When summer arrives, it’s not just the sunburns and sweaty afternoons you need to watch out for—especially if you’re living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), on dialysis, or have had a kidney transplant. Hot weather can throw off your fluid balance, put extra strain on your kidneys, and even increase your risk of skin cancer. But with a few mindful steps, you can still enjoy the warmer months while keeping your health in check.*

What Heat Does to Your Kidneys, and How to Stay Hydrated

Your body naturally sweats more when it’s hot out, so you’re losing fluids faster than usual. Normally, your kidneys help out by concentrating your urine and telling your body to drink more water. But if you have CKD, are on dialysis, or are a transplant recipient, they may not be able to do this efficiently.

Professor Alan Salama, a consultant nephrologist at the Royal Free Hospital in London, explains that if you’re taking diuretics or certain blood pressure medications, you might need to skip them on especially hot days (but only if your doctor says it’s safe to do so), as they can make it harder for your body to cope with heat and dehydration.

Water is best for hydration. Drinks with a lot of sugar don’t quench thirst, and alcohol can have adverse effects when it’s hot. You don’t need to chug gallons, just pay attention to your thirst and drink when you feel the need. If you’re sweating a lot, a small increase in salt intake can also help your body hold onto fluids, but check with your kidney team first.

Dialysis and Kidney Transplants

The balance is trickier if you’re on dialysis. You might need a bit more fluid to compensate for sweat, but too much can lead to fluid overload, causing:

• Swelling,  
• Breathlessness, or 
• High blood pressure. 

This is a good time to check in with your care team, as the right amount varies from person to person.

If you’ve had a kidney transplant, your body doesn’t regulate fluid loss the same way it used to, as the new kidney doesn’t have the same nerve connections as your original one. This means that when you sweat a lot, less blood flows to your kidneys, and toxins can start to build up, leading to acute kidney injury. 

So even if you’re not feeling thirsty, it’s important to keep drinking throughout the day. Try to avoid the sun during peak hours (12 noon to 3 PM), stay in the shade, and wear a hat. 

The Sun and Skin Cancer: Why Protection Matters

You might be surprised to learn that if you’ve had a kidney transplant, your risk of developing skin cancer goes way up. Dr. Justine Hextall, a consultant dermatologist, says that’s because the immunosuppressant drugs you take to prevent organ rejection weaken your body’s ability to repair damaged skin cells.

That means that you’re about: 

• 100 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma, 
• 6 times more likely to get basal cell carcinoma, and 
• 4 times more likely to face melanoma, the most serious kind of skin cancer.

To stay safe:

• Use SPF 50 sunscreen generously every day, even when it’s cloudy. 
• Wear protective clothing and always cover your head, especially if you’re bald. 
• Skip the tanning beds, and don’t sunbathe. 

Get signs of sun damage—like rough, scaly patches—checked and treated early. Treatments like cryotherapy or topical creams can help prevent cancers from developing.

If you’re on dialysis or have advanced CKD, you’re still at higher risk for non-melanoma skin cancers, so don’t skip the sunscreen or sun safety routines.

Summer can still be enjoyable, but if you’re managing kidney disease or living with a transplant, it takes a little extra planning. Listen to your body, stay hydrated, avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, and take sun protection seriously. By staying on top of your health, you can enjoy the season without putting yourself at unnecessary risk.

*Kidney Care UK. (2024, June 24). Living with CKD: Stay Safe in the Heat and in the Sun.    https://kidneycareuk.org/kidney-disease-information/living-with-kidney-disease/stay-safe-in-heat-and-sun/

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