It’s heartbreaking to see a child struggle with rashes, eczema and allergies. Fortunately, there are solutions to help kids’ sensitive skin.
Sensitive.
She’s been that way since she was born. Sensitive to smells, to sounds, to textures, motion and sunlight and even to the air she breathes. Loud noises make her cringe or cower in fear, especially public bathrooms with super-powered hand dryers and heavy duty toilets that flush by themselves.
And then there is her skin.
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Her poor, delicate, easily irritated, ultra sensitive skin.
Bug bites, made unbearably itchy by an allergic reaction, become a collection of open sores on her arms & legs. Scented creams or harsh ingredients cause immediate rashes and inflammation. Any clothing with an itchy tags or rough seams is completely intolerable, and even at four years old (and potty trained), she still gets terrible diaper rashes.
Do any of your kids have skin like this?
She’s so sensitive that at her last checkup with the doctor, I was sure something must be terribly wrong. This much sensitivity just cannot be normal! Alas, according to our pediatrician sensitive skin is not only well within the norm, it is actually a very common ailment for light-haired, fair skinned kids. Unfortunately, she told us, there is no real cure, just a few ways to manage it.
5 Tips for Healing Your Child’s Sensitive Skin
Over the years, we’ve just learned to deal with it in the best way we can, and have found that there are a few tips that have helped a lot. If you too are struggling with your child’s sensitive skin, these five strategies may work for you as well:
1. Use LOTS of thick cream
One of the best ways to protect sensitive skin is to keep it moisturized. The dryer the skin, the more sensitive it will be. Applying generous amounts of hypoallergenic, thick white cream will really help. Our favorite cream is Dr. Smith’s which we discovered a few years ago when I got some free samples at a blogging conference. We have been addicted to it ever since! It is technically sold as a diaper rash ointment, but since it is thick and creamy unscented and so amazing, we usually use it as a full body moisturizer. (It is available nationwide at Walgreens or online; get a $2.00 off coupon here!) It works especially well applied to damp skin after a bath or shower.
2. Bathe carefully
Baths strip the body of natural oils, leaving skin dry and unprotected. Cutting down the number of baths your child takes per week, limiting them to 3-4 instead of daily, can allow her skin more time to build up its natural defenses. Of course kids will be kids, and obviously whether this is feasible will depend a lot on your child and how dirty they get on a daily basis! While a hot bath always seems more inviting, that warmer water will strip those natural oils even faster. When you do give your child a bath or shower, especially if you must do it daily, keep the water temperature as lukewarm as your child can stand. Finally, avoid harsh soaps or scented bubble baths, but try adding a little oatmeal to soothe & moisten the skin.
3. Choose non-irritating clothing
I have found that soft natural fabrics, such as cotton knits tend to be the least irritating to my little one’s skin. I choose clothing without tags whenever possible, or else cut them out. Paying attention to how apparel is put together really helps too–if something feels a little scratchy or rough to me, I know it will feel a hundred times worse to her.
4. Use unscented detergent
The fewer allergens and scents you use in your home and on or near your child’s skin, the less chance there will be for irritation. Whenever possible, choose unscented cleaning and laundry products, including laundry detergent, fabric softener, and any other cleaners, lotions, soaps, and bubble baths.
5. Guard against the elements
Sensitive skin is no match for all the hazards of the great outdoors. Between sun exposure, chlorine, insects, extreme temperatures, and certain plants or chemicals on the plans, the opportunities for developing painful rashes, bug bites, sun or windburn, and just plain dry, itchy skin are everywhere. In addition to using thick cream to keep skin as moisturized as possible, guarding against the elements can help a lot. Have your child wear sunscreen and a hat in the sun. Rinse them off immediately after swimming in chlorinated water. Use bug repellant and have them wear long pants, long sleeves, and socks & shoes whenever possible. This is sometimes easier said than done, especially in the 90+ degree Florida heat, but ultimately the fewer allergens you can expose them to, the better off they will be.
While there is no surefire way to prevent or cure all skin sensitivities, managing the symptoms and limiting the causes can definitely help your little one live a little easier.
This post was underwritten by Dr. Smith’s.
All opinions are mine. Dr. Smith’s is the the go-to diaper rash ointment for moms-in-the-know. It helps your child’s skin go from rash to fast relief, and can help treat and prevent even them most severe diaper rash, often overnight. Dr. Smith’s was developed by a pediatrician and includes a fast-acting, premium blend of ingredients. It goes on like a cream but protects like an ointment, giving your child’s skin the best of both worlds.
Dr. Smith’s is available nationwide at Walgreens, or online at Amazon.com. You can currently get a $2.00 off coupon on the Dr. Smith’s Facebook Page, as well at Coupons.com
Do any of your children suffer from sensitive skin? Do you have any tips to share?
