For many families, summer is a season of sunshine, splash pads, and sweet memories. But if your child has sensitive skin or eczema, you know summer can also bring a wave of new challenges. The summer season can bring flare-ups, rashes, bug bites, and endless questions about what’s actually safe to use on sensitive skin.
You’re not alone if the words chlorine, sunburn, and mosquito season make you cringe a little.
I often hear from parents who feel caught off guard by how hard summer can be on their child’s skin when you’re working hard to support healing from the inside out.
Here’s the thing: while sunscreen and snacks might already be on your summer checklist, there are a few key wellness swaps and strategies that often get overlooked to manage eczema and support your skin this summer.
In this blog, I’ll share four areas worth your attention before your next beach trip or pool day, and if you want the full list of eczema-friendly summer tips and products, you can grab my free downloadable guide (with all the details) at the end.
Sun Care: It’s Not Just About SPF
You’re probably already applying sunscreen, but what’s in that sunscreen matters just as much as its function. Some common sunscreen ingredients are known skin irritants or hormone disruptors, and for kids with eczema or sensitive skin, these additives can cause more harm than protection.
Unfortunately, many store-bought sunscreens contain ingredients that don’t support the healing journey you’re on. That’s why I always suggest taking a closer look at the actual ingredient list.
Inside the Summer Wellness Guide, I share the top sunscreen ingredients to avoid (and why), plus a short list of clean, eczema-friendly sunscreen brands I actually recommend to my patients to use as needed during the summer season.
Bug Bite Prevention: Don’t Let Chemicals Do the Work
Mosquito bites aren’t just itchy. For sensitive or broken skin, they can easily become infected. Scratch-induced flare-ups can become challenging with sensitive skin, hence why families use bug sprays.
But here’s the catch: many traditional bug sprays contain synthetic fragrances and harsh preservatives that can wreak havoc on already inflamed skin.
Luckily, there are safer options for various types of bug repellents and I have linked them all inside the guide!
Natural repellents, barrier clothing, and even some herbal remedies can keep your family protected without triggering skin reactions.
Learn how to navigate bug repellent labels, what to look for in high risk areas, and how to create your own skin-safe bite relief to soothe your skin, using ingredients you might already have at home.
Chlorine: The Culprit You Might Be Overlooking
Pool days are a summer staple but if your child’s eczema flares after every swim, chlorine might be playing a bigger role than you think.
Even for families who avoid heavily chlorinated pools, regular bathwater can still carry more chlorine than we realize. In fact, steam from hot showers has been shown to deliver even higher concentrations, irritating the skin barrier and disrupting your skin’s healing efforts.
Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean the fun has to stop. But knowing how to minimize chlorine exposure and support the skin afterward can make a huge difference in comfort and in eczema flare prevention.
Skin Health Starts From Within
This is the part so many families overlook: what you put in the body is just as important as what you put on it.
Sun exposure, chlorine, and allergens all chip away at your skin’s natural defenses. That’s why summer is the perfect time to strengthen your skin barrier from the inside out with anti-inflammatory nutrition and a few science-backed supplements.
From calming inflammation to improving skin hydration at the cellular level, targeted nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and even hypochlorous-based sprays can support healing under the surface.
If you’re not sure where to start, I’ve made it easy. The guide linked below includes a curated list of my favorite skin-supportive supplements that are safe for kids and adults alike, with links to Fullscript and my own Serawise product line for clean, trusted solutions.
Bonus: My Summer Eczema Must-Haves
You didn’t think I’d leave you hanging without my personal top pick, did you?
My brand-new Eczema Rescue Cream is finally here, a custom formula I designed for sensitive skin, eczema-prone families, and anyone tired of the trial-and-error game. This steroid-free, fragrance-free cream is packed with soothing botanicals like colloidal oatmeal and vitamin B12. It’s already become a favorite in our summer survival toolkit.
Download FREE my Summer Wellness Guide
You deserve to head into summer feeling equipped, not overwhelmed. This Summer Wellness Guide includes:
✅ A list of eczema-safe sunscreens (plus ingredients to avoid)
🦟 Natural bug repellent tips that won’t irritate sensitive skin
💧 Simple ways to neutralize chlorine after pools and baths
🌞 Sunburn relief remedies using ingredients you may already have at home
🧴 Pediatrician-approved topical favorites, including our new Eczema Rescue Cream
🥗 Gut-healthy nutrition tips to support the skin from within
💊 Recommended supplements for summer skin support (safe for kids & adults)
Grab your free copy of the Summer Wellness Tips for Families Guide here.
It’s everything I recommend as a pediatrician, mom, and wellness educator for healthy skin during the summer!
