Winter Skin-Care Tips for Babies & Children

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As much as we hate the dry, cracked and chapped skin winter gives us, it’s so much more painful to see our babies suffer from it too. Even though babies’ skin looks like it heals as fast as a vampire’s, we do need to protect it from the cold weather just as much as our own. That takes a little more work than just layering them up whenever we leave the house, especially since kids often have specific skin issues like eczema that may require more attention and care when it’s cold out.

“During the winter months, outside elements and cooler temperatures are especially rough on young skin and can aggravate skin conditions such as eczema flare-ups, diaper rash and ‘dribble rash’ for teething babies,” dermatologist Dr. Rachel Pritzker tells SheKnows.

These winter skin-care tips for kids will help you keep your little ones’ skin soft and healthy — even during tundra-like weather.

1. Look for fragrance-free products

“Fragrance-free” on product labels — specifically laundry detergent and moisturizers — is key. New Jersey allergist and immunologist Tina Zecca recommends avoiding preservatives too. Preservative ingredients such as formaldehyde and propylene glycol can trigger skin allergies, she warns.

Detergents like Babyganics 3x Baby Laundry Detergent steer clear of those allergy-triggering fragrances, while California Baby Super Sensitive Everyday Lotion fits the bill for fragrance-free moisturizing.

2. Don’t over-bathe

For kids and adults alike, if we bathe too frequently, our skin can dry out — and this can disrupt the skin barrier and let allergens in. Bear in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends bathing babies no more than three times a week for the first year. With older kids, note that hot, long showers can dry out skin by removing protective natural skin or oils, says board-certified dermatologist and pediatrician Tsippora Shainhouse. Keep your bath and shower water warm, not hot (a maximum temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit for anyone) and limit the duration to less than 10 minutes. “Use a moisturizing soap … and only wash the ‘dirty’ areas — neck, feet, armpits, upper back, groin/diaper area — if the rest are clean,” she adds.

For babies prone to dry patches and/or eczema, we recommend Honest’s Soothing Therapy Eczema Body Wash with colloidal oatmeal.

3. Moisturize well

After bathing your child, pat them dry with a towel and apply a moisturizing lotion or cream within the first three minutes of getting out of the water to help the skin retain some of the water from the shower and prevent extra drying. If your child doesn’t like the sensation of a thick cream, Shainhouse suggests using a lighter hydrating lotion, such as Cetaphil Baby Eczema Soothing Lotion, which contains skin-repairing ceramides. She also recommends applying a thicker moisturizer to exposed areas of a child’s skin, like the nose, cheeks, wrists and hands, before going outdoors.

“Ingredients like oatmeal and glycerin will attract water to the skin, while occlusive ingredients like dimethicone and petroleum will hold and seal the water in,” she says.

We also like Baby Bum’s anti-inflammatory calendula cream for the whole body, and the thicker Tubby Todd’s All Over Ointment to protect those exposed bits.

4. Don’t forget sunscreen

Even when it’s cold, UV rays are present; they pass through clouds and reflect off snow. Shainhouse recommends applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more to exposed skin on a child’s face every morning before heading outdoors. “This is especially important if you and your kids will be playing outside for prolonged periods or if you are skiing [or] snowboarding,” she adds. “Higher altitudes mean you are closer to the sun and more likely to sunburn. Remember to apply a coat of sunscreen before heading out to the slopes and reapply after lunch.”

Because of research into how the body absorbs chemical sunscreens, many experts are recommending the use of broad-spectrum mineral sunscreens. For this reason, we like to use Earth Mama Organics SPF 40 Sunscreen for babies.

5. Treat compromised skin with extra TLC

If your child has eczema, don’t autopilot to your local pharmacy for a common moisturizer when it flares. “Some OTC moisturizers can do more harm than good for compromised skin,” warns Zecca. “OTC products with a high pH or potentially allergenic ingredients can actually irritate skin and make it itchier.” Instead, ask your doctor about prescription barrier-repair products like EpiCeram, which has free fatty acids and other essential lipids in the right ratio to repair the lower layers of the skin and a controlled release to penetrate deep into the skin over time. Its pH also mimics the skin’s natural pH, so it won’t burn or irritate.

Pritzker urges parents to avoid using excessive amounts of soap — and of course avoid bathing eczema-prone skin daily. She recommends using WaterWipes instead, “to remove any visible dirt instead of a full bath … The irony of eczema is that you do not want to over-wash it, but occasionally remove dirt and oils.”

And finally, “due to the drier air during the winter, kids with eczema or a propensity for dry skin should be using a cream-based moisturizer at least once a day,” says board-certified dermatologist Ted Lain. “If the rash does not improve, I would highly recommend seeking care from a dermatologist. Treating these conditions in their mild to moderate stages is much easier than trying to control them when flaring badly.”

Honest’s Eczema Soothing Therapy Balm is one baby-friendly option for you.

6. Use a humidifier

Electric heat can be very drying to indoor air, which can in turn cause itchy, dry skin and even a dry throat and nosebleeds. Shainhouse suggests using a humidifier in the bedroom through the night to add moisture to the air.

Though it can be a pain to clean, we’ve found the Pure MistAire Ultrasonic Cool Mist humidifier to be a reliable, inexpensive and super quiet option.

If your child is prone to nosebleeds due to dryness, Shainhouse says to apply a thin layer of Vaseline or Aquaphor inside their nose before bedtime.

Follow these winter skin care tips for kids, and your tot’s skin won’t suffer — even when the weather outside is, well, weather. Take that, winter.

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A version of this article was originally published in January 2018.