Every parent knows that the long sunny days of summer can also lead to an increase in allergies and mysterious itchy and uncomfortable rashes in little ones. So why is it so much worse in summer? Two reasons
- Children are more vulnerable in summer because they have much more skin exposed
- Little ones spend so much more time outdoors in good weather which means they are in the range of many more allergens.
The good news is that summer rashes are usually short lived and easy to treat – whilst summer allergens are pretty well universally hay fever or to give it the proper name, seasonal rhinitis, annoying, but rarely dangerous.
Heat rash or prickly heat
This happens when the sweat glands become blocked and perspiration can’t evaporate. It resembles tiny pink or reddish bumps and is found under clothing, especially where it is tight or where the skin folds such as elbows, armpits and thighs.
Avoiding and treating heat rash – dress your children in loose clothing and breathable fabrics, keep them in the shade and use fans to cool the air. Wash your little ones regularly with cool water (a paddling pool is great) and then pat them dry rather than rubbing. Don’t apply ointments or petroleum jelly that can trap moisture on the skin surface.
Seasonal rhinitis/hay fever
It’s rare for children under two to have this allergy, and babies almost never have it. But the early school years tend to trigger the first outbreaks of seasonal rhinitis. This seasonal allergy is caused by pollen which causes the immune system to fire out antibodies that cause the release of histamine which – in turn – causes allergy symptoms. In spring this is commonly tree pollen, and in summer it’s grass. When your child has a runny nose and sore eyes, sneezes, has itchy skin, and seems to lose their ability to concentrate and complains of a headache it’s almost certainly hay fever.
Avoiding and treating hay fever – try to avoid the allergens as much as possible by closing windows and using air conditioning. A key change is to take of shoes (and socks!) at the front door as these are major trackers of pollen into the house. Use the allergy setting on your washing machine and buy a vacuum cleaner that has an allergy setting. Your nanny can help by keeping children indoors when the pollen count is high and by planning trips to non-allergen venues (art galleries are great summer trips). Andy if you have pets who spend time outdoors, they need to be regularly bathed to remove pollen from their fur. There are child-safe antihistamines but they should always be prescribed by a GP.
Eczema
Eczema is also called atopic dermatitis and it shows up as patches of red skin that are dry and scaly and while it’s generally a winter condition, it can be aggravated by both air conditioning and aeroplane travel as well as by overheating and chlorine. So summer holidays with a long flight and a pool at the villa can be a nightmare for eczema-prone children.
Avoiding and treating eczema – applying cream or ointment at least daily is vital, as is reapplying after swimming. Pat skin with a towel rather than rubbing it, and dress children in cotton or linen. Make sure that your washing detergents are low allergen – this is vitally important when you’re away from home, as any change in children’s surroundings can cause an eczema outbreak.
Insect Bites
Bees, wasps, mosquitoes and increasingly ticks, are uncomfortable summer companions and while we all have itches and discomfort when we are bitten or stung, the degree of allergic reaction varies to person to person. In some small children there can be a severe reaction called
anaphylaxis which can manifest as a rash or hives (itchy raised red bumps on the surface of the skin) and difficulty breathing as a result of airway swelling. A GP should be consulted instantly if your child has any breathing difficulties.
Avoiding and treating insect bites – use insect repellent, and make sure your children have long-sleeved trousers and shirts when in woodland or tall grass. Check ankles, wrists and hairline for ticks, especially if you’ve been in grassland where ticks might transfer to a host, use a tick twister to remove any ticks you find. All insect bite swellings can be treated with an ice pack – keep it in place for at least ten minutes and then use calamine lotion or a 1% hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching.