Tips for Dry Skin

Did you know that the skin is the largest organ in the body? It serves an important role in a child’s overall health and needs some special care at this time of year. Our skin gets parched because the indoor heating, cold air and low humidity strips moisture away. Often people think they should cut down on their kid’s baths. Not me! I don’t know about your kids but mine are grimy at the end of the day. I am not giving up the routine of a nightly bath. It’s particularly good at bedtime because children get sleepy when their temperature drops after a bath. What a great preparation for sleep! Just remember to moisturize when they get out.

If your child’s skin is persistently red, irritated, and dry, he may have eczema. Eczema can be a chronic skin condition and may be caused by many things. Ask your pediatrician for their expertise in understanding your child’s skin. Eczema a.k.a. “the itch that rashes” can be helped tremendously by avoiding triggers, keeping the skin moist, and controlling the itching. There was a study that took people with inflamed eczematous skin and put them in plaster casts. It was no surprise that when the casts were removed the skin under was healthy and beautiful. Because they took away the ability to scratch, their skin healed!

So just because the cold weather can wreck havoc with your little one’s skin doesn’t mean that they have to be uncomfortable! A little bit of preventative care can go a long way. General tips include:

1. Avoid harsh soaps.
2. Avoid very hot water for prolonged periods of time.
3. Put a thick moisturizer on their skin within a few minutes of getting out of the bath.
4. Apply a thick moisturizer several times a day.
5. Put a humidifier in their rooms to replace moisture in the air.
6. Drink plenty of water

Dr. Sheila Cason