How to Protect Your Child’s Skin from Winter Weather

Your child’s skin is her largest organ. Being an external organ, special care must be given to keep it in good working order, and to protect it from winter’s harsh weather. Use these guidelines to keep his skin healthy.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Sunscreen
• Lip Protection
• Moisturizing Lotion
• Petroleum Jelly
• Protective clothing

1. Need for Special Care: The younger the child, the more important it is to take special care to keep your child’s skin healthy and nourished. Children’s skin, especially toddler’s skin is more delicate than an adult’s skin. A baby’s skin is particularly receptive to harsh winter elements because it is thinner, more sensitive, and has less keratin (a protective agent). The more steps you can do to protect their skin, the better the chances your child will have to grow up with healthy skin.
2. Daily Care: To provide your child with the best protection in winter, start with daily care. Use a mild soap. Hand washing is especially important in winter to keep from passing germs prevalent during winter months. Children should start learning the correct way to wash their hands in their toddler years. Teach them to wet their hands, lather and rub everywhere (palms, wrists, between fingers, and under nails). After rinsing well, she should dry thoroughly with a clean towel. It is particularly important in the winter to dry thoroughly as leaving excessive moisture on the skin can lead to chapping. Use a moisturizing lotion periodically to replace lost moisture within the skin.
3. Winter activities require special attention. Sun Protection: The winter sun, though you can’t always see it, can wreak havoc on young skin. This is especially true if your child is involved in winter sports where exposure time can be for hours at a time. Have your child use a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. A product with SPF protection of 30 to 45 provides more shield at little or no additional cost. Apply evenly. Do not miss spots. Any exposed area is vulnerable to the sun’s rays. Reapply according to the directions, especially during activity where he sweats. Don’t forget to use lip balm with sunscreen to protect lips.
4. Frostbite Protection: Children are vulnerable to frostbite because they lose heat rapidly in cooler temperatures and tend to ignore discomfort during play. Your child should dress in layers, with the most internal layer composed of cotton. Protective outerwear is a must. Hats should be snug. An insulated, waterproof component is required for gloves and boots. Change clothes as necessary when they get wet from snow or sweat. Apply a light coating of petroleum jelly just under his nose before you allow your child to go outside. Runny noses are susceptible to irritated skin through nose blowing or rubbing. Symptoms of mild frostbite are redness with burning or tingling. At the first sign of frostbite, get your child inside right away. Put him into warm, dry clothing. Frostbite can progress to skin symptoms of numbness, becoming white and/or hard, and swollen. If she has these symptoms, get her to a doctor immediately.

Tips & Warnings

• Protecting a child early will keep young skin healthy. Teaching your child the basics of skin care will encourage a lifetime of healthy skin.
• Frostbite can happen within an hour of exposure. Check on your child frequently, and provide protective measures. If frostbite has occurred, seek medical attention.