Playing Sport with AD

An important way to keep on top of our physical and mental well-being is to partake in sports activities. This however can be trickier with AD. Check out the article below for some tips that may help make playing sport a little easier for you or your child.

The ability to play sport is something that can easily be taken for granted however, if you or your son or daughter suffers with eczema, playing a sport you love may, at times seem more like a chore than a hobby. Eczema foundation found that just 78% of children with atopic dermatitis (AD) played sport, compared to 92% of their class mates². There may be something preventing you or your child from participating in sport and so we have complied some tips below which may help you or your child carry on playing the sport you love, whilst taking care of your/their skin.

Before:

1. Clothes:

The clothes you decide to wear are important as clothing is known to be a trigger for eczema. Wear loose fitting, cotton clothes and ensure that all new clothes have been washed using a fragrance and dye free detergent³. Avoid synthetics such as polyester and spandex around tight areas as these materials are poorly breathable⁴.

You may find that the seam of clothes is an irritant for your or your child’s skin. If this is the case, have you considered covering the seam in a material such as silk? Finally, if possible, dry your clothes in a drier, rather than a clothesline as the clothes will be softer, reducing the risk of irritation³.

2. Moisturise:

It is advised to moisturise an hour before exercise with a light applicant ointment as this will protect your skin⁴. Whilst you may reach for the deodorant before you exercise, it is important to note that it is recommended to only apply fragrance free deodorant after you exercise as deodorant can interact with sweat and result in irritation².

During:

If you suffer from an intense itch during exercise, you are all too familiar with the sensation, but do you know why it happens?

The answer can be due to multiple reasons! Two of the main culprits are heat and sweat. Sudden changes in body temperature have been shown to cause a flare-up and lead to an itch. To try and combat extreme changes in temperature, our body sweats. Sweat contains sodium which when comes in to contact with skin, will dehydrate it, causing stinging and itching. This is significantly worse for those with eczema².

Tips to reduce itch include; avoiding exercise in direct sunlight to avoid over-heating, training progressively so your body can build-up to a higher intensity, opt for exercises where the sweat can evaporate properly and have a towel that you can gently wipe away any sweat carefully^2,4. Another very important tip is to stay hydrated. You should drink plenty of cold water to replace the water lost when sweating and ensure you take regular breaks to re-hydrate⁴. Reduce the intensity when you feel yourself over-heating and avoid high-intensity exercise during a flare^2,3.

After:

If you feel like you’ve over-heated, a cool compression wrap may be good to cool your body down and calm the itch⁴. You should also aim to shower as soon as possible after exercise to remove the sweat from your/your child’s skin. Opt for a warm (not hot) shower and use a cleanser that you know works for your skin. Once out the shower, gently pat (avoid rubbing) yourself/your child dry with a clean, dry towel and moisturise immediately afterwards³.

Finally, find what works for you:

It is widely acknowledged that exercise is a great stress-reliever and therefore, whether you or your child is noticeably stressed or not, being able to exercise is a great way to combat these feelings. There is no one way to exercise if you suffer with AD. You may find some sports work well for others but not for yourself, or even what you can and can’t participate may vary depending on if you’re having a flare up⁴. What is important is you find the right sport for you or your child because why should your AD stop you from doing something you love?

Travel

Traveling. Something many of us love to experience and can provide much-needed relief from day-to-day life. Whilst it can be a challenge for many of us, travelling with atopic dermatitis (AD) can be even harder! It is important you do your own research which is more tailored to the trip you’re taking however, keep reading to discover some general tips that may be helpful to you.

Trips in the sun

Whether you’re taking a trip during the summer holidays or are escaping the cold winters, holidays in the sun are a popular choice. The sun can have different effects depending on the person. For some, the sun will improve their skin whilst for others, the humidity will make it worse⁵. Remember, you need to protect your skin all year round. Equally, if you’re visiting a country close to the equator, the UV radiation will be higher and therefore, even if it is cloudy, you must protect your skin with sunscreen⁶.

Sunscreen however may come with its own challenges if you or your child suffers with AD. Sunscreen comes in two broad types: chemical absorbers and mineral based reflectors. Mineral based reflectors tend to be less irritating for most people with eczema although it is important to note that what works for most may not work well for you. Therefore, it is important to patch test any new product or one you haven’t used for a year⁶. Also, aim to choose a fragrance-free product to reduce irritation further⁵.

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Golden Rules for Sunscreen⁶

• Patch test if it is a new product or you haven’t used it for over a year. Apply a small amount for 5 consecutive days
• Sunscreen can easily be removed unintentionally (through sweating or swimming) so you should apply liberally and frequently
• Babies and young children should have sunscreen applied every 2 hours
• The sun is drying. Apply emollients 30 mins before applying sunscreen
• Use smooth, downward strokes when applying sunscreen to avoid irritation

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Holiday tips:

If you like to participate in a lot of sports while on holiday, why not check out our sports article here for some top tips on how to lessen the irritation caused by sport, allowing you to discover your adventurous side whilst on holiday.

If, however you fancy relaxing by the pool, there are still some precautions you can take as swimming can lead to skin dryness. The two main reasons for skin dryness are a build up of calcium or the pH of the pool being above pH7. Some tips for in and around the swimming pool include:

1. Spending a short amount of time in the water at first to see how your/your child’s skin handle the water
2. Apply emollient like normal (and sunscreen if an outside pool)
3. Wash immediately after swimming before re-applying the emollients
4. Be cautious! Chlorinated fumes around the pool may still affect your/your child’s skin even if not directly in the water
5. Consider swimsuits/swim clothes, they will protect the skin more and will help if you/your child is self-conscious⁷

Winter Holidays:

For many, cold weather with negatively affect their skin⁸, with an increased risk of flares in cold and dry weather⁹. This means that winter holidays may come with additional challenges however, this doesn’t have to stop you. Some tips include aiming to keep the room temperature at the normal temperature you are used to and not sitting too close to the heat source. Although tempting to keep them closed, open the windows at certain periods to allow for ventilation. Consider switching to an emollient (like an ointment) that is better for harsher conditions and pay attention to the skin that is exposed⁸. Finally, if you are surrounded by snow, sunscreen is essential as the snow is a strong sun reflector⁶.

For more information, check out the National Eczema Society website which contains many hints and tips to help you travel with confidence!