While my children didn’t experience this – I did and as a swim instructor I was in the water a lot!! I found that a basic barrier cream was really helpful.

I had a friend who’s child suffered badly with eczema and she wanted swimming lessons so she researched what would be better a chlorine pool or salt water. She used a barrier oil over the eczema and where it was a bit raw she used a waterproof surgical patch. At home they changed all their filters to filter out chlorine which helped and using emu oil as a skin barrier seemed to work for them. I would also consider a wet-suit to see if that suits your child best.

The water can sometimes make the skin worse because of the chemicals they put in the water. I found for my daughter putting a small amount of Vaseline on the affected area gave it a barrier and protected it from the harsh water. It stops water getting through. You don’t need heaps, just enough to cover the area.

While swimming can be benefitial and some say that chlorine helps, chlorine and water can can irritate the skin. Having had eczema for a long time myself, I found it always important to use a good barrier cream and apply this frequently throughout the day. It’s very important to take a shower directly after swimming and use again a good barrier or emollient. At times you may need to take a swim break. Seek the advice of a Dermatologist when this is not sufficient.

I found the MooGoo Eczema and Psoriasis Cream for babies worked really well for my little guy. He didn’t mind it on application, its lightweight and absorbed into his skin well, and I actually saw improvement within a few days. Reach out to your GP for advice if you’re a bit iffy on trying new products, because it can be pretty stressful until you find something that helps

Eczema is a nuisance. Especially on kids. They say to avoid whatever gives the eczema but in this case it’s very tricky for you. Sorbelene cream works for eczema on skin. Constant application provides relief. The GP or dermatologist will prescribe something stronger if eczema gets worse. It would be interesting to see what others recommend.

I got professional advice on skin care and swimming due to very sensitive skin. It is a good idea to get an individualised plan for skin care in all situations. We use products that have been tested on sensitive skin and we keep the products in the swim bag at all times.