Dr. Agustina Segurado told us that atopic dermatitis affects 8 or 10 percent of the child population, and that although it usually begins in the first months of life, the incidence and prevalence decrease as children grow up. This is a benign skin disease, although its evolution is chronic.
At this point of the year, we are already beginning to worry about protect our children's skin against UV radiation, while we intend to take advantage of the benefits of the sun. It is known that although the sun is positive for atopic skin, inadequate exposure is a risk that can lead to damage to the skin of children: spots, burns or premature aging.
Given its condition as a chronic disease, it would be difficult for this dermatitis to have a positive evolution just by letting time pass, therefore medical control and proper care will be necessary. Do we know how to take care of these skins when summer comes? The withdrawal of cold temperatures and the improvement of various infectious processes typical of autumn and winter (colds, flu, etc.), act benevolently on the skin and atopic; but in return, sweat, moisture, chlorine from the pools arrive, and as we have pointed out, prolonged and uncontrolled exposures to radiation.
The importance of daily hygiene
In summer it is even more necessary to keep the atopic skin clean, thus avoiding irritation from sweat or moisture, and dryness by keeping the chlorine in the pool attached to the epidermis. Depending on the circumstances, two daily showers may be necessary, and since we are talking about children, perfectly one of them can be given without soap (they will be clean equally). Of course, 'good if brief twice good', so a short time washing the skin with warm water is enough. Do not forget to use if necessary the special soap recommended by the pediatrician or dermatologist, or hydrate well after each shower, allowing time for the skin to absorb the cream before dressing the child.
When our child has atopic dermatitis, we know that the clothes must be made of cotton (better 100 percent, especially underwear) because avoid possible damage caused by synthetic fibers (poor perspiration, irritations). To wash these clothes we will look for non-ironic soaps (or we will use traditional formulations), and we will never use softeners. For footwear we will opt first for the fabric, and we will ensure that it has openings so that the feet are well aerated.
Beach or pool?
In case we spend part of the summer soaked in chlorinated water, we can shower children with atopic skin before going (and we will also spread barrier creams through the affected areas), and then to remove traces of chlorine. Sea water it will usually have more beneficial effects, but not for everyone, therefore we can be guided by our experience knowing the response of the skin of our children.
Of course, in addition to taking into account the hours to avoid sunbathing, let's be cautious and look for sunscreen creams with high sun factor and no perfumes, parabens, preservatives or perfumes. Otherwise we expose ourselves to phototoxic reactions. In this link, and in this one, you will find the main recommendations for using sun protection correctly.
After bathing, or showering, and before hydration, it is convenient dry gently to avoid damaging the oily layer of the skin.
All these recommendations will accompany the treatment (if any) prescribed by the doctor
I have to comment that inside the house, it is preferable to follow the tips to keep it fresh, rather than using air conditioning, which in any case will dry the skin. As you see caring for atopic skin in summer is not complicated, as long as we don't neglect the routine.
Images | Ryan Hyde, Jenny Downing In Peques and More | Atopic dermatitis: definition, causes, symptoms and treatment
