find out more about these units here. For a cheaper, travel-friendly solution, the Rainshowr Crystal Ball Bath Dechlorinator is a hugely popular option. Simply hang the ball on the bath tap to allow incoming water to flow over it. Once your bath is full, swirl your Crystal Ball through the water for a few minutes to reduce chlorine and chloramines by 90%! The special KDF filter media inside the ball contains copper, zinc and quartz, which converts chlorine into a harmless chloride.
In the shower
To enjoy a relaxing, chlorine-free shower, you can either use a whole house water filter or one of our dedicated shower filters. Available in a variety of designs and for a range of water pressures, these portable units can be fitted in minutes and remove up to 99% of chlorine . See all of our shower filters here.
In the swimming pool
Aside from wearing a full scuba suit, its almost impossible to avoid contact with chlorine in a public swimming pool. If youre having an eczema flare-up or your skin condition is very severe, you may want to avoid swimming. The National Eczema Society suggests that, if youre swimming in an indoor pool, an emollient ointment applied before swimming can act as an effective barrier. If youre swimming outdoors, they advise applying your emollient approximately 30 minutes before your suncream, to help protect your skin against burning.
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Water Temperatures That Help And Hurt
Baby swimming classes are often held in warm temperatures, which are usually ideal for infants but not for eczema sufferers. Health experts warn that this can be drying to skin and worsen existing symptoms, while cooler water can be extremely soothing towards angry skin. Before taking your child, it is always worthwhile ringing the centre to find out the pools temperature.
Use A Protective Wetsuit
A baby wetsuit is ideal for preventing children from scratching vulnerable areas of their body. Another benefit is that it will stop any barrier cream that is applied underneath the suit from being rubbed off or absorbed by the fabric. Equally, such suits allow parents to keep a firm grip of their child in the water. A wetsuit also helps protect the skin from abrasions due to the material on swimming floats, and from being in contact with other external irritants.
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Could Chlorine Be Making Your Eczema Worse
Do you ever find that your skin is red, blotchy, dry or irritated after a bath or shower? Do you avoid swimming pools like the plague because they tend to make your eczema worse?
Chlorine is a strong disinfectant, added to sanitise our water supplies and swimming pools. Its benefits are clear after all, who wants to drink or swim in water filled with bacteria? But when chlorine comes into contact with the skin, it can have a drying, abrasive effect. If you have a skin condition like dryness, eczema or dermatitis, exposure to chlorine could make it even worse.
General Tips For Coping With Eczema
Other tips to manage your eczema include:
- Keep your fingernails short longer nails are more likely to injure your skin when you scratch.
- If the water in your area is hard or alkaline, consider installing a water-softening device.
- Swim in the sea in warm weather whenever you can seawater is known to reduce the symptoms of eczema.
- Use sun exposure for limited periods for example, when swimming at the beach. This can help relieve eczema symptoms. But be aware that ultraviolet radiation is a risk factor for skin cancer and premature ageing of the skin. Also, if sun exposure causes overheating, this can also aggravate eczema.
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Take A Bath Or A Shower
Washing the pool water off of your childs skin right after swimming is a good way to keep the skin healthy. The longer chemicals sit on the skin, the more likely they are to cause rashes, irritations, and eczema flare ups.
While taking a bath or shower ought to be a simple solution, parents of children with eczema already know that nothing regarding the skin is straightforward. Sensitive skin requires a sensitive touch, even when it comes to bathing.
- Avoid a hot shower
Hot water can irritate skin, especially if it is already compromised by chemicals that need to be washed away. Start with a warm shower and gradually make it cooler, making sure to keep the temperature comfortable and not too hot.
- Try adding these soothing items
If you decide to give your child a bath instead of a shower after swimming, try adding apple cider vinegar, oatmeal, or baking soda. In addition to bleach baths, these things have been known to help soothe eczema skin when added to bath water.
How Does Chlorine Aggravate Eczema
The most common reaction to chlorine is irritation of the respiratory tract, which can lead to asthma or breathing difficulties in people who have a compromised respiratory system. But how does chlorine aggravate eczema? That will be through drying of the skin, worsening the itch and inflammation, or causing hives to develop. Read more about chlorine sensitivity here: acaai.org.
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Kids Need To Play In Water
Playing in water is one of the most fun things on Earth. No kid or adult with a young heart should have to be deprived of this joy, as far as possible.
Other options
For an eczema warrior, luck is really on your side if you have access to a saltwater swimming pool, as there are definitely great benefits of swimming in saltwater, so a saltwater pool will be your safest bet.
