The winter brings the delight of warm, comfortable sweaters, warm blankets, and hot soups, but it also brings another thing that every parent knows: cold, dry, and sensitive skin in kids. Outside cold air and indoor heat can dehydrate the natural moisture from their skin, leaving it dry, rashy, and uncomfortable. The skin of children is thinner than that of adults, which is why children are more likely to have skin problems in winter.
Unless you take the right precautions and treat, you can have a child with skin that is soft, healthy, and well-protected throughout the season.
Why Children’s Skin Needs Extra Care in Winters?
This dryness has the effect of making the skin dry up quickly. Adults can be satisfied with basic moisturizers, but in children, this may not be the case, as their skin barrier has not yet formed. Regular hand washing, hot baths, and cold winds also contribute to the increase of dryness, which results in redness, flakiness, chapped lips, and even painful cracks.
This knowledge can help parents develop a skincare routine that nourishes the skin from within and shields it externally.
1. Keep the Skin Moisturized
To treat dry winter skin, there’s simply no substitute for regular moisturizing. Use a light, fragrance-free, non-occlusive, kid-friendly moisturizer. Apply moisturizer immediately after taking a bath while the skin is still slightly moist, to prevent moisture loss.
Reapply throughout the day and particularly after handwashing or outdoor play. Regions such as the cheeks, elbows, knees, and hands dry quickly and require extra care.
2. Avoid Long and Hot Baths
Not bathing can be better in the winter than hot, which washes away all the vital oils of the skin in extremely hot baths. Use lukewarm water instead and shorten the time spent under the water to 10-15 minutes. Use non-soapy cleansers instead of harsh cleansers. Bath water can also be enriched with a few drops of baby oil for an additional moisture boost.
After bathing, gently pat the skin dry, and moisturizer should be applied within 3 minutes to lock in the moisture.
3. Dress in Soft, Breathable Layers
Western clothes may keep the skin warm against cold winds, but some warm fabrics, such as wool, can be very annoying to a tender child. Multiple layers of clothing serve as a means of regulating body temperature and keeping the skin comfortable.
Winter complaints include chapped hands and feet; the covering helps prevent exposure to the cold air.
4. Don’t Skip Sunscreen
Most parents believe that using sunscreen is relevant during the summer season, but UV rays can still be present even in winter. Sunlight can cause tanning and sunburn, particularly during outdoor games or holidays in cold, snowy places. Apply a child-safe sunscreen to the more exposed areas, such as the face, neck, and hands, at least 20 minutes before going outdoors. Use the highest SPF (30 or higher) and reapply when children are outdoors for extended periods.
5. Hydration From Inside Matters Too
During winter, children are less likely to drink more water since they do not feel thirsty. Nevertheless, dryness may be enhanced by dehydration. Promote the consumption of warm fluids, such as water, soups, herbal teas, and fresh juices.
Foods rich in omega-3 and vitamins, such as nuts, eggs, seeds, leafy greens, and seasonal fruits like oranges, are beneficial to the internal nutrition of the skin.
6. Care for Lips and Cheeks
In winter, the lips of the children are very much chapped, and redness of cheeks is widespread. Additionally, use a non-sticky lip balm frequently and avoid the habit of licking your lips, as this can actually damage your lips. In the case of cheeks, a thick moisturizer or petroleum jelly can be applied before going to bed and going outside.
7. Maintain Indoor Humidity
A humidifier placed in the bedroom where your child sleeps can help maintain the humidity at the right level. In the absence of one, just leaving a bowl of water close to a source of heat automatically increases the amount of moisture in the air as well.
8. Watch for Skin Conditions
Your child needs to see a pediatrician or dermatologist if they have some itchy, red, and cracked skin that just does not improve even with home care. Children with eczema, allergies, or very sensitive skin may require special treatment or medicated creams. While this can be painful, their needs can be met at a young age to prevent pain and later flare-ups.
The care of the skin during winter does not need to be complex; it simply requires regular care. A healthy and soft skin on your child can be maintained throughout the season with a healthy routine, mild products, proper hydration, and safe clothes. Turn moisturizing into a habit, observe changes in your skin, and take precautionary measures before dryness is experienced.