Caring for your child's skin, the largest organ in the human body, might mean learning appropriate bathing techniques for your infant or managing a treatment plan for your toddler's persistent eczema. Fortunately, before puberty and acne hit, the best skin care for most children includes regular cleansing with gentle soap, a healthy diet and liberal use of sunscreen, according to the website KidsHealth from Nemours. If your child does have problems with eczema or other skin problems, a variety of commonsense approaches can help keep his skin healthy.
Skin
Human skin consists of layers. The epidermis, or outer layer, acts as a barrier that helps keep bacteria and other infections from entering the bloodstream via the dermis, the of skin layer that sits under the epidermis. Wounds, bug bites and even dry skin can cause breaks in the epidermis that allow bacteria to infiltrate. Once an infection enters the dermis, it can multiply and spread to other organs, such as the heart, lungs or kidneys.
Routine Care
To help prevent spreading germs and bacteria to other parts of her skin or other people, your child should wash her hands frequently with warm water and use mild soap without added fragrances. Possibly as important as using soap is taking the time to clean the palms, wrists, between the fingers and under the nails, says KidsHealth. The website also recommend warm rather than hot baths or showers and a light moisturizer afterward if you notice mildly dry skin. For infants, soaps, lotions, shampoos and laundry detergent should be specially formulated for their delicate skin.
Preventing Sun Damage
To reduce your child's risk of developing skin cancer later in life, and possibly prevent signs of premature aging caused by prolonged sun exposure, KidsHealth says that all children over the age of 6 months should use sunscreen when they're outside. It recommends a broad-spectrum product, with an SPF of 15 or greater, applied liberally 30 minutes before your child goes out in the sun. It should be applied every two to three hours after that. Avoiding sun exposure from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., dressing your child in light-weight, long-sleeved shirts and providing shade with an umbrella will also help protect your child's skin.
For children under 6 months, KidsHealth recommends avoiding sun exposure whenever possible. Otherwise, KidsHealth suggests dressing an infant in clothing that covers the body and using a wide-brimmed hat and umbrella to create shade.
Treating Common Skin Problems
KidsHealth recommends cleaning minor cuts and abrasions with warm water and a gentle soap before applying an over-the-counter antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.
For bug bites or chickenpox, applying an anti-itch ointment or adding an oatmeal-based product to bath water may minimize the itching and discomfort and help prevent the risk of infection or scarring caused by scratching.
Eczema, a common skin condition that can cause moderate to severely dry skin and itching, may respond well to regular use of a moisturizing cream. Some cases of eczema, however, require a pediatrician's treatment.
Hives and other rashes caused by allergies generally resolve when a child gets away from the source. Seek medical care immediately if your child develops swelling of the tongue, respiratory difficulty or other signs of a potentially life-threatening allergic response.
Professional Insight
Warts, caused by viruses, often disappear on their own without treatment, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Because warts can spread, however, the academy generally recommends that children see their physicians for removal. Warmth, drainage, redness or spreading redness from any rash, sore, cut or abrasion can signal an infection that requires medical attention.
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