Skin Sense: Introducing Healthy Skincare Habits to your Child

Teaching healthy habits early on is a no-brainer. But while most parents focus on teaching diet and exercise, a lot of us tend to forget about skincare, assuming that young children’s skin is just like adult skin.

Dermatologist and board-certified Fellow of the American Academy of Aesthetic Dermatology, Dr. Jean Tan MD, states, “Children are usually regarded as small adults, but in reality they are not; they have different needs and concerns when it comes to skin health. The skin of young children and babies is thinner as it is not yet fully developed compared to adult skin. Thus, they are more easily irritated and are more susceptible to skin damage and infection. For this reason, it is important for parents to understand not only how to recognize and treat skin problems, but also how to look after their child’s skin to prevent them from occurring in the first place.” Here are 5 lessons to teach your children about taking care of the largest organ in the body:

1. The sun is our friend.
There’s nothing worse than teaching your child that the sun is bad, as nothing can be farther from the truth. Humans absolutely need moderate sunlight exposure. Benefits are numerous, the most important of which is the production of Vitamin D, an extremely powerful essential nutrient that is key to maintaining overall health. Vitamin D deficiency is on the rise worldwide, and is linked to increasing rates of bone disease, and even cancer.

But keep in mind that moderation is key. Dr. Tan points out that sunburn is one of the most preventable skin conditions that kids face. “Young skin has a thinner outer layer which allows ultraviolet (UV) rays to penetrate more easily. As much as possible, avoid sun exposure between 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, when damaging rays are at their strongest.”

As a general rule, about 15-20 minutes of direct sunlight in the morning is good enough, but if the skin starts to tingle and redden before that, then it’s time to go back inside.

During the school year, encourage your kids to take advantage of recess to get some sun. If possible, eat breakfast with them outside. Also, have them pick out fun sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats and tote them along when you go out. If you choose to use sunscreen, why not search the web for DIY sunscreen recipes? If you’re short on time, find as natural a product as possible.

Try Indigo Baby’s Sun Is Shining Baby Sunblock, Legaspi Market.

2. You can keep your entire body clean just by washing your hands.
And by “clean”, we really mean disease-free. Proper washing technique is important, and while many moms are encouraged to get creative, a good guide is to have them wash their hands for as long as it takes to (fluently) recite the ABC’s- about 30 seconds. Use warm water if possible, and don’t be stingy on soap. Rubbing is important, so scrub away, and get under those fingernails while you’re at it!

Try Cyleina Organic’s Tomato Soap, Watson’s Drug Store.

While it’s (fairly) easy to teach children how to wash their hands, the real trick to effective disease prevention is in teaching them when to wash their hands. Before and after they eat is a good starting point, but remind them to do the same after they cover their mouth to cough or sneeze, after they use the bathroom, and after they come inside the house from the mall or playtime with friends (especially if they’ve been playing in the dirt). Most importantly, teach them not to touch their face, as infections can get inside the body when contaminated hands go inside the mouth, the nose, the eyes, and even ears.

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3. Give skin some breathing space.
Our skin is designed to protect us from potential environmental hazards, but it needs to be able to breathe in order to work properly. Too often, infants and toddlers get diaper rash (diaper dermatitis) unnecessarily, resulting from the skin’s inability to perform its function.

According to Dr. Tan, ammonia in the urine and fecal enzymes, when combined with friction, will lead to softening of the outer layer of the skin. This will hamper the skin’s ability to protect itself from possible irritants like bacteria, causing infections. It may also occur as a result of irritation from strong soaps, bubble bath or baby wipes containing alcohol. To prevent diaper rash, Dr. Tan recommends changing wet or soiled diapers right away (if you’re not sure, check the diaper at least every two hours). Clean the whole area using mild baby soap and water. When using baby wipes, wipe from front to back. Look for natural ointments that will prevent the skin from contacting moisture. Want a cheap but healthy solution? Some moms have used coconut oil or olive oil.

Try Avalon Organics’ Baby Diaper Balm, Healthy Options Store.

For older kids, however, this lesson applies to minor wounds. It’s important to switch out band-aids or dressings regularly, especially if it’s gotten wet from bathing. As soon as there’s enough scab formed to “cover” the wound, it’s okay to stop using band-aids. If a band-aid is needed to discourage children from picking scabs, use one with a design that kids like, as the “cool designs” can deter them from messing with it. The most important lesson in this is to let the skin do its “thing”- it can heal itself wonderfully, if given the chance. Keeping it covered unnecessarily may be hampering the healing process.

4. Not all skin products are the same.
Be pro-active and teach your children to be picky about what goes in and on their bodies. Remind them that their bodies are temples, and so should treat them accordingly. Don’t wait until a rash or redness develops to determine that your child has an allergy or sensitivity to certain ingredients. Beware of products that could actually cause more harm than good.

According to Dr. Tan, two such products are talcum powder and insect repellants with DEET. “One of the main concerns about talc is that it is commonly contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen (though talc is suspected to be cancer-causing also). Talc is a superfine powder made up of mixed ground minerals like magnesium silicates. The small particles are easily carried in the air, and can reach even the smallest areas of the lung, if inhaled.” She suggests using talc-free powders.

Try Tiny Buds’ Rice Baby Powder, visit www.imf-wellness.com for store location.

Another product to avoid is insect repellent with DEET. Dr. Tan explains: “DEET can be harmful for children, who are more susceptible [than adults] to toxic effects. Accidental skin exposure of DEET can have side-effects ranging from mild redness and irritation to rashes, hives and even brain cell death.” Dr. Tan also warns never to use insect repellants containing DEET on infants. Search for safer alternatives with citronella oil as the main active ingredient, or use citronella oil alone.

Try Mia Maison’s Citronella Oil, TriNoma and 6 other branches throughout Metro Manila

5. Healthy skin comes from inside.
The single most important factor in determining skin health is our lifestyle. Diet and exercise can both negatively and positively affect the health of our skin. In fact, our skin, the largest organ in our body, is an indicator of how healthy we are on the inside. Dry skin? Rough, red patches? Those are most likely signs that something is awry internally. Teach your children the popular saying “Garbage in, garbage out”, and explain that food is not just about eating calories, but more importantly, about giving yourself proper nutrients to stay happy and healthy. One way to habitualize this type of thinking is to ask your child “What did you eat today?” when he or she has a new skin complaint. Chances are, unless you’re in a new environment, that skin complaint is related to an internal rather than external cause. Asking that question will also help them make the connection between food and skin- something that even us adults tend to forget.

“Do as I say, not as I do” shouldn’t be the case when teaching children to make healthy decisions for their own bodies. While they may not fully understand all the complexities of the body, they still need as honest an explanation as they can get, because the more information you share with them, the more they can grow up to be informed adults. And as most doctors can tell you, an informed patient stays healthier, longer.

Photo from flickr creative commons