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Summer months can be dreadful for patients with atopic dermatitis. The chlorine, heat, and humidity can lead to flares. Furthermore, noncompliance with skin care regimens because of changing summer routines, travel, and the use of hotel products can exacerbate even the calmest skin disease.
Share these tips with your patients to help them keep their atopic skin under control in the summer heat, and stop flares before they start.
• Rinse the skin well after swimming. Chlorine and saltwater can dry out the skin. Showers after swimming in chlorinated pools can help retain the skin’s natural oils.
• Avoid hot tubs. Cracks and fissures in atopic skin can become infected in hot tubs with Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. Advise your atopic patients to avoid hot tubs, even if they claim the tubs have been cleaned.
• Bring your own products. Many soaps and shower gels available in hotels and resorts are extremely drying, and may contain ingredients that could irritate atopic skin.
• Don’t switch from thick creams to thin lotions just because it is summer. Remind your patients that a thin lotion does not provide the same occlusive and humectant properties as thicker creams, although they are not as easy to apply, and can feel thick and sticky on the skin with humidity.
• In case of an active eczema flare, topical steroids should be used and sun exposure should be avoided. Topical steroids are the most effective treatment when used correctly. However, any occurrence of hypopigmentation as a result of their use becomes more evident if the skin tans around the area of treatment.
• Wear physical sunscreen. This seems obvious, but most chemical blockers – even the formulations made for babies – can burn on cracked, inflamed skin. Instead, stress to your patients that they use a physical blocker made of pure titanium dioxide or zinc oxide on inflamed skin.
• Oral steroids and sun do not mix. Oral steroids can be potent photosensitizers. If they are needed, UV exposure should be avoided.
Dr. Talakoub and Dr. Wesley are co-contributors to a monthly Aesthetic Dermatology column in Skin & Allergy News. Dr. Talakoub is in private practice at McLean (Va.) Dermatology Center. Dr. Wesley practices dermatology in Beverly Hills, Calif. This month’s column is by Dr. Talakoub.
Summer months can be dreadful for patients with atopic dermatitis. The chlorine, heat, and humidity can lead to flares. Furthermore, noncompliance with skin care regimens because of changing summer routines, travel, and the use of hotel products can exacerbate even the calmest skin disease.
Share these tips with your patients to help them keep their atopic skin under control in the summer heat, and stop flares before they start.
• Rinse the skin well after swimming. Chlorine and saltwater can dry out the skin. Showers after swimming in chlorinated pools can help retain the skin’s natural oils.
• Avoid hot tubs. Cracks and fissures in atopic skin can become infected in hot tubs with Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. Advise your atopic patients to avoid hot tubs, even if they claim the tubs have been cleaned.
• Bring your own products. Many soaps and shower gels available in hotels and resorts are extremely drying, and may contain ingredients that could irritate atopic skin.
• Don’t switch from thick creams to thin lotions just because it is summer. Remind your patients that a thin lotion does not provide the same occlusive and humectant properties as thicker creams, although they are not as easy to apply, and can feel thick and sticky on the skin with humidity.
• In case of an active eczema flare, topical steroids should be used and sun exposure should be avoided. Topical steroids are the most effective treatment when used correctly. However, any occurrence of hypopigmentation as a result of their use becomes more evident if the skin tans around the area of treatment.
• Wear physical sunscreen. This seems obvious, but most chemical blockers – even the formulations made for babies – can burn on cracked, inflamed skin. Instead, stress to your patients that they use a physical blocker made of pure titanium dioxide or zinc oxide on inflamed skin.
• Oral steroids and sun do not mix. Oral steroids can be potent photosensitizers. If they are needed, UV exposure should be avoided.
Dr. Talakoub and Dr. Wesley are co-contributors to a monthly Aesthetic Dermatology column in Skin & Allergy News. Dr. Talakoub is in private practice at McLean (Va.) Dermatology Center. Dr. Wesley practices dermatology in Beverly Hills, Calif. This month’s column is by Dr. Talakoub.
Summer months can be dreadful for patients with atopic dermatitis. The chlorine, heat, and humidity can lead to flares. Furthermore, noncompliance with skin care regimens because of changing summer routines, travel, and the use of hotel products can exacerbate even the calmest skin disease.
Share these tips with your patients to help them keep their atopic skin under control in the summer heat, and stop flares before they start.
• Rinse the skin well after swimming. Chlorine and saltwater can dry out the skin. Showers after swimming in chlorinated pools can help retain the skin’s natural oils.
• Avoid hot tubs. Cracks and fissures in atopic skin can become infected in hot tubs with Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. Advise your atopic patients to avoid hot tubs, even if they claim the tubs have been cleaned.
• Bring your own products. Many soaps and shower gels available in hotels and resorts are extremely drying, and may contain ingredients that could irritate atopic skin.
• Don’t switch from thick creams to thin lotions just because it is summer. Remind your patients that a thin lotion does not provide the same occlusive and humectant properties as thicker creams, although they are not as easy to apply, and can feel thick and sticky on the skin with humidity.
• In case of an active eczema flare, topical steroids should be used and sun exposure should be avoided. Topical steroids are the most effective treatment when used correctly. However, any occurrence of hypopigmentation as a result of their use becomes more evident if the skin tans around the area of treatment.
• Wear physical sunscreen. This seems obvious, but most chemical blockers – even the formulations made for babies – can burn on cracked, inflamed skin. Instead, stress to your patients that they use a physical blocker made of pure titanium dioxide or zinc oxide on inflamed skin.
• Oral steroids and sun do not mix. Oral steroids can be potent photosensitizers. If they are needed, UV exposure should be avoided.
Dr. Talakoub and Dr. Wesley are co-contributors to a monthly Aesthetic Dermatology column in Skin & Allergy News. Dr. Talakoub is in private practice at McLean (Va.) Dermatology Center. Dr. Wesley practices dermatology in Beverly Hills, Calif. This month’s column is by Dr. Talakoub.
