I don’t think there’s anyone who doesn’t love the look, feel and smell of a clean, healthy baby’s skin, and wish we could keep it throughout our lives. But, that’s a fantasy that won’t come true for any of us. The best we can do is make sure our babies and children get the best skin care possible so that as they get older their skin stays as healthy and beautiful as possible.

Many of us who grew up before the “age of suncreen” spent most of our young years outdoors in the sunshine. We all got our first sunburn of the season, then went on to tan as darkly as we could get because no one understood the risks of too much exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays. Today, we recognize that good skin care begins in infancy, and that if we don’t safeguard our childrens’ skin from birth, they will suffer the consequences of that neglect later in life. It could just mean that age will bring on wrinkles earlier than normal, or it could be as bad as causing skin cancer.  Having a tan just isn’t worth it.

Babies’ and children’s skin is different than adult skin. Baby skin is known for its smoothness and lack of rough spots, its suppleness and softness because of its greater hydration than adult skin, and its elasticity. We lose all of these elements as we age.  It’s important that we recognize these differences and use skin care techniques and products that are designed to care for younger skin.

Probably the most important, just as for adults, is avoidance of sun. Keep your kid protected with shades, hats, sunglasses, and of course, baby sun screen. SPF 15 to 30 is your friend! Use it liberally and often, and teach your child why it’s important so that when you’re not around, they will automatically reach for the sunscreen. The other important thing is to use products that are specially designed for babies’ and children’s skin and hair. Most adult products contain too many harsh detergents, dyes, fragrances etc that are irritating or even harmful to young skin.

There are so many baby cleaning products out there it’s tough to know what’s good and what isn’t. Many parents have decided to only use 100% natural, organic products and diligently read labels to ensure there are no unwanted ingredients that could harm or irritate their child’s skin.  There’s a great website called Safe Mama with a lot of information on safe baby cleaning products you might want to check out. Recommendations from your pediatrician, friends, and trial and error is the best way to find products that both you and your child will be happy with. Just like with adult skin care products, you can find excellent ones at your local discount store, or you can buy very expensive products from specialty retailers. It’s up to you and your budget.

But what if your baby or child DOESN’T have “normal” skin?  What if your baby has extremely dry skin, or infantile eczema? As an adult with eczema, I know that this non-infectious skin disease is annoying and uncomfortable, and I can’t imagine babies and little kids having to put up with it!

Infantile eczema is one of many kinds of allergic reactions we’re prone to. It usually appears as a rash on the baby’s cheeks, between 2 and 6 months of age, and spreads to other parts of the body. Usually children with eczema have family members with asthma or hay fever, and they themselves may have these conditions. The skin becomes red, flaky, itchy, and sensitive. If the child can scratch the rashes, they can become infected.

If your child is diagnosed with eczema, an important part of the treatment is to remove exposure to the irritants. This can be tough to do, because the irritant can be hiding anywhere.  It might be something in the baby’s shampoo, or it could be the result of a food allergy. You and your doctor will work together to find the cause and develop the best treatment. Some of the common sources of irritation are chemicals on clothing and bedding used during the manufacturing process (be sure to wash with a safe soap before using on your child), and in lotions, creams, shampoos and other baby beauty products.

With mild to moderate cases, using a good moisturizer regularly is essential. In most cases, the eczema will go away as the child gets older, and the moisturizer regimen might be all that’s needed. Here are some other tips for dealing with your youngster’s eczema.

  • Avoid as many eczema triggers as possible. This includes not only food allergens, inhaled allergens (like fragrances or pollens) and contact allergens like chemicals in products, but also dust mites.
  • Keep your child’s skin moist after bathing by applying the moisturizer within 3 minutes.
  • Avoid sudden temperature changes.
  • Use mild soaps on your child and on clothing and bedding.
  • Go for natural and breathable fabrics, like cotton.
  • Treatment of eczema can also require topical anti-inflammatory medications.

Baths should be in lukewarm water (85 degrees). Hot or very warm water causes skin to release histamines that make the skin red and itchy. Don’t keep the child in the water too long, as this is dehydrating. Children with a severe rash may find the water stings or burns. If so, a half a cup of table salt may be added to a full tub of water. Avoid using soap if possible and do not scrub skin with washcloth. If soap is needed, use mild, moisturizing, fragrance-free soap.

Pat the skin gently - don’t rub - with a towel but leave the skin damp. Apply the moisturizer heavily within three minutes. Plain old Vaseline petroleum jelly works great for serious moisturizing. For moderate rash, a thick cream like Eucerine should do the trick. If there’s no visible rash, you can use a good quality moisturizing liquid. Avoid products that contain fragrance. If prescribed, apply anti-inflammatory prescription medication only to flared-up areas. If itching has broken the skin, an antibiotic ointment is needed to deal with infection, and an oral antibiotic may have to be prescribed as well. Your doctor will provide the necessary prescriptions and instructions.

As I said, I have eczema and know how miserable it is. I’ve found a line of products that have really helped with my eczema that I want to pass along to you. The company is called Noodle and Boo, and they specialize in all-natural and effective skin care products for babies and children. Their first products were designed to help with infantile eczema and diaper rash, not to mention stuff like cradle cap and just too-dry skin. For safe and effective skin care for your baby, try Noodle & Boo products. I know a lot of my friends with little ones swear by their products, and us older folks get a lot of relief from their skin care products for adults. It can’t hurt to try if your kids are miserable with skin problems!

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