Swimming and skin: What to know if a child has eczema – Harvard Health

A great warm weather activity requires a few adjustments for children who have eczema.

Swimming is a great activity for children. It's good exercise, it's an important safety skill, and it can be a good way to get outside and get some fresh air and sunshine.

But for children with eczema also known as atopic dermatitis swimming can be complicated. Here's how parents can help.

Eczema is an allergic condition of the skin. It can be triggered by allergies to things in the environment, like pollen or cats, as well as by allergies to food. It can also be triggered when chemicals or other things irritate the skin, or when the skin loses moisture, or by excessive sweating.

Swimming in a chlorinated pool can actually be helpful for eczema. Bleach baths, which are a commonly recommended eczema treatment, essentially make the bathtub like a swimming pool.

It also can be good for eczema to get some sun and be in the water. The trick is to optimize the benefits while preventing the possible problems.

Here are some suggestions for parents:

Be aware that some children and teens with eczema are embarrassed by it and don't like to wear bathing suits that show a lot of skin. Follow your child's lead on this.

If your child has frequent flares of eczema, or severe eczema, talk to your doctor about whether using regular topical steroids might help and whether you should use them before swimming. If you are headed on a vacation where your child will be swimming often, or just headed into a time of year with lots of possible swimming, talk to your doctor about the best strategies to keep your child's skin healthy.

For more information, visit the websites of the National Eczema Association and the American Academy of Dermatology.

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Swimming and skin: What to know if a child has eczema - Harvard Health