Rain, rain, and sometimes more rain….WELCOME to the Northwest!
Along with that rain comes cool dry weather which can be a bummer for skin. Especially for those with darker skin tones or sensitive skin.
One of the most common concerns I see during winter is chapped, cracked and super dry skin. What most of us don’t know is our skin provides a barrier of protection for our bodies and when it becomes unhappy that defense barrier starts to break down.
Our skin needs to be nourished, hydrated and loved. The best way to do this is by using creams or emollient on a daily basis. But which product is best?
Well that is a difficult question to answer as skin is unique to each person. Most primary care and skin doctors (dermatologist) alike, recommend using products that are scent free (flower/ocean/herb etc.) and don't have color (yellow/purple/pink etc.) as these additives can often time worsen dry skin.
Products for Children's Dry Winter Skin
So what products should be used?
Emollients, the product that has been tried and true over the last 50-75 years + is Vaseline. It is cheap and can be spread thinly as to prevent a greasy after effect. Aquaphor is a brand that is newer and similar to Vaseline but can be $$.
Creams vs Lotions. Vanicream, Cereva, Cetephil, Eucerine, and Aveeno are some product names that are commonly recommended. The key is to buy the cream and not the lotions. Creams are thicker and keep moisture in longer to allow the skin to heal.
Again not every skin type is equal. Some skin types may not respond to these products.
What I recommend is to trial a smaller size container of the product for a period of 2 weeks and if no changes are felt/seen or the skin chapping gets worse then that is NOT the product for you!
If the skin feels like sandpaper, is irritated, and/or itches, additional treatment may be needed in addition to the daily emollients and creams.
Treatment generally involves a topical steroids. These products work well to heal eczema/atopic dermatitis (dry/chapped/sandpaper) skin but should only be use for a short periods of time (No more then 10-14 days) in most cases.
When steroids are needed, you should speak with a pediatrician or dermatologist as there are many different options.
The key to caring for WINTER skin is moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Your child's skin will thank you for it!
If you have questions about your child's skin schedule an appointment with me today
T-town Pediatrics PLLC strives to provide our families with necessary, up-to-date information. The information you will find on these pages is provided by a pediatric nurse practitioner, so that you may have the resources necessary for the care of your children wherever you are.
If your question goes unanswered, please come to see me here in the office. I am dedicated to provide families with the care and resources to have a healthy, safe and happy family.
Note: Discuss any questions with your provider. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of information from outside sources. In addition, such information may not apply to your unique circumstances.
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