Atopic skin care for babies

Atopic dermatitis is a common condition affecting babies and children. New parents who have to deal with skin problems in their babies may have a number of questions – what is atopic dermatitis and what is the best atopic skin care for babies? How does it differ from the normal skin care routine?

Atopic baby skin care for babies is a very familiar topic to us. Raising our babies, Matthew and Paula, meant a lot of research and a long search for preventive methods and suitable cosmetic products. In this article, we will share important information and our own time-tested measures to fight atopic dermatitis. You can also find a lot of information about baby skin care in the article Baby skin care.

Atopic skin care for babies – why is it necessary?

Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a skin condition that causes dryness, redness and uncomfortable itching. Eczema is not contagious, but according to dermatologists, this complex disease can be hereditary. When the skin is exposed to certain irritants, the skin condition develops and can persist for a very long time if no measures are taken to alleviate it. So, at the first sign, it is worth taking care of your baby’s skin. Because inadequate care can make a baby’s eczema significantly worse.

First signs of atopic dermatitis

If you notice these signs, it is likely that your baby’s skin is currently more sensitive or that he/she is suffering from eczema:

• Dryness and chapping of the skin;
• severe itching;
• rashes;
• Increasing redness with oozing;
• thickening of the superficial layer of the skin;
• blackening of the eyelids;
• wounds;

When symptoms are left untreated for prolonged periods of time, the skin may become swollen from abrasions, the inflammatory process of the skin intensifies, and itching intensifies. A vicious cycle of itching – scratching begins, irritating your baby. Atopic dermatitis can persist into childhood, adolescence and adulthood.

Atopic dermatitis can cause complications:

• Skin discoloration can occur in areas where frequent digging has occurred. This is a change in skin colour – darkening or lightening – that can persist for months after the skin has improved.
• Continuous scratching can cause skin infections. When the skin is damaged, it is more easily “attacked” by various viruses and bacteria. The infection can then spread to other parts of the body.
• Itching can cause problems when trying to fall asleep and get enough sleep. Later, sleep problems can become a kind of routine, making the child feel tired and not rested enough to face the challenges of the day.
• Allergies to certain foods may develop.
• The chances of asthma or hay fever (allergic rhinitis) – where the body reacts negatively to pollen in the summer – are increased, with sneezing, itchy nose and ears, and eye irritation.

Atopic dermatitis irritants when travelling

We have noticed that travelling is a major trigger for atopic dermatitis in children. My family and I have spent three winters in Asia, Thailand, where the weather is tropical and the temperature is always between 25 and 30 degrees. The journey itself is full of irritants – air conditioning in the car, compressed, dry air in the plane. When you arrive, you want to spend a lot of time in the sun, on the beach, in the sea or in the pool. Read more about our experiences in Thailand. All this can make your baby’s skin worse, so we have a short daily routine to look after your little one’s skin.

By the way when we travel the best sun cosmetics for children are the Sunbrella baby lines.

Atopic baby skin care – routine matters

It is important to have a strict skin care routine to avoid all possible complications and to relieve the itching caused by Atopic Dermatitis. How does it differ from the normal skin care routine that parents are used to?

Moisturising

For skin affected by atopic dermatitis, a crucial part of the routine is to moisturise the dry skin sufficiently. Therefore, the skin should be moisturised more frequently, about 3-4 times a day, adapting to the existing condition. Less frequently if it improves, more frequently if it worsens.

Bathing

Bathing should be done every day, as it is for everyone. However, it is important to choose the right temperature. Parents or other children without atopic dermatitis may be used to bathing in hot water or under a cold, hardening shower. But for a baby with particularly sensitive skin, it is important to bathe under warm water. It is also a good idea to limit bathing time to 10-15 minutes. After bathing in the sea or in a swimming pool, take an extra shower at home or in a hotel room.

Drying off after bathing

When wiping sensitive skin, it is important not to rub, but rather to dry it with gentle tapping movements. For normal skin, the wiping process is not so important, but it can easily irritate atopic skin.

Towel

Sensitive skin requires gentle materials. Therefore, avoid using towels with coarse materials after bathing. Natural materials such as cotton are the ones we like best. If you are travelling and you are not sure whether the hotel will have the right towels, leave room in your suitcase for a baby towel.

Ingredients

One of the most important points! It is important to choose cosmetics responsibly for your baby’s skin suffering from atopic dermatitis. Pay attention to the composition and ingredients. All the use of products will go to waste and backfire if the products are not suitable for the eczema-affected skin. It is important that the composition does not contain fragrances, soaps, parabens or SLS. These products are usually labelled as suitable for sensitive skin. It is also important to note whether cosmetics are suitable for babies.

Clothing

The clothes you dress your baby in are important. Their material, like a towel, should not be rough. Also avoid synthetics, which will cause extra sweating. Clothes should be loose-fitting, not restrictive and not cause discomfort. Avoid wool in winter (although it is a natural material, it is itchy even for those without skin problems).

So skin care for atopic dermatitis needs extra attention. Hygiene, bathing water temperature, drying and moisturising the skin with cosmetics enriched with the right ingredients can help the baby’s skin recover.

Our 5-step routine:

1. Appropriate clothing made from natural materials;
2. Avoidance of irritants during the day;
3. Washing at a warm temperature with the right ingredients;
4. Proper drying with a soft towel;
5. Moisturising the skin with appropriate products.

