Cold weather and winter months can worsen most skin conditions in children, especially eczema. Babies and children can develop dry, itchy skin that interferes with their sleep, play, and mood.
I recommend two basic principles for treating skin conditions in children: #1 eliminate the “bad stuff” (for example - artificial ingredients in soaps, lotions, detergents; processed food; stress) and #2 add/use more of the “good stuff” (healthy diet and lifestyle; nutritional supplements, soaps, lotions, detergents with natural ingredients).
For mild cases of eczema that don’t require prescriptions creams follow these top 5 tips for healthy, itch-free skin in children.
1. Food:
Chronic conditions, likes eczema, have inflammation as one of underlying root causes. When injured, the body is trying to heal by mobilizing an inflammatory response. That’s not a bad thing, unless it’s going on for too long and it’s too extensive.
To decrease or prevent chronic inflammation in children, I recommend the anti-Inflammatory diet: eliminated processed food, anything with artificial dyes, preservatives, added sugar, and add more whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, fish, nuts and seeds, meat, healthy fats, fermented foods. For more details on the anti-inflammatory diet for chronic conditions, check out this blog: HERE
2. Daily baths or showers:
Children should take short, luke-warm baths or showers, using a mild soap like Dove or Cetaphil. For babies, try to avoid Johnson’s-and-Johnson’s products as they can cause rashes.
3. Daily moisturizing:
I prefer an oil that contains chamomile and calendula from Badger, but other over-the-counter moisturizer that I like are brands like Cetaphil and Aveeno.
It’s always a good idea to check your soaps, lotions, creams and anything else you put on your skin and children’s skin on the Environmental Working Group website database: https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/
4. Nutritional support:
Skin health is a reflection of gut health. For children who have chronic skin problems, I recommend probiotics, which are good gut bacteria, and an omega 3 supplements. However, keep in mind that ‘supplements’ are not a long-term solutions and children need to get their nutrients from real food.
5. Stress management:
Stress, especially chronic stress, can worsen any chronic condition, including eczema. To help children manage stress, parents need to manage their own stress. There are numerous stress management options, but my number one is daily meditation. For a short meditation for mom and children, check out this YouTube video:
