Co-authored with dermatologist Dr. Clarence De BELILOVSKY, a member of the Mustela expert circle.
If your child has atopic dermatitis, can he participate in all activities? In principle, yes, as the goal is for him to enjoy his childhood. However, some precautions should still be taken to avoid exposure to factors harmful to the skin that could trigger the immune system (see the atopic dermatitis section).
In the water
Occasionally check for rashes . If patches appear, thoroughly rinse your child's skin with a shower of fresh water commonly found at the beach once you've finished swimming.
Once home, repeat the same care routine: use Stellatopia cleansing cream and shampoo, then apply moisturizer , this time more thoroughly and gently. If the rash persists, use treatment products prescribed by your doctor (see the atopic dermatitis care guide).
You might worry about whether prolonged soaking is appropriate; during an attack, the child may experience pain from iodine or chlorine contact and naturally won't want to go in the water. However, during remission, swimming is a very suitable activity because it won't cause the child to sweat excessively, which is good news!
In the garden and other places
It's important to be mindful of sweating caused by games and activities. The ideal solution is to choose quiet activities that are fun or engaging, depending on the child's age: marbles, bowling, hide-and-seek, treasure hunts, blindfolded hide-and-seek, carousels, etc.—the possibilities are endless.
What types of exercise should you choose to avoid eczema flare-ups?
Basketball, soccer, volleyball, dance, track and field: these activities require a lot of energy and can cause children to sweat and even suffer from heatstroke. There are also vigorous outdoor games with friends: running, tumbling, etc. To keep your child's body temperature stable, you can:
- Prepare loose-fitting cotton clothing 1 .
- If possible, choose long pants and long-sleeved shirts to prevent your child from getting irritated while rolling around on the grass or sand.
- In summer, try to schedule competitions or games in the evening to avoid high temperatures.
If an attack occurs, it's best to suspend these activities for a few days until the erythema disappears. At this point, you can switch to indoor games, drawing, or other quiet activities.
1. Please refer to What should someone with atopic skin wear?
