In previous blog posts, we’ve explained the connection between eczema and food. But your child’s diet isn’t the only thing that needs to be managed. Many children with the skin condition find it difficult to play outside with friends for a prolonged period of time. It becomes even more of a challenge when kids grow older and join sports teams. There’s no question that the frustration and discomfort of eczema can get in the way of exercise. How does your child avoid overheating, irritation, and flare-ups when they’re just trying to have fun? To begin with, the regulation of body temperature plays a major role for those with eczema. This is where sweat comes into play.
Humans sweat to moderate our temperature. In this article from the National Eczema Association, John Fuller mentions that perspiration is largely made up of water, urea, lactate, as well as minerals such as sodium. For children with eczema, exercise can dry out the skin through the loss of fluids, while the sodium in sweat further dehydrates the skin. It’s not uncommon for exercise to trigger constant scratching as the skin surface temperature increases in someone with eczema. That said, here are six tips for exercising with eczema:
Many parents worry that excessive physical activity will do nothing but wreak havoc on their child’s skin. That’s why it’s important to take a step back at times and remember the countless benefits of exercise on the body and mind. For example, regular exercise helps control weight, reduce stress, and release endorphins. Not only that, but there’s nothing that quite compares to playing sports and learning valuable life lessons that come along the way in competition. Here’s our advice: Don’t prevent your child from exercising just because of their eczema. Granted, you may have to adapt what they do or work with them in compromising on the frequency and intensity. But don’t underestimate the power of exercise. In fact, exercise can be used to release stress and improve mood, which ultimately benefits the skin as well.
There is no ideal type of exercise for children with eczema. That’s why it’s best to encourage your son or daughter to experiment with a variety of exercise routines. At first, consider low-impact exercise such as tai chi, Pilates, or yoga, which improve mobility, muscle strength, and reduce stress. Don’t give up on encouraging your child to stay active, either. There may be instances where your child deals with the occasional flare-up. But as long as you have an effective plan of action and educate them prior to beginning a sport or other physical activity, things should go smoothly.
At Soothems, we want your child to enjoy exercising and having fun with friends. That’s where our therapeutic clothing for eczema comes into play. We are proud to have an extensive selection of eczema clothing, including the following:
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A Natural Remedy for Many Health Issues – Including Eczema
Not an old wives tale, baking soda is truly the original cure-all and natural remedy for solving many common household problems and health issues including helping relieve the symptoms of atopic dermatitis/eczema.
If you have any questions regarding the fit of an item, please contact Soothems at wecare@soothems.com or call +612.601.0700, we are happy to help.
Using soft tape, measure around the head just above the ears, across the forehead to determine circumference.
TEWLTect smart fabric has a generous amount of stretch.
Using soft tape, measure around your head, from the center of your forehead, keeping tape straight and parallel to the floor. Measure around the fullest part.