The second best option would be the sea, if you have easy access to an unpolluted beach, then go for it!
A chlorinated swimming pool would be the last option, if there are really no other choices. But prepare yourself, and gear up for some precautions and remedies.
Precautions if you must swim in a chlorinated pool
- Apply your regular moisturiser, before putting on another layer of sunscreen to protect yourself from the harmful ultraviolet rays. These should preferably be made from natural ingredients that you know you do not react to.
- Right after getting out of the pool, immediately give yourself a good shower to rinse away the chlorine, with just water, or also use your regular soap.
- Then, put on a soothing moisturising cream to ease the itch and dryness. Aloe vera gel works great in offering calming relief. Moogoo irritable skin balm is also our go-to in itchy times.
These are critical steps in taking care of your delicate skin, so do not skip them if you intend to spend a fun-filled day in the water.
A Final Word On Identifying The Cause Of Your Contact Dermatitis Rash
Its important to remember that the rash of contact dermatitis does not necessarily mean you have an allergy. Often, avoiding the product will clear away the rash. If youre not seeing relief and the rash continues to occur or worsens, check with your dermatologist, who can recommend skin allergy testing to find the exact trigger.
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Theres A Right Way And Wrong Way To Bathe And Shower
- A hot shower or bath can be tempting after a vigorous swim. Your muscles may love that sensation, but if you have eczema, your skin probably wont agree. Start with a lukewarm shower and gradually make it cooler.
- Many people with moderate to severe eczema swear by bleach baths. The concentration of chlorine in a bleach bath is roughly equivalent to the amount in a chlorinated swimming pool, so you can get clean while getting an additional dose of chlorines anti-inflammatory and disinfectant properties.
- If youre sensitive to chlorine bleach, try an apple cider vinegar bath instead. Or try adding oatmeal, baking soda, bath oil or salt to your bathwater. While not universally effective, these variations on the bathing theme work well for some people with eczema.
The above guidelines apply to swimmers of every age and with all types of eczema, with the exception of young infants. Consult your pediatric dermatologist for expert guidance about how to protect your infants eczema skin at the pool, lake or beach.
Swimming is summers go-to activity, so take care of the skin youre inbefore, during and after you take the plunge.
Could The Swimming Pool Help Or Hurt My Childs Eczema
The pool is the perfect way to cool off during a hot summer day in Georgia. While it may be surprising to some, the swimming pool can also relieve eczema symptoms. Eczema is a common skin condition in kids, and one that is known for its red, itchy and scaly rash. While most harsh chemicals, soaps and fragrances can irritate eczema, many sufferers find soothing relief in the swimming pool. Heres why!
Not only does the cool temperature of the water provide a soothing sensation to an itchy or inflamed eczema rash, but the chlorine content in the pool can also help a flare up. The chlorine can act as a disinfectant much similar to a diluted bleach bath, which is commonly recommended for eczema that is prone to infection.
Before you let your child with eczema dive in the pool this summer, there are some important things to keep in mind!
When it comes to joining their friends in the swimming pool this summer, your eczema-ridden child may not have to miss out. If you are concerned about the way your child is reacting to chlorine or if you want advice on the best emollients and sunscreens to use, please schedule an appointment with one of our skilled pediatric dermatologists at Olansky Dermatology Associates in Atlanta.
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So What Is The Real Reason Hot Showers Are Detrimental For Eczema = Dehydration
Extreme heat causes perspiration, which may result in chaffing and may further exacerbate skin that is irritated. In water, even a hot bath or shower can nevertheless enable you to sweat. This perspiration can drag bacteria and dirt from the skin to ordinary psoriasis stains.
The transition involving temperatures is yet an additional trigger. Normally, a spa is approximately 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Even when youre in a heated home, stepping within that water is going to be a leap in temperatures. If youre shifting temperatures which radically daily, it is going to take its toll.
Last, bathing may lead to eczema to aggravate, therefore it is important to maintain time to a max of 15 minutes.
Doctors arent certain why warm water offers such relief for eczema flare-ups. Still, theres tons of anecdotal evidence to indicate that hot water provides any aid.
For skin conditions like poison ivy and insect snacks, scalding hot water can be useful since it washes the material causing the response.
Some studies also indicate that warm water can induce the nerves at the affected place. Sadly, this is simply a temporary impact.
Dermatologists and physicians always advocate lukewarm baths. Scalding water may cause burns and potentially raise the danger of disease.
Several things may offer the near-instant relief which warm water does. One of those procedures is known as wet wrap therapy.
