As the temperature drops outdoors and heating kicks into high gear, the skin of babies and young children tends to dry out, leaving it vulnerable to irritation, chapping, rashes and – worst case scenario – infection. Here are a few actively healthy skin care tips for keeping your little ones looking and feeling their best in the winter weather.
1. Make sure your kids stay hydrated, which can be challenging during what is a really busy time of year. Keep a refillable jug of fresh water or six-pack of low-sugar juice boxes in the car to help replenish on the go. Young children, particularly newborns and babies, are very susceptible to dehydration – dry skin is a symptom that the body needs fluids.
2. Use gentle, soothing products that nourish the skin rather than challenge it with harsh ingredients. Many personal care products marketed for children contain unnecessary and potentially toxic chemicals that can actually interfere with the health of the skin and body. Stick with products that rely on all-natural formulas to safely bathe, nurture and protect skin.
3. Maximize moisturizing while skin is still damp from a bath by smoothing on an all natural hydrating body lotion, this is especially important for little ones who like to have frequent baths. For the first two years of life, and to a lesser degree, for the first five years, the skin is not able to stay amply hydrated by itself. Developing skin is known to be dehydrated at least 60% of the time.
4. Look over your child’s skin every night before putting on PJs to catch irritation early. Then, nip it in the bud with an all-natural, chemical-free cream that can help treat bothered skin and eczema (like Episencial’s Soothing Cream).
5. Did you know that snow reflects the sun’s rays more than water does? Protect skin and lips from outdoor elements with products that block wind, sun and excess moisture (like a runny nose). Skin that is chapped and irritated needs soothing care along with sun protection, as its natural SPF is diminished while it heals.
. Kim Walls, M.S., the founder of Episencial, is an esthetician and a nutritionist with more than a decade of experience. Walls has honed her perspective focusing on botanically-based skin care and transdermal nutrient absorption as a pathway to improved health and beauty for women and children. She shares her experience internationally with dermatologists and estheticians, as well as childbirth and postpartum professionals, underscoring the relationship between optimum health and skincare.