The Skin They're In: Skin Care Tips

Tips on the Care and Feeding of the Body's Biggest Organ

As parents, one of our biggest jobs is protecting our children. That's also the main job of their skin. As the body's largest organ, skin's function on the outside is to keep everything inside safe, so it's worth taking care of.

Skin Care from the Inside

A healthy outside layer of skin starts with what you put inside your body, says dietitian Marilyn Tanner-Blasiar, R.D., of the American Dietetic Association. She offers a list of skin-friendly vitamins:

Vitamin A - Helps form skin cells and maintains healthy skin. Sources include carrots, apricots, asparagus, cantaloupe, eggs, milk, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and watermelon.
  
Biotin - Helps in the formation of fatty acids, which keep the skin hydrated, and helps prevent dermatitis. Sources include bananas, eggs, oatmeal, almonds, cashews, butter, cheese, chicken, green peas, meats, milk, peanut butter, peanuts, salmon and tuna.

Riboflavin - Preserves the integrity of the skin, promotes normal growth and development. Sources include bananas, dairy, eggs, fortified cereals, enriched breads, ham, pork and tuna.
  
Vitamins C and E - Help protect against free radicals that cause aging of the skin, and might even decrease the risk of sunburn. Sources include citrus fruits, avocados, broccoli, corn, fortified cereals, peanuts and sunflower seeds.

Proper hydration is also essential for healthy skin. Try to make water your children's main beverage - especially when they are exercising or the weather is warm. Limit caffeinated beverages, which dehydrate the body, to an occasional treat.

Bugs, Plants and Other Irritants

Outdoor recreation is another great way to keep the body healthy, but slather on some protection against the sun, bugs, and maybe even a noxious plant or two.

Sunscreen is a must for all kids ages 6 months and older, as is an insect repellent with a child-approved dose of DEET. The best blockage, however, comes from the right clothes: long sleeves and long pants, a hat and sunglasses.

The extra clothing can also help protect against poison ivy and poison oak. Itchy rash with tiny blisters can develop anywhere from hours to days after exposure to the sap of this plant, which will cling to the skin and clothes and spread from one area to another.

If you think your child has been exposed to poison ivy or poison oak, Andy Nish, M.D., an allergist with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, recommends the following:

• Wash the area immediately with soap and water. 


• Calm the itch with an age-appropriate oral dose of an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl; cool baths plus a dose of anti-itch additive, such as Aveeno; or topical medicines, such as calamine lotion.


• Call your doctor if your child's rash is on the eyes or mouth, covers a large area (such as an entire arm or leg), is so itchy that your child can't sleep, or comes with a fever or other symptoms.

The treatment is similar for bug bites or insect stings. Nish recommends oral antihistamines, calamine lotion or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream. If the bite or sting area is oozing, crusty or otherwise looks infected, or if it doesn't go away in a few days, get medical attention.