Why bother caring for our skin? It is the biggest organ in our body.

Having a lymphatic disease increases the risk of getting cellulitis. Any crack in the skin can let bacteria in leading to the redness, pain and the fever of cellulitis. Once you have had cellulitis you are pretty well guaranteed to get it again.

Yes, your doctor will say cellulitis won’t kill you. But if you get a sepsis infection it might lead that way.

How to protect your skin? Start a daily regime of skin care. A good time to lotion up is in the evening before bed. Make it part of your nightly routine.

What To Look For

You want to look for a pH of 4.5 to 5.5 in your lotions to help your skin’s acid mantle protect your skin. This barrier helps protect from bacteria that cause infections, including cellulitis.

We definitely want to keep that barrier up guarding our skin. Washing in the morning and evening works to keep your skin clean without damaging that important acid mantle barrier. Most of us wash starting on our feet and working upward. We need to start from the top and instead work down as the water washing down removes dirt, but leaves your barrier intact. Ditch the loofas and exfoliation gloves as they can scratch and damage the acid mantle barrier. Switch to a soft facecloth. Avoid scorching hot baths and showers as they pull more blood into the area that can make your lymphedema worse. 

Look for moisturizer that contains urea which is a good hydrator. Be prepared that you may have to switch lotions as our skin can be more sensitive. What works for us one month may irritate the next. Cetaphil is a gentle lotion and also has a gentle cleanser that works well. As a bonus the Cetaphil line is actually Canadian. Here are some of the lotions recommended on the Canadian Lymphedema Framework by Canadian dermatologist, Dr. Catherine McCuaig – for maintaining good skin care for those with lymphedema: Vaseline, Aquaphor Ointment, Glycerin 10%, Aquaphor 40%, H20 50%, Glaxal base, CeraVe, Vaseline, Creamy Lipikar Baume AP, Trixera, A-Derma Exomega, Restoraderm (Cetaphil), spectroeczema care, Cutibase, Cetraben and any oil, preferably not perfumed.

Precautions to take

Wear gloves when washing dishes to keep hands safe. Make sure you have decent hand protection for putting things in and out of your oven while you are cooking. Burns are not something you want. Again, make sure you have an antibiotic salve at home in case you do get burned.

If you have leg Lymphedema or Lipedema make sure to check your feet for cracks and moisturize between your toes.

Lower leg Lymphedema can unfortunately lead to leaky skin called lymphorrhea, a leaking of lymphatic fluid through the damaged skin where the caustic fluid can burn and damage the skin. The blisters created by lymphorrhea need to be drained. This is when you should have your medical professional refer you to wound care for proper treatment.

Just as we don’t want our skin to be too dry, we also don’t want it to be too moist. Too moist skin is at risk for fungal infections. Be careful if you have skin folds including the groin, under breast and between the toes. If your skin goes red be careful. The irritation in your skin can turn into a rash, followed by an open wound. 

There is a product that works well in keeping skin folds dry. It is called “Interdry” and is sold on a roll or on sheets. You want a piece that is large enough that when it is placed in the skin fold it protrudes a couple of inches  beyond that. You remove it when bathing and then put the piece back in place and can be used a few times until it becomes dirty and should be replaced. 

Summer Brings Challenges

Sunscreen is essential to protect skin from sunburns. Get in the habit of putting on sunscreen before heading out to start your day. Leave some time after applying before putting on compression garments. You can get sunburned through your compression garment. 

If you are hesitant to use sunscreen, consider wearing UPF clothing. It protects your skin and you don’t have to worry about reapplying sunscreen part way through the day. There are many companies that make UPF clothing now. “Nozone,” is a Canadian company that sells UPF clothing; other brands include “UnderArmour,” “Patagonia” and “Coolibar” to name a few.

Many love gardening. Add gardening gloves and a good hat before you venture out in the yard. Protect yourself from thorns and buggies that you find out in the garden. Make sure you go out before the heat of the day in summer as the heat causes swelling.

In summer many of us love to hit the beach. If you have leg lymphedema or lipedema then you can still enjoy your beach adventure just with a few changes. Consider water shoes to keep your feet protected from the sand but also any barnacles or sharp rocks you may encounter. If you want you can use an old compression garment but that is up to you. Water works like compression garments so if you are in the water you can enjoy without garments.

Mosquitoes and other biting insects are not fun. Remember to apply your insect repellant before heading outside. I like the insect repellent towelettes for the ease of using it. Another option is insect repellent clothing. You can get hats, shirts and pants that will repel the little critters without adding to the chemical load on your skin. Trust me you can get a mosquito bite through compression garments. Marks sells a selection of insect repelling clothing, as does The Original Bug Shirt Company and Insect Shield. 

Cuts and scrapes aren’t fun. Tend to them with an antibiotic cream or lotion as soon as possible. Having a lymphatic disease impacts our immune system and makes us vulnerable to infections. If you do have an injury keep an eye on it. If it starts to show signs of infection go see your doctor immediately for antibiotics. Do not wait. 

Manicures and Pedicures Safely

I know some people love getting manicures and pedicures. Those can come with some risk if the instruments aren’t properly sterilized. You could try pampering yourself at home, but it might not feel the same. If you want to go to the salon, take your own tools with you. Make sure that the manicurist does not cut your cuticles.  

Protect the skin you are in and it will protect you in return.