With the seasons changing from winter to spring transitioning us into warmer weather. For people with Lupus, that means our main triggers are also transitioning. If you’ve experienced random symptom flares recently don’t worry you’re not alone. In today’s post, I’m going to cover seasonal changes and the effect they have on those with lupus, and how I manage my symptoms.
Recently random butterfly rashes, hot spots, inflammation, and extra fatigue have hit me pretty hard. I thought it could be due to a cheat on my diet. But my mom was quick to remind me of the drastic temperature change from freezing a few days ago to today where it’s up in the 80s…..might have something to do with the flares I’ve experienced.
She was right. I have been so used to my winter Lupus routine I almost forgot about all the little tips, tricks, and hacks I use to avoid flares in the summer. I thought it would be a good idea to go over a few in today’s post. Giving everyone a little refresher because even I almost forgot how much the weather affected me and my symptoms.
Hydration
One of the biggest changes I make during hotter weather would be my water intake. I raise my water intake by at least half a liter during the summer months. Per my doctor’s orders. Dehydration is bad for everyone – lupus or not. But people with lupus are more sensitive to the effects of dehydration….like everything else. Lupus also has the risk of affecting the kidneys and dehydration is no joke when it comes to kidney-related issues so I always make sure to avoid even a possible issue by staying hydrated.
Symptoms of dehydration with lupus
- fatigue
- Dry eyes
- Dry mouth
- Dizziness
- Lightheadedness
- Confusion
- Headaches
Hydration is a serious subject when it comes to any auto compromised patient. But with the whole already being predisposed to kidney issues. Just do yourself a favor and stay hydrated. I’m going to do an article here soon about how to hydrate properly. Not all water is made the same and I have just recently figured that out. Keep an eye out for that post.
I know hydrating can be hard if you’re not used to it. Running to the bathroom every five seconds is fun for no one but on a serious note hydration is a non-negotiable. Especially for hot weather and lupus. Hydration is one of the building blocks for managing Lupus.
Check out our Resource Library. We have daily health trackers among many other free printables. I would specifically check out our health planner printables. You can track your daily water intake on them!
This next tips will seem like a no-brainer but it’s just something I wanted to remind yall of because it’s easy to forget. Check the weather and plan accordingly. I didn’t realize how quickly it got hot where I’m at and I just got out of the habit. But if you can avoid doing activities outside during the hottest parts of the day (10 am-4 pm). That would be ideal but I know life doesn’t stop for lupus symptoms. I have a few products I like to use to help me get through being in the heat while avoiding a flare-up.
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Lupus and UV exposure
Even minimal UV exposure can unleash lupus symptoms if you are not protecting and planning in advance. I have a whole toolbox of items I use to stay safe in the sun. I’m going to go over a few here shortly. But first I wanted to stress the importance and explain why sun exposure and Lupus aren’t something to take lightly.
Lupus causes cells to be sensitive to UV rays not only making you more susceptible to sunburns. And not the typical sunburn people with lupus experience almost an allergic reaction that can result in painful blisters, skin swelling, and painful sunburn-like rashes topically.
Inside the body, UV rays can set off a systemic immune system reaction causing flare-ups that include a whole list of symptoms like; joint pain, lightheadedness, swelling, extreme fatigue, fever, and overall flu-like symptoms.
Just a quick tip and remainder if you are ever out in the sun for a prolonged period of time even if you are using items I have listed below. You still want to always seek shade and be mindful of how long you are outside. And this should go without saying sunscreen is non-negotiable. I’ll link my favorite ones below. But don’t you dare step out into the sun without a facial/body sunscreen and keep the bottles with you to reapply.
What “tools” I’m going to pull out of my lupus toolbox depend on how long I’m going to be in the heat, why I’m in the heat, and what I have access to. What I mean by that is If I’m just at home and have the option to take multiple breaks out of the heat. I won’t whip out my UV umbrella but if (this is hypothetical) I’m at say a soccer game or something where I’m not able to get out of the heat. I will 100% use a UV umbrella.
I always wear UV-protective clothing when in the heat. I try to find breathable pieces that are cute and don’t look like UV clothes. This is one of my favorite shirts I got off amazon. I don’t get overheated in it and my skin is protected. I definitely recommend purchasing different types of UV clothing.
I am able to withstand being in heat longer when I’m wearing some type of UV protective clothing. It’s become a best practice for me!
No matter where I am I always have a mini fan around my neck when I’m outside. I was embarrassed by the mini fan at first but I never feel that heat-sick feeling when I’m outside with the mini fan. So I had to just get over it and there is NO SHAME in the mini-fan game for me now. This is the one I will use and put around my neck. The little breeze allows me to be outside for longer without getting overheated.
My eyes are extremely sensitive to the sun so I make sure to have a big pair of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. I linked the ones I use – just click on the words and you will be redirected if you want to check out my favorites. But any old ones you have will do. Just as long as you have a good pair of sunglasses and some type of hat that can help protect you from the sun is all that matters.
Check out our other post on Summertime and Lupus. I only went over a few products and best practices I use today. Just because the weather is still going back and forth from hot to cold. I will do a post that goes into everything for summer in the upcoming months. But everything I went over today Is what helps me avoid flare-ups during the seasonal changes. If you haven’t already grabbed a copy of our free printables to help you track your water intake. Head over to our Resource Library!
