Sensitive skin can be a real worry for parents. We want to make sure our children are safe and comfortable, but we may not know the best way to care for their sensitive skin. From finding the right skincare products to lifestyle changes that reduce inflammation, there's plenty you can do to help your child feel more comfortable while helping to manage their sensitive skin.
In this blog for Mini First Aid, we'll discuss what causes sensitive skin in children and provide helpful tips on how to treat it effectively so your little one’s skin stays happy and healthy.
What is Sensitive Skin?
Sensitive skin is a common condition that can cause discomfort and irritation. It’s often characterised by an increased sensitivity to certain ingredients, foods, or environmental factors. People with sensitive skin may experience redness, itching, burning sensations, and other signs of irritation when exposed to these triggers.
Symptoms of Sensitive Skin
The most common symptoms associated with sensitive skin are dryness; itchiness; redness; tightness; stinging or burning sensations on the face or body. These reactions can be triggered by anything from certain ingredients in food or skincare products, changes in the weather or even changes in washing powder.
Sensitive skin can be difficult to manage, but with the right care and precautions, you can keep your child's skin healthy and protected.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema is a skin condition that causes red, itchy, and inflamed patches of skin. It can affect people of all ages but is most common in children. The exact cause of eczema is unknown, but there are several factors that may contribute to its development including genetics, environmental triggers such as pollen, and allergens in certain products or food.
Symptoms of eczema vary depending on the type, but generally include dryness, itching or burning sensations, redness, and inflammation around affected areas, cracking and thickening skin over time due to excessive scratching or rubbing from irritation caused by clothing materials etc.
Eczema is a common skin condition that can affect children of all ages. It is important for parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms so they can seek treatment if necessary. Next, we’ll discuss how to care for sensitive skin and skin that may be prone to eczema.
How to Care for Sensitive Skin
Caring for sensitive skin can feel like a challenge, especially when you’re not sure what’s causing the sensitivity. Finding skincare products that are gentle and kind on sensitive skin is a great place to start.
When choosing products to use on your child’s skin and hair, it’s important to choose products that aren’t stripping on the skin as well as choosing moisturising ingredients such as cocoa butter, shea butter, oat oil, colloidal oatmeal, and glycerin.
Childs
Farm’s OatDerma™ range – For dry, itchy & sensitive skin
All Childs Farm products go through rigorous user trials and clinical safety tests and have been dermatologist and paediatrician approved for use on dry and sensitive skin and are also safe for people who may be prone to eczema.
Our OatDerma™ range launched in 2022 and has been created for those who suffer with particularly dry, itchy, and sensitive skin.
Packed with the goodness of oats, our OatDerma™ range is here to lock in moisture and nourish sensitive skin. Made with the ultimate blend of colloidal oatmeal and oat oil, these star ingredients provide moisturisation and are clinically proven to soothe delicate skin and help protect the skin barrier.
OatDerma™ range benefits:
- Created specifically for dry, itchy skin, also safe for people who may be prone to eczema.
- Packed with the goodness of oats to nourish and moisturise skin
- Award-winning, voted by parents
- Fragrance-free
- 8/10 parents love that the OatDerma™ range leaves their child’s skin looking and feeling healthier*
*based on a consumer user trial with 106 participants after fourteen days use
Tips for caring for sensitive skin
1. When bathing your little one, ensure the bath isn’t too hot to ensure you do not burn them and this can be dehydrating for the skin. Aim for bath water to be around 37 degrees and keep the bath short. When getting your little one out of the bath, lock in that moisture straight away with a rich, nourishing moisturiser.
2. Tight clothing can also irritate sensitive skin, loose fitting cotton clothing that’s soft on the skin is a great way to keep skin covered without causing irritation. Long sleeves and full-length trousers can also help to form a barrier to stop your little one scratching, particularly when they sleep.
3. Changes in the weather and temperature outdoors can often cause flare ups in sensitive skin and skin that may be prone to eczema. Keeping skin moisturised is essential, particularly in the colder months; we recommend moisturising at least twice a day and particularly after bathtime.
4. Caring for skin in the sun is also important, finding a sun cream that’s gentle on sensitive skin can feel like a challenge. Our gentle sun lotion is suitable for all skin types, even those with sensitive skin – it’s one for all the family.
5. Our SPF 50+ sun cream provides instant protection to delicate skin, protecting skin against both UVA and UVB rays as well as being water resistant. Our new formulation is kind to ocean and octocrylene-free and comes in four different formats, so there’s something for everyone. And, as with all our products, our suncare range is dermatologist and paediatrician approved. So, you know they’re suitable for all skin types including dry, sensitive skin, and also safe for people who may be prone to eczema.
6. Be cautious when changing products used in the household such as washing powder and cleaning products used in the bathroom. Sensitive skin can be particularly delicate around these changes, and it can often cause a flare up.
Made by a mum, with you in mind
As a new mother, Joanna was determined to find safe and effective skincare for her little one’s delicate skin.
Frustrated by the lack of options, she took matters into her own hands and began creating her own formulas at her kitchen table. Yes, that's right, her own kitchen table.
Years of hard work, dedication and love have gone into the creation of Childs Farm, and we're proud to offer a range of natural, cruelty-free, and vegan baby skincare that is loved by parents and children alike. Your family’s skin is in safe hands.
Remember to patch test
Every single person's skin is slightly different and because of that we would always recommend that you complete a patch test on your little one's skin before using a new product for the first time.
We would recommend applying a small amount of the product either behind the ear or on the inside of the upper arm and leaving this for 24 hours before first use to make sure there are no issues. Do not patch test on skin that is already irritated. If after 24 hours there is no irritation to the skin, you can begin using the products.
As a parent you have a lot to worry about and your child’s skincare shouldn’t be one of them. With the right products that are gentle on delicate skin along with the right precautions, you can manage skin sensitivity.
If you’re looking for specific skincare products that have been dermatologist and paediatrician tested and approved, you can find us at Boots, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Amazon.
For specific product information, please visit childsfarm.com
Competition Time!
We've got an amazing competition for you this week, worth over £120! Not only can you win these gorgeous OatDerma™ Childs Farm goodies, you can also win our award winning 2 hour Baby and Child First Aid class for 2 two people AND our Family First Aid Kit! Five lucky runners up will also receive a Childs Farm bundle!
To enter, head over to our Facebook, Insta and Twitter pages now! Good luck! T and C's apply.