PART 3 – MAKING LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS

Does your child often break out in itchy red patches that irritate the skin and cause some serious discomfort?

Some people find that making small lifestyle adjustments can make a significant difference over time. There are many things that can cause it to occur. So keep an eye out for the things that seem to worsen your kid’s dry sensitive skin or even bring on full redness. Then make a plan to avoid or replace those items.

Here are some things to consider.

Laundry detergents. Most commercial detergents contain harsh chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin. It’s best to make sure you’re using laundry detergent made for people with sensitive skin whenever you’re washing your children’s clothing. There are even some special detergents made just for babies that don’t contain any harsh ingredients.

Clothing. Some materials are somewhat rough and tend to make the skin feel a bit too itchy. Those irritating materials should be avoided as much as possible. When you’re purchasing clothes for your little ones, make sure the clothes are made of cotton so that they’re lightweight on the skin and won’t cause a lot of irritation.

Diet. This is a difficult one since different foods affect children differently. The best advice is to keep a close watch on which foods seem to aggravate your child’s itch and make the necessary adjustments. The usual culprits are eggs, cow’s milk, peanuts and gluten from bread. But this does not mean that all children will react in the same way.

Essentially, it’s an individual skin condition that there’s never going to be one-size fits all solution. Simply pay attention to what bothers your child’s skin and what doesn’t. Keeping notes is a great strategy. If you have several notes to quickly look back on, you’ll know exactly what you need to avoid or replace to keep the itching and aggravation under control.

The main thing is to keep your child’s skin as hydrated as possible. Hydration with a safe child-appropriate cream is critical to skin health and yet so often underappreciated.