To recap, here are 5 Tips for Healing Your Child’s Sensitive Skin
1. Use LOTS of thick cream
2. Bathe carefully
3. Choose non-irritating clothing
4. Use unscented detergent
5. Guard against the elements
Other helpful resources:
- 10 Must Have Essential Oils for Your Medicine Cabinet
- Essential Oils 101
- 15 Healthy Home Remedies That Actually Work
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Ruth Soukup
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Just as a supportive note on skin: I am 68 and have super-dry skin that was never a problem as a young person. Not only that, it seems that now my skin is sensitive to all sorts of things that I ever gave a thought to. First off, my podiatrist highly recommends cream over lotions for skin. I never thought about it really but lotions have more water in them and don’t protect the skin as long as a cream. I am really glad to know about Dr. Smith’s cream and will definitely invest in it. Both hubby and I are sensitive to scented “stuff” such as laundry detergent, dryer sheets, etc. I find that scented deodorants bother me too and it is SO difficult to find unscented deodorants! Why is that? I have to spend at least 15 minutes studying all the labels on the deodorant products to locate even one brand that comes in unscented! Lastly, in the last 10 or so years, I am now allergic to (sensitive?) to adhesives such as plastic tape used in hospitals, bandages and even paper tape if I leave it on too long. Since my skin is thin and I am taking a blood-thinner, it doesn’t take much of a bump to cause bleeding, particularly on my hands and arms. If I leave a bandage on too long, a rash develops and/or it goes so “stuck” that it takes baby oil, or something similar, to get it off without further tearing my skin. My heart goes out to those little ones with sensitive skin. I am sure it’ll be a life-long battle for them.
Would you please share the name of the bug repellant you use? I’m always afraid to use them on sensitive skin, thinking they will be irritating. Thanks so much!
We haven’t really had a problem with that and I’ve used all kinds–whatever we have on hand. (Usually OFF! I think) Our problem is usually that we put it on after the bugs are already biting instead of beforehand! 🙂
My daughter has eczema which makes her skin EXTREMELY sensitive! Our pediatrician told us early on that cleansers, creams, detergents, etc. with the fewest ingredients were generally the best. I have found that to be true for her. We use Kiss My Face olive oil soap and Kiss My Face Whenevever Shampoo and Conditioner. Both have worked really well for her. Also, we found that fragrance free detergents were not enough because they still contain extremely harsh chemicals, just no fragrance. We recently found The Honest Company founded by the actress Jessica Alba and we are very pleased with all of their products. They contain very few ingredients, all natural and many organic. I was skeptical about how well they would work but we love them. So far we have tried the Laundry pods, Oxy Boost, Dish Detergent, Hand Soap, Dryer Cloths, Lotion, Diapers and Wipes (which are actually the best diapers I have EVER used) and the Dishwasher pods. They are all great. If you or any of your readers would like to check them out, here is the link: http://honest.com/accept_invitation/241154
You can buy the products individually or sign up for the auto-ship bundles. We do the bundles and have been very pleased. The products cost the same for us as they do at the grocery store and they are delivered monthly. You can also adjust the ship dates to suit your family’s needs. I really cannot say enough good things about their products and how they have helped my daughter’s skin (and helped my family eliminate their exposure to so many chemicals)!
I use goat milk and oatmeal soap for my son. I buy it at a farmers market and it works really well for skin sensitivity.
My granddaughter had trouble with skin sensitivity until we realized she had a wheat intolerance. As long as she is careful what she eats it does not bother her as much now.
That is something we have never considered! How did you find our she had a wheat intolerance?
Her parents took her to the pediatrician and she suggested taking the child off wheat, milk and eggs. It was difficult but she adjusted. Now that she is older she can have limited amounts in her diet, but she still reacts sometimes. There is also some wheat intolerance on one side of the family. There is a test that you can do for celiac disease. My suggestion would be to talk with your pediatrican before you do anything and then try lowering her exposure to wheat.
I second this idea. I’ve had sensitive skin, eczema, urticaria and dry skin since childhood. Age 24; I wanted to get healthy so I slowly overhauled my food/fuel choices. I removed wheat (later all grains), dairy and later meat. I upped fresh fruits and vegetables, green smoothies, juicing and salads and I am a different person! (Lost a ton of weight!) I’m not free of flaws and still get itchy every now and then but at this rate I should be clear within a few months. Staying hydrated has been the ticket. I know this is older but I thought I would relate. Also, I love your blog.
My little one has a wheat allergy. I went gluten free when he was four months. He is still nursing now at 13 months and we still struggle with his, what I perceive to be, extremely sensitive skin. I use heavy oils like A and D to moisturize his skin as well as cerave lotion. It has worked but I also have to re-apply at least two times before bed. It is trying to keep up with the regimen. He had really bad eczema which diminished when I removed wheat from my diet. He recently got tested for food allergies and it turns out he is allergic to wheat, eggs and peanuts! Ahhh! Learning to work around the food allergies and his sensitive skin has been overwhelming. It’s nice to know that there is support and recommended regimens to help mitigate his reactions. I have found that food allergies as well as environmental triggers have been a huge factor. I am working to balance a healthy indoor, outdoor lifestyle and keep my little bean free of skin irritations, rashes and eczema flare ups.