Children’s Skincare Explained: A Modern Guide For Parents
Most parents nowadays have a heightened sense of concern regarding their child’s well-being.
As families are maneuvering through multiple societal shifts, internal and external health are on their list of priorities.
External health refers to elements of the human anatomy that are near or on the outside of the body — including the skin.
Developing habits that promote healthy skin leads to a fresh, vibrant look which stimulates a higher sense of confidence for everyone, especially children.
These habits also help conditions that manifest inside the body.
If you’re a parent who wants to help your child maintain a positive self-image and long-term internal health, but you’re not sure where to start, we’ve got you covered!
We’ll expand on regular skincare regimens for children and the ingredients to avoid so that you can be sure you’re not purchasing harmful products.
First, parents need perspective.
There’s a range of questions related to early childhood and skincare, but let’s start with the biggest question:
Why is a Daily Skincare Program Crucial for Your Child?
- Healthy habits are learned through practice.
- Children have more vulnerable skin than adults.
- The skin will be confronted with a variety of unforeseen threats.
- Healthy Habits Are Learned Through Practice.
You might feel that certain concepts are too complex for your child to understand but they may process information better than you think.
If you wait too long to assist them in building great habits while they’re still young, it’s possible that they’ll find it challenging to develop these habits as they mature.
Children are extremely attentive to what their parents do as well as what they say. Take, for example, handwashing.
It’s impactful when parents make it a priority to call their child over to wash their hands while they’re simultaneously washing their hands because the activity is now validated from the child’s perspective.
In moments like that you also make way for an educational dialogue, emphasizing the importance of the task.
Your child will develop a greater sense of enthusiasm towards the task depending on the energy that you channel during the interaction. The more you associate positive emotions with forming a new habit, the faster it appears to translate into a habit.
We’ll expand more on methods that will help you stimulate the development of healthy habits later in this post.
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Children Have More Vulnerable Skin Than Adults.
The epidermis of a child can range between three to five times thinner than an adult’s epidermis and it’s made up of smaller cells than that of a grown-up.
This can affect your child in a variety of ways. Their skin:
- Has a weaker defense for irritants, allergens, and bacteria from the environment
- Has an inability to retain moisture consistently
- Is vulnerable to sun damage
- Has less ability to regulate temperature
You can nourish and safeguard the still-developing acid mantle, or outer layer of the skin, by implementing a daily skincare regimen.
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The Skin Will Be Prepared For Unforeseen Threats
Parents typically prioritize their child’s skincare during the summertime due to the threat of the sun when they attend the pool or beach, or participate in other seasonal outdoor activities.
However, many experts feel that our daily exposure to the sun and the environment puts us at risk of skin damage and, more importantly, skin cancer.
We’re exposed to UV rays when we stand under certain overhead lights, sit next to a window, and when we’re in the car.
Furthermore, your children can be at risk when they’re standing at the bus stop, at practice, playing at the playground, or on an outdoor field trip.
Children are protected from these extra sources of damaging UV rays we’re often unaware of by applying sunscreen and moisturizers regularly.
Which Products Are Appropriate for a Youngster’s Skincare Routine?
Parents can help their child establish a secure skin barrier as they age by maintaining a daily routine that includes a gentle cleanser and moisturizer that doesn’t include harsh chemicals, as well as enforcing the proper UV protection, according to Dr. Sourab Choudhury — a board certified dermatologist and the Chief Medical Officer at The Dermatology Specialists.
So, if you’re a parent who likes to keep things as simple as possible, all you need to purchase is a cleanser, moisturizer, and a chemical-free SPF (Sun Protection Factor) lotion.
How To Establish a Safe and Effective Children’s Skincare Routine?
Consumers frequently experience overwhelming information overload in this modern, digital age since the access to online search engines has amplified our ability to obtain a wide spectrum of healthcare advice.
Regarding to their child’s skincare products, parents are relying on the Internet, where they’re greeted with excess choices and, at times, misinformation.
Remember, an adult’s skin differs from the skin of a child.
This is why we suggest consulting a professional dermatologist primarily, and why we find it critical l to offer credible guidance.
Below we created an age-specific list of factors to consider as you’re developing a skin routine for your child.
Pre-Schoolers (3-6 Years Old)
- Encourage Bath Independence
- Keep Baths Warm and Brief
- Remind Them To Avoid Scratching
- Start Applying Sunscreen
1. Encourage Bath Independence
As your child gets closer to four or five-years-old, allow them to practice washing their own body with a tear free soap.
Since kids are pretty inexperienced taking care of themselves, there’s an opportunity to provide feedback during the bath.
To help them cope with any anxiety they may face, encourage them as much as possible.
2. Keep Baths Warm and Brief
In an effort to sustain healthy skin, one of the main goals is to prevent the skin from drying out.
This is where the regulation of water temperature and a time limit during bath time comes in handy.
Teach your child that they don’t need the water to be too hot or too cold. Moderately warm water is recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology for a soothing face washing experience and general skin health.
You want to limit baths to 15 minutes or less. If bath-time is any longer, a child’s skin can look as wrinkled as sour cream flavored Ridges.
3. Remind Them to Avoid Scratching
If your child is scratching their skin because it’s dry, this will only result in greater irritation and impatience.
Periodic cues will be needed to highlight the consequences of scratching.
You don’t want them to scar themselves if they momentarily get into a scratching frenzy, so clip their nails consistently.
4. Start Applying Sunscreen
It’s safer for children to add sunscreen to their day-to-day routine at this stage.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) encourages all kids, regardless of the hue of their skin, to use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
School-Agers (6-12 Years Old)
- Start an Easy Skincare Program
- Stay Away From Products with Harmful Ingredients
At this stage of life, children become more self-reliant and confident in their ability to make their own choices.
If they can commit to follow the steps to nurture their skin twice daily, they’ll be on their way to setting the proper standards for adulthood.
A portion of pre-teens do experience early signs of puberty like pimples. Gentle soaps can still help them avoid irritating the skin further.
Dermatologists or pediatricians are great consultants for gaining insight on how to combat these challenges.
1. Start an Easy Skincare Program
Here are four steps young people can follow in the morning when they’re getting themselves together and in the evening when they’re getting ready for bed:
Step 1. Remove dirt from the pores with a gentle cleanser
Step 2. Instead of rubbing, pat the face dry with a soft towel
Step 3. Apply a light moisturizer to the skin straight away
Step 4. In the mornings, apply a small amount of sunscreen to the face, ears and neck
Continue to facilitate conversations around the significance of diligent skin care.
2. Stay Away From Products With Harmful Ingredients
Sadly, a vast amount of products pushed to school-agers contain harmful components like glitters, dyes, bubbles, and artificial scents.
For parents that are eco-conscious, we want to add that glitter holds microplastics that have a negative effect on the environment when they’re washed down the drain, carried to the ocean, and consumed by the wildlife inhabiting the water.
Using natural products like ours provides an opportunity for you and your family to play a role in improving the Earth’s current condition.
Conclusion
As children grow older, they’ll reap the extensive benefits of consistent, healthy skincare practices like preventing acne, wrinkles, and preserving the skin’s natural glow.
If you’re a parent that wants to have a greater influence on your child’s level of reception to this information, try leading by example!
This blog post was contributed by our intern Jamar Clarke.