Have sent MIB off to nursery today with a hat but no sunscreen. Am I a bad mother? Nope, just an indecisive one. Too early in the morning to decide whether or not he’ll definitely need it or not and too little time for the Epaderm Cream to soak in before slapping on sunscreen, to then soak in before I can get him dressed.
So, tomorrow I need to be more prepared for the decision: possible skin cancer in the long-term or immediate eczema flare-up short-term? Is it the sunscreen that gives him a flare up or just the heat? Does having two lots of cream on his skin mean they react with each other or is it just too much on his skin on a hot day that the sweat can’t escape?
Since all three of us are fair-skinned we usually go with the philosophy that a bit of sun is good for your skin. We go out in it early and late, avoid the middle of the day and stick to the shade.
We use SunSense as prescribed to us but he still flares up on a hot day with it. I know the different creams are individual to each person’s skin, but do tell me how you cope with the sun and eczema.
MyItchyBoy says
Yes, I do tend to err more on the side of keeping him covered in light clothes easier than applying more stuff to his skin.
The vaseline trick sounds like when we use the Epaderm Ointment (same consistency) in the bath. It’s easier than taking a leaky bottle of Oilatum with us and I can see it is great for his skin. So messy though!
Kim Millar says
Hi there,
I sympathise with your son.
I suffered from an extreme flare up whilst on holiday in America. I ended up in a skin clinic where they advised me to use a small amount of vaseline and warm water to wash my skin. The warm water thinned the vaseline and it created a vital layer of protection on my skin and trapped moisture underneath, it didn’t feel greasy, just relieving.
It was such a simple technique but this allowed my skin to rehydrate and stopped the agonising itch. After a couple of days my skin was calm, even coloured and relatively healthy and I went on to enjoy the rest of the holiday.
Although Vaseline isn’t the greatest product it was a life saver when the symptoms become extreme and the skin needs protection. I hope this helps your boy. Also, soft, indian cotton shirts are the best on sensitive skin!