Kids love swimming and it’s a great activity to help them stay healthy and get exercise – but what happens when eczema is a problem? For many children, water and heat are both triggers for eczema flare ups, but that doesn’t need that they have to stay out of the pool. There are some simple and effective ways that parents can ready their kids for a swim and care for them afterwards to help keep flare ups, itching, and infections away after every day of play.

Pool Problems

The biggest concerns about swimming with eczema are…

• Chemicals used to cleanse and condition the water
• Weakening skin due to excess hydration
• Cleanliness

Most public pools use a variety of chemicals to help keep the water hygienic and conditioned for use. These chemicals can be extremely aggressive to sensitive skin, and can be just enough to trigger a flare up. A long soak in the pool can overly-hydrate the skin leaving it puffy and weak – another invitation for flare ups. Finally, a pool that isn’t kept clean enough can cause infections or weaken an already stressed immune system leading to local problems or eczema breakouts.

While these issues are serious and do cause problems, there are some simple and effective things you can do to help minimize their effects.

Swimming Easy

To counteract the possible problems that swimming can cause, there are a few simple things you can do before and after the pool…

• Start with a quick shower. Clean skin is better at protecting itself from any germs in the water, and most pools require a pre-swim shower to cut down on detergents that make it into the water.
• If your child has a thick, protective cream that’s been suggested by a doctor, try applying a layer before a swim over any trouble areas. This could provide enough of a barrier to keep skin from absorbing too much water and becoming weak or stressed.
•  Have your child take breaks from the water to allow the skin time to dry. Pat them gently with a soft dry towel upon exit, and encourage them to rest in the shade or enjoy a snack until the skin feels fully dry.
• Once swim time is over, pat the skin dry gently, take a cool, short shower with a mild cleansing soap, and then apply a deep moisturizer to help the skin balance out fluids and heal itself.
• Watch the skin for the next few hours for signs of a flare up. If it looks like your child’s skin is stressed or reactive, rely on ointments and creams to help nourish the skin and try to keep the area dry with corn starch or safe forms of baby powder.

Do you have swimming tips for parents with kids who have eczema? Share with us in the comments below!