Did you know a child's skin is much thinner than an adult's? This means that children can be more prone to skin allergies and reactions. From the clothes they wear to what they eat, it can all have an impact on the state of your little ones' skin. Dealing with your child's sensitive skin can be challenging, especially now that they are returning to school, but maintaining and sticking to a skincare routine at this time is more vital than ever. We spoke to mummy blogger Sarah (@minimotrio), who has two children who suffer from eczema and will be sharing her tips on how to deal with your child's sensitive skin from first hand experience.
1. Use fragrance-free products
Synthetic fragrances are one of the biggest reasons for allergic reactions. They are also known to be common triggers of skin conditions such as contact dermatitis and psoriasis and can cause redness and irritation to the skin. Unfortunately, synthetic fragrance is found in many soaps, detergents, creams and other cosmetics. We asked Sarah what she finds triggers her children's skin, and she answered: "We can only use certain non-bio laundry pods/liquid. Anything else causes flare-ups. I tend to find it is worse in the spring/summer months as both suffer with hay fever so I believe that is a trigger. Certain kinds of bubble baths or soaps also cause angry flare ups as well as having the bath water too hot." At Salcura, all of our products are free from synthetic fragrance/perfume and our entire
Bioskin Junior range has been designed to be suitable for those who may be prone to eczema, dermatitis and other allergic skin conditions.
2. Keep your child's skin moisturised
Keeping your child's skin moisturised is essential for avoiding dry and therefore itchy, irritated skin. First of all, make sure to moisturise their skin throughout the day rather than just once. Many parents also make the mistake of stopping with the cream or lotion once their little one's skin irritation has calmed down. We actually find that preventing is always better than trying to fix a problem once it has occurred, which is exactly why we have developed our
Bioskin Junior Daily Nourishing Spray. It's not just for relieving dry skin, but also makes a great daily maintenance dose of moisture and nutrients to keep irritation at bay and allow the skin to repair.
Especially with your child going back to school, it can be hard to keep their skin moisturised throughout the day. Sarah mentioned that her daughter Delilah always has a cream at school for when her skin becomes itchy and sore, and that she is very consistent with using moisturising product as a part of the morning and nighttime routine. Our
Bioskin Junior Outbreak Rescue Cream has become a go-to cream for parents looking to soothe their little one's severely dry and itchy skin. Not only does it relieve extreme dryness, it also works to restore the skin barrier and protect the skin.
3. Bathe carefully
Your little one's skin is really delicate, and being mindful of bath time is especially important when your child has sensitive skin. Using the right temperature of water (not too hot, not too cold) is very important as well as duration, since contact with water can actually dry out the skin quickly. When it comes to picking bath time products, natural ingredients are best. Sarah told us: "Oat baths are a god send as they really soothe and calm the skin. I get an old pairs of tights, fill the socks with oats and run the tap over them into a warm bath, ensuring the water is not too hot." Don't forget to pat your child dry after a bath or shower, because rubbing your child's skin with a towel
can cause friction and irritation. Our
Bioskin Junior Bath Range has become a firm favourite for parents who are looking to support their little one's skin in a gentle and natural way during bathtime.
4. Keep your child happy
Having sensitive, eczema-prone skin is bothersome and annoying, especially since your child might not understand why their skin is reacting the way it is. Keeping your child's spirits high especially now they are going back to school is important. We asked mummy blogger Sarah about how her children feel about having eczema, and she replied: "Delilah gets upset that she can’t have the novelty bubble baths and can only use certain products. I do sometimes take her out to try and find some new exciting products that don't aggravate her skin." Adapting to your child is important, finding something they enjoy and that keeps them smiling can go a long way.
5. Make a routine
Maintaining a simple skincare routine that your child can get used to will make your life as a parent easier. Making skincare a never-changing part of their routine will help them remember, which in turn will help their skin stay in good condition and prevent flare-ups as much as possible. Sarah simply added: "Keep its simple & stick to it." Especially with natural skincare, remember to be patient, persistent and that consistency is key!
If you are struggling to find products that work for your child's sensitive skin, you are not alone. We get so many messages from parents who feel like they have tried everything and nothing has worked. Just know that our
Bioskin Junior range has been especially designed to be suitable for kids who may be prone to eczema, dermatitis and other skin allergies, and that we avoid synthetic ingredients that are known to irritate sensitive skin. Our products will feed your little one's skin all the vitamins, and minerals it needs to gain strength and be better able to fend off dryness, itchiness, and redness in the future.
If you would like to ask us questions about our products or your child's skin, feel free to send us an
email
Finally, we thank Sarah (@minimotrio) once more for sharing her helpful and practical tips!