Eczema Coping Tips Reducing Skin Irritation
People with eczema have sensitive skin. Irritants such as heat or detergents can easily trigger a bout of eczema.Suggestions for reducing skin irritation include:
- Avoid overheating your skin. Wear several layers of clothing that you can remove, as required, instead of one heavy layer. Dont put too many blankets on your bed and avoid doonas.
- Dont use perfumed bubble bath or bath products labelled medicated.
- Wear soft, smooth materials next to your skin, preferably 100% cotton. Avoid scratchy materials, such as pure wool, polyester or acrylic. You could try a cotton and synthetic mix material this is fine for some people with eczema. Remove labels from clothing.
- Always wear protective gloves when using any type of chemical or detergent. You may want to wear cotton gloves inside rubber or PVC gloves.
- Avoid chlorinated pools. If you have to swim in a chlorinated pool, moisturise your skin well when you get out.
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Can Toxins Get Flushed Out Through Our Sweat
As to the question of whether we can detox through our sweat, most literature will debunk it as a myth that sauna and spa centres want consumers to believe. According to many sources , sweat contains only trace amounts of toxins like heavy metals and BPA from plastics, too small an amount to claim that sweat can help us detox.
Personally, I was not convinced it was a myth, because of what my two eczema warriors had gone through. I will explain this in detail in the following section. So I searched and probed deeper, and found the answer in this paper that summarises the findings from 22 studies about the levels of these four toxic metals in sweat: arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury.
The conclusive answer is: YES, sweat is indeed an elimination route for toxic substances, and sweating deserves consideration for toxic element detoxification. In individuals with high toxicity exposure or body burden, toxic levels in sweat generally match or surpass urine concentrations.
So the thing is, you dont just grab anyone off the street and sample his sweat! Then chances are, you wouldnt find much toxins in there, as the person is generally healthy. The 22 studies summarised in the paper purposefully sampled workers with high levels of toxic exposure, or people with chronic illnesses, or patients with known metal toxicity.
Find A Soothing Cream Or Lotion
Find a soothing cream or lotion that works for you. If youve had eczema for a while, you probably already know that not all hand lotions are effective or even a good idea. This is one of those places where you will want to work with your doctor to find solutions that work for you. Many people just use plain old petroleum jelly while others have had good luck with aloe vera gel or with glycerin.
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Can I Drink Coffee And Tea If I Have Eczema
FAQ: Do I have to give up coffee and tea while Im on The Eczema Diet and if so, what are the eczema-friendly alternatives?
People often ask eczema nutritionist and author Karen Fischer Do I have to give up coffee and tea while on The Eczema Diet or Eczema Detox programs?. She says, yes but don’t worry there are healthier alternatives.
So how do you get your coffee fix without an eczema flare-up?
Karen says While coffee and tea are rich in salicylates and caffeine, an eczema-friendly alternative is decaffeinated coffee without dairy. Favour organic decaf . It tastes the same but without the itch-promoting chemicals.”
If you want your decaffeinated coffee with a non-dairy alternative, eczema sufferers can choose organic soy milk , Ideally, choose refrigerated soy milk over long life soy milk and most importantly ensure it says organic whole soybean so there are no soy isolates or flavourings – soy isolate is the poor quality soy which can contain aluminium.
Organic rice oat or cashew milk is also ok. And if you like it black- use filtered water as tap water contains chlorine which can exacerbate eczema.
Tea time and eczema
What is an eczema safe substitute for tea?
The Eczema Diet and Eczema detox books feature Choco Milk which can be served hot or cold. Simply combine ½ teaspoon of carob powder, 1½ cups of dairy free milk and 1 teaspoon of rice malt syrup if you desire some form of sweetener.
Enjoying an eczema-friendly cuppa and a biscuit…
New Anzac Cookies
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Other Ways That Chlorine Can Enter Your Life
If you find yourself reacting to chlorine, then it is best to be aware of other channels through which chlorine can sneak up on you.
- bath water the tap water that you bath in is most likely chlorinated. If you react to chlorine in the swimming pool, then your skin may be just that bit unhappy from having to face the tiny amount of chlorine everyday from your shower or bath water. It does not get a break, so this can add on to the stress that your immune system is dealing with. Install a shower filter to resolve this issue.
- drinking water if you are sensitive to chlorine, your body may be in a chronically low inflamed state because of daily exposure to that small amount of chlorine in your drinking water. It is a necessary evil in order to protect public health. But your kidneys and liver may have a hard time processing it, which stresses your elimination system, and is very detrimental to your health. So at the receiving end, you could install a filter to your tap, or buy a filtering pitcher. Another option is to drink from bottled water, but that may be rather expensive.
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