Most people think eczema is a winter problem, and for many, it is. The weather gets colder, the heating goes on, and suddenly everyone’s talking about dry skin again. But for plenty of people with eczema on hands, summer can be just as frustrating. Sometimes more so.
You spend more time outdoors because the weather is nicer. You sweat more. You wash your hands more often. You go swimming. You garden. You apply suncream several times a day. It’s enough to make your eczema complain when you’d rather be making the most of the fine, blue, cloudless skies.
None of those things are bad. They’re just part of summer. The trouble is that when they’re all happening at once, eczema-prone hands don’t always appreciate it. Here we show you how to get through summer in comfort.
Why Summer Can Be Hard With Eczema On Hands
One of the biggest misconceptions about eczema is that heat should make it better.
After all, winter is usually blamed for dry skin, so surely warm weather should help. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work that way with eczema on hands.
For many people, heat and sweat can leave their hands feeling itchy and uncomfortable. Skin that already has a weakened barrier often suffers more quickly when it comes to additional irritation, and summer tends to throw plenty of potential irritants into the mix.
Think about a typical summer day. You might put on suncream in the morning, spend time outside, sweat a bit, wash your hands before lunch, do some gardening in the afternoon, then wash your hands again before dinner. Perhaps there’s a trip to the beach or a swim somewhere in between.
Individually, none of those things seem particularly significant. Together, they can leave your hands feeling tight, red and angry.
Practical Ways To Keep Your Hands Comfortable
The good news is that managing eczema on your hands during summer doesn’t have to involve a whole new hand-care regimen. Sure, there are products that help, but mostly, it’s just about what you do at the basic level that helps.
Tip #1 – Keep On Top Of Moisturization
When the skin on your hands feels comfortable, it’s easy to forget about moisturizing. The problem is that the summer heat and the extra activities have a habit of making them drier, bit by bit – and by the time you start feeling it in how dry or irritated they are, you’re already playing catch-up.
Rather than waiting until your hands get more irritated, try (if you don’t already) to make it part of your daily routine, meaning your skin is as strong and healthy as it can be.
Tip #2 – Don’t Leave Chlorine Or Salt Water Sitting On Your Skin
Whether you’ve been swimming lengths at your local pool or just cooling off in the sea, it’s worth rinsing your hands with fresh water afterwards. Chlorine and salt can both leave skin feeling dry, but a quick rinse followed by another application of eczema relief lotion is often enough to help your hands recover more comfortably.
Tip #3 – Wear Gloves For Gardening
When you’ve got hand eczema, gardening can give you problems. However, the yard still needs caring for, right? So, if you have to do gardening, be sure to put some garden gloves on, as it will help keep the soil and all those other irritants away.
Once you’re done, give your hands a gentle wash (because your hands will likely have sweated) and again, reapply your moisturizer.
Tip #4 – Be Selective About What Goes On Your Hands
Summer usually means more products coming into contact with your skin. Sunscreen, hand sanitiser, insect repellent, aftersun, and various toiletries all make an appearance at some point in proceedings.
That said, if your hands already feel sensitive because of eczema, you really need to be careful about what you put on your hands. Use products aimed at sensitive skin wherever possible, just so your hands stand a fighting chance of staying comfortable.
Tip #5 – Get Yourself a Good Colloidal Oatmeal Eczema Relief Lotion
Even with the best intentions, summer can be demanding on your hands, but it can be so much easier for your hands to cope with everything when you have a bottle of colloidal oatmeal eczema relief lotion to use.
As well as giving your hands the hydration they need, they’re also good at locking it in. Colloidal oatmeal lotions can also help to reduce inflammation, meaning you can end up feeling much more comfortable throughout even the hottest days.
Don’t Let Eczema On Hands Dictate Your Summer
Having eczema on your hands really doesn’t have to dictate what you’re allowed to do on warm, sunny days. Most of the things we’ve seen here that cause problems during the warmer months are completely normal daily activities, which means managing them is often about preparation rather than avoidance.
By staying on top of moisturizing, protecting your hands where possible, and using an eczema relief lotion as part of your routine, you can spend less time thinking about your skin and more time enjoying everything summer has to offer.
