The hardest part of exercising with eczema is that sweat can trigger a flare-up. Your body is designed to sweat to regulate your temperature and keep you from overheating. By doing this, though, your sweat creates moisture that evaporates and dries out the skin, leaving behind a salty residue. The residue is what irritates your eczema and makes you itchy.
Even though sweat is a barrier, it shouldn't keep you from working out. There are far too many benefits to being physically active for your physical and mental health. You may have to adjust your physical activity. If allergens like grass and sweat make your skin itchy and sore, you may take your workout inside.
Below are some tips for exercising with eczema.
1. Wear Loose Clothing
Tight spandex and typical women’s workout clothes aren’t good for eczema. Spandex can irritate your sensitive skin and make eczema worse. New synthetic fabrics made to wick away moisture can also irritate your skin.
For exercise, stick to loose, light, breathable fabrics. Cotton is a good choice as it doesn’t trap sweat and irritate your skin. Choose comfortable clothes to wear when working out. Even though you might want to hide your eczema, wearing long sleeves and pants can make you sweat more and irritate your eczema further. Cotton shorts and a t-shirt are great options for the gym or whatever workout.
2. Take Cool Showers After Exercising
Don’t get in the sauna or take a hot bath after your workout. Hot showers may relax your muscles, but they’ll irritate your skin if you have eczema. It’s a good idea to wash off the sweat after your workout but do so in a cool shower. You can start your shower off warm but slowly make it cooler as you adjust.
It’s also best to bring your own shower products. Even if your gym or health club provides gels and soaps, you don’t know what ingredients are in them. Keep travel-sized containers of your shower products that work well for your skin. This will keep you from having an adverse reaction later on.
3. Moisturize Your Skin
Another important step before and after exercising is moisturizing your skin. Applying moisturizer before your workout can protect your skin while you sweat. You should use a cream or lighter ointment an hour before your exercise so your body can fully absorb it.
You don’t want to put on a heavy ointment that feels hot and traps in sweat. This would be counterproductive to your steps for eczema relief.
If you still have itchy skin after workouts, you can talk to your doctor about what to try next. They'll be able to help you find the right topical treatment and proper pre- and post-workout routine.
