health
The delicate truth about baby skin
Babies are more prone to skin troubles in summer for one simple reason: their skin is supersensitive.
“ A baby’ s skin is more delicate, and they need to be protected from the sun and wear protective clothing,” says Dr Makhado.“ Their skin should also be moisturised regularly.”
Dr Makhado adds that babies should wear cotton or non-occlusive clothing in hot weather.
Hewlett echoes this, adding:“ A baby’ s skin is less able to regulate temperature. Caregivers should dress babies in light, breathable clothing, keep them in shaded or cool areas, apply babysafe sunscreen and use gentle insect repellent, if needed.”
Managing eczema in the heat
Summer’ s heat can be especially rough on kids with eczema.
“ Some children’ s eczema is aggravated by heat and excessive sweating,” says Dr Makhado.“ Use gentle cleansers and fragrance-free moisturisers, and avoid occlusive emollients. And ensure they apply a high-factor sunscreen all year round.”
Hewlett also suggests adjusting their skincare routine:“ Bathe them in lukewarm water and apply fragrance-free moisturiser immediately after bathing. Avoid heavy creams during the day and reapply lighter moisturisers often to keep the skin hydrated and comfortable.”
While summer skin issues are often mild, knowing what to look for and how to treat them can save you and your little one a lot of discomfort. Keep things cool, stay shaded, moisturise like it’ s your job, and trust your instincts. If something doesn’ t seem right, your doctor’ s just a call away.
Now, back to chasing toddlers with sun hats and squirting sunscreen like it’ s a sport. You’ ve got this. �
Soothing summer skin
When rashes or irritations pop up, most don’ t require heavy medications. In fact, simple remedies can go a long way.
“ When treating heat rash,” says Hewlett,“ keep the skin cool and dry, dress in loose cotton clothing and use a mild baby powder or calamine lotion.”
Hewlett’ s recommendations for other concerns:
• Sunburn:“ Apply cool compresses, keep skin moisturised with fragrancefree lotion or aloe vera gel and keep the child out of the sun.”
• Insect bites:“ Use cold packs to reduce swelling and itching, and apply a baby-safe anti-itch cream or calamine lotion.”
• Eczema flare-ups:“ Keep skin moisturised with fragrance-free emollients and avoid triggers like heat and sweat.”
And both experts agree: skip harsh soaps, fragranced products or overthe-counter steroid creams( unless prescribed by a doctor, of course.)
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