Winter Skin Care

Your skin, which is the largest organ of the body, is your first line of defense to protect against infection. But the cold air of winter means drier air, and the heat in the house dries the air out even more. This can lead to dry, itchy, flaky and irritated skin, which can result in skin infections. Keeping your child from scratching can be a full time job. Here are some ideas to keep skin soft and moist through the winter months.

• Bathe Daily. Washing removes dirt and bacteria. Use warm water, not too hot. Warm water opens skin pores, allowing moisturizers to easily absorb. Water that is too hot will close skin pores.
• Use a mild soap – like Dove or Cetaphil. Perfumed soaps can irritate skin that is already dry and itchy. After rinsing off the soap, dry the skin by just patting with the towel. Leave the skin moist.
• Use “The Raisin Rule” – Skin care emollients (including medications) need to be applied promptly, when the fingertips still look wrinkled – like raisins. This is typically within three minutes of getting out of the bath. Applying skin products on warm moist skin has been proven to be the most effective at hydrating the skin. After three minutes, the skin starts to dry off. And the evaporating moisture can dry the skin even more, resulting in cracks in the protective layers.
• Use good skin moisterizing products – the thicker the better usually. Crèmes are thicker than lotions, and although they may leave the skin feeling greasy initially. They moisturize the skin better. There are multiple good products available. Ask your pediatric care provider. They can probably provide several samples. Again, do not use perfumed products and bath oils have not been shown to be effective.
• Moisturizing products can be applied several times a day. Crèmes and ointments are best applied after a bath. Lotions can also be reapplied several times daily and typically are less greasy feeling.
• Repeat this daily!! Dry skin needs treated every day; just one application will not solve the problem.

Other causes of dry skin can include allergens and infections. If your child still is scratching, consult with your pediatric providers. Your child may need medication to help reduce the irritation and redness.