Why does my eczema flare up on holiday?

9 Jul

For some the sunshine can help relieve the symptoms of eczema but for many this isn’t the case and they are left asking - why does my eczema flare up on holiday?

There are photos of my daughter that I find hard to look at. One is a photo of her aged 4, we were in London at the Natural History Museum making the most of a day out before she started school. She had excitedly put on a summer dress for the day. It was hot and her eczema was making her miserable. The photo sums up perfectly the emotional misery of eczema.

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, affects millions of people worldwide. It is a complex condition with multiple causes. Different people have different triggers. Researchers believe it occurs due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Common triggers include irritants, allergens, climate changes, stress, and certain foods, however, triggers can vary from person to person.

The most common forms of eczema are:

Atopic Dermatitis: The most common type, which often starts as a baby or toddler, characterised by dry, itchy and inflamed patches of skin.
Contact Dermatitis: Caused by contact with irritants or allergens, resulting in redness, rash and itching.
Seborrheic Dematitis: Usually affects the scalp and face, causing redness, scaling and greasy patches.

Living with eczema is challenging and emotionally exhausting. Not only is there ‘the itch’; constant itchiness and discomfort which can disrupt sleep, impact concentration and day to day activities it has an emotional impact too. Suffers are often self-conscious about the appearance of their skin and the constant need to consider and manage eczema is stressful.

My daughter has had eczema since she was a toddler and sadly at points it has had a huge impact on her life. Holidays have been a particular challenge. On one holiday we were advised by a Doctor in France to avoid the sun, sea and pool! It didn’t make for a great trip! On another, her eczema flared so badly we considered flying home. Over the years we have consulted pharmacists, local GPs and found our own solutions to managing her eczema on holiday. To help others facing the same challenges I share my personal recommendations in my Happy Holiday Skin DOWNLOAD which includes: