Going To The Beach With Eczema

With summer on its way, it seems like a good time to talk about how are you can make going to the beach more enjoyable if you have eczema. In the past, going to the beach used to be a thought that was full of dread for me growing up. Because what would usually happen is that it would be super hot, sunny, and dry (I’m originally from Northern California). And while I would enjoy the sun in the moment, no matter how much sunscreen I put on, by the end of the day my skin would have absorbed so much heat that the pores on my face would become enlarged giving off all this excess heat and in turn become very very itchy leaving me sunburned, swollen and bloody by the time I got home.

It was kind of a Catch 22 situation where I did not want to miss out on the fun, but in indulging in the sun as much as my family and peers did I would be left in much suffering. But over time I have found ways to protect myself while I'm out at the beach and enjoy it much more than I ever used to before.

Here are some suggestions for going to the beach when you have eczema so that you spend your time enjoying it more than dreading it.

Slathering on the sunscreen

The first thing that's really important to protect your skin is using a quality and hypoallergenic sunscreen. I only use physical sunscreens that have key ingredients like zinc, titanium dioxide, and even other natural ingredients that have SPF like coconut oil, sunflower oil, and shea butter.

Protection from the sun

Next, it's really helpful to have more literal physical protection from the sun. So having a good wide brim hat in a light color that will reflect the sunlight away from you will make your life a lot more easier at beach. Wearing light-colored clothing will also be key. And having a wide umbrella to hold over you if you don't have a hat or in combination with a hat is also highly recommended.

Hydrating is a must!

Make sure to stay hydrated and cool with ice/cool/room temperature water. If you're going to bring other types of drinks it's best to stick with non-alcoholic, hydrating beverages that have fruit and berries in them like flavored water. Cucumber and lemon are also nice cooling additions to water. Sometimes temperature alone can be the tipping point of whether or not you will feel like scratching at the beach.

Beach buddies

And finally, it really helps to be in good company. Usually, I find having a great time with friends and getting lost in conversation and games or just exploring the terrain can and keep my mind off of my skin and make me to forget or not even detect any sense of itchiness.

Where there's a will, there's a way and if you want to be able to enjoy yourself at the beach, you can always figure out some kind of strategy to help you continue to be a part of the fun!