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| Winterize
Your Family’s Skin By Amy Crelly Come winter, most of us crank up the central heating, lowering the humidity level of the air in our homes. This can dry out skin, and, for sensitive skin especially, it can mean flaky, itchy, even rashy, winter months. Naturally, kids want to scratch their itchy skin, further irritating the rash... and the cycle continues. To protect your child’s skin (and baby your own), you want to make the most of your moisturizing routine and nourish skin, too, from the inside-out. Here's how: Moisturize Dr. Bob Sears, one of the most trusted names in pediatrics, has this advice: "Think of moisturizers as dressing your child’s skin in protective layers. Just as you dress your children appropriately for winter weather, think about 'dressing their skin' in the same way. By applying an ointment like Aquaphor Healing Ointment before exposure to harsh elements, you can prevent windburn, such as from sledding, or chaffing from rough scarves and hats... A good moisturizer is not heavily fragranced, is free of dyes and preservatives and contains minimal ingredients, so it won’t irritate children’s skin, which tends to get even more sensitive in the winter." Sears recommends what he calls "the 'soak and seal' method." After giving your child a bath, gently blot the skin with a towel, leaving a light layer of water to soak into the skin. Then apply a moisturizer on the skin to seal in that moisture. You can pamper your own skin with the same routine after a shower or bath. Air travel is also tough on skin. Cabin air has a relative humidity of around ten percent, versus the optimal fifty percent relative humidity needed to maintain healthy skin. Apply a thin layer of moisturizer on the exposed skin during air travel to counteract that drying effect. Another favorite Sears family winterizing trick: Vaporize. A vaporizer in the bedroom has a double health benefit. It not only increases the humidity in the bedroom and helps prevent winter skin from drying out, but the steam also acts like a heat source. That's because when water condenses, it releases heat. The more humid air allows you to turn the central heating down and save fuel costs.Nourish Your Family's Skin Water your growing child’s skin. Since water is the primary component of the skin, it makes sense to keep the skin well-hydrated. Have your child drink at least an ounce of fluids per pound per day. Dr. Bob tells his dermatitis patients: “If you don’t want your skin to feel like a fish, eat more fish.” Seafood is high in vitamin A, omega-3 fats and vitamin D, making it a super-food for healthy skin. Since winter months mean less sunshine, and therefore less vitamin D, food sources become extra important. Omega 3’s act like anti-inflammatories to help heal and repair the skin. Omega 3’s can be given in supplement form if your children aren’t fond of fish. Finally, eat lots of fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants that give fruits and vegetables their bright color help nourish skin, keeping it youthful, healthy and "happy."For more tips like these, and free advice on all kinds of parenting topics (from Pregnancy to Family Nutrition to Discipline & Behavior), or to sign up for the Dr. Sears Family e-newsletter, visit www.askdrsears.com. |
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