From baby to teenager, the health of your child’s skin is very important. Fortunately, there are many things you can do as a parent to ensure that your child’s skin stays as healthy as possible.
What to Look For in Baby Skincare Products
Baby skin is extremely sensitive, which means that it requires great care. The best products for baby’s skin contain specific ingredients. These include:
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Vitamin E: This vitamin works as a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect your skin from inflammation. It also helps your baby’s skin to remain as well-hydrated as possible.
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Green tea: This is also a good antioxidant for your baby’s skin. Green tea also help to prevent bacteria from accumulating on your baby’s skin that could lead to an infection.
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Avocado oil: Avocado oil is a good natural ingredient to look for in baby skincare products, since it is very easily absorbed into your baby’s skin, especially on the face and scalp. Additionally, avocado oil contains very important vitamins including vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin E.
How to Take Care of Your Child’s Skin
Aside from choosing the right skincare products for your baby, it is also important to take other steps to ensure your child’s skin stays healthy and protected.
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Protect your child’s skin from the sun by applying sunscreen that contains at least SPF 30 anytime your child will be exposed to the sun’s rays. These rays are the strongest and most damaging between 10 AM and 2 PM, so if possible, avoid exposing your child to the sun at all during these times. It is also good to put protective clothing on your child when they are exposed to the sun. These steps will help to reduce your child’s risk of developing skin cancer later in life.
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Don’t use any products on your baby’s skin that contain fragrances, as this can potentially irritate your child’s skin and lead to inflammation or a rash.
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If your child gets burned, make sure to leave the area uncovered to allow air to reach the area. Seek medical attention immediately if the burn is severe.
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If your child develops a fungal infection such as ringworm (which develops as scaly red patches on the skin), it is best to talk with your doctor to decide which treatment plan will be best.
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Moisturize your child’s skin. Baby skin needs to be well-moisturized at all times in order to prevent dryness from developing. However, you should never use harsh moisturizing creams intended for adults on your baby’s skin as this will only cause irritation. There are products that are specifically created for children that will work much better.
Common Skin Problems in Children
As your child grows older, they may become more susceptible to other common skin problems. These include:
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Dry skin: It is common for children to get dry skin when the weather is very cold. The best way to handle this is to avoid using soaps that contain fragrances, as this could make the matter worse. Additionally, apply gentle creams to the areas of dryness to moisturize the skin.
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Chapped skin: There are many products available that will help to prevent chapping. However, if it does occur, there are many creams that are specifically formulated to relieve the chapped skin and fix the problem quickly.
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Itchy skin: Dry skin will often also be very itchy. This is especially common during the winter months. It is important not to let your child scratch, as this could break the skin and lead to infections. Instead, try to keep a cream on hand that will relieve the itching and keep your child’s skin moisturized.
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Broken skin: Broken skin could be a result of extremely cold weather as well, or from scratching itchy areas. If this occurs, apply antiseptic ointments to the area and call your doctor if you begin to notice any signs of infection.