Additional tips for parents

It is a good idea to be aware that atopic dermatitis can also be irritated by the parents’ routine. Even though you use sensitive skin products for your baby, it’s important to remember that you have skin contact with your baby at various times during the day. Your little one is in contact with clothing and skin, so it’s a good idea to:

• Use a hypoallergenic detergent free of fragrances, dyes and bleaches. And use it not only for your baby’s clothes, but for the whole family.
• Pay attention to the cosmetics you use – creams, shampoos, deodorants, make-up. If the areas where you use these products often come into contact with your baby, it’s better to replace them with products suitable for sensitive skin.
• Avoid perfumes. Freshly sprayed perfume on your skin can also irritate your baby’s sensitive skin. Especially if those areas have contact with the baby.
• Give up some jewellery. Mom’s or dad’s jewellery containing nickel can irritate the baby’s skin and make it worse if it comes into contact with it. If you are in doubt about the composition of a piece of jewellery, it is better not to wear it.

Our favourite cosmetics for babies

We have already discussed the importance of choosing the right cosmetics and paying close attention to the ingredients in them. For babies with atopic dermatitis, cosmetics tailored to the skin will not only help to care for the skin and soothe skin conditions, but will also help to soothe the itchiness that’s been bothering your little one. After a long search, DERMEDIC products have proved to be the most effective for us. We initially discovered this brands sun cosmetics. And now the whole family uses these products.

DERMEDIC BABY bath and shower oil, 500 ml

As part of our skin care routine, we use a baby bath and shower oil. A gentle body wash for the daily care of children’s sensitive skin, as well as for very dry skin, atopic dermatitis or psoriasis symptoms. Suitable for the whole family, with both cleansing and nourishing oil effects.

1. Active ingredients: linseed oil, glycerine.
2. For soothing baths.
3. Gently cleanses the skin in the bath and shower.
4. Linseed oil – nourishes, smooths and softens the skin, with a regenerating effect.
5. Does not damage the skin’s hydrolipidic layer or the skin’s microbiome.
6. Hypoallergenic.
7. Suitable from the first days of life!

DERMEDIC BABY LINUM EMOLIENT Cream Cleansing Gel for children, 200 ml

Gel for daily cleansing of children’s skin and hair. Suitable for babies and children with very dry or atopic skin. Very versatile as it is suitable for the whole body, easy to take with you on the go and can even be used by the whole family.

1. Cleanses without damaging the skin’s lipids.
2. Contains linseed oil (rich in omega-3, 6 and 9 polyunsaturated fatty acids), betaine (a skin irritant).
3. Reduces itching and skin irritation.
4. Has anti-inflammatory properties.
5. Improves the condition of even extremely dry skin.
6. Contains no soap, parabens or SLS.
7. Does not irritate the eyes.
8. Hypoallergenic.
9. Suitable from the first day of life.

DERMEDIC BABY LINUM EMOLIENT lipid-restoring moisturising and soothing cream for children, 100 ml

Daily cream for babies and children with dry, atopic and allergic skin. It is very useful not only for keeping the skin moist, but also for soothing itching.

1. Active ingredients: linseed oil with essential fatty acids Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9, almond oil, olive oil, allantoin, D-panthenol, vitamin E, glycerin
2. Moisturises for long-lasting hydration by binding water in the epidermis.
3. Replenishes skin lipids.
4. Suitable for face and body.
5. Has anti-inflammatory properties, effectively reduces itching.
   Soothes the skin and strengthens its natural resistance.
6. Hypoallergenic.
7. Suitable from the first day of life.

DERMEDIC BABY LINUM EMOLIENT body butter, 225 ml

Extra thick body butter for babies and children. In our experience, ideal for the cold season!

1. CicalinumTM, shea butter, cocoa butter, Super Hartolan, vitamin E, glycerine.
2. It has a positive effect on the symptoms of dry and atopic skin.
3. Restores the skin’s lipid barrier.
4. Reduces epidermal damage.
5. The patented Cicalinum complex restores the physiological balance of the skin’s microbiota and has a positive effect on the symptoms caused by atopic skin: tightness, dryness, roughness, etc.
6. This ultra-thick butter replicates the hydrolipidic barrier, while vitamin E and shea butter can help until unpleasant skin sensations subside.
7. RECOMMENDED: for daily use on dry skin prone to atopic dermatitis. Intensively nourishes and moisturises babies’ skin.
8. Hypoallergenic, can be used on newly born babies.
9. Clinically tested.

DERMEDIC BABY LINUM EMOLIENT Special protective face cream for children, SPF 15, 50 ml

Face cream for babies and children with dry, atopic and allergic skin. Very versatile and a must-have in every mother’s handbag. For us, it was not only for the face, but for every area of the skin, whenever we needed it quickly and at hand. Very handy on trips and outings as it has SPF15 sun protection!

1. Active ingredients: Flaxseed oil with Omega 3, Omega 6, Omega 9 EFA, Mineral filters, Mineral oil, Olive oil, Allantoin, D-Panthenol, Vitamin E, Glycerin, Natural extract AP, Shea butter.
2. Creates a protective barrier for baby’s delicate skin.
3. Protects against UVA and UVB rays (the mineral filters used in the cream do not penetrate the baby’s delicate skin, but create a protective barrier on the surface of the skin which blocks and reflects UV rays).
4. Soothes skin irritations and redness.
5. Protects the skin and strengthens its natural resistance.
6. Ensures the right level of skin hydration.
7. Hypoallergenic.
8. Suitable from the first day of life.

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