How to treat extremely dry skin?

Written in partnership with Dr Clarence De BELILOVSKY, dermatologist member of the Mustela circle of experts. Extremely dry skin alternates between periods of calm and periods of flare-ups... What should you do according to these periods? Rest assured, nothing very complicated. When everything is calm... If periods of calm mean a “break” for extremely dry skin in children, they do not necessarily mean a “break” in care. On the contrary ! This is the ideal time to pamper your baby's skin, help it rebuild and protect itself, and also make it more comfortable (see How to prevent atopic eczema). To do this, simply apply specific baby-child emollient treatments on a daily basis: in addition to participating effectively in the rehydration of fragile skin, they are real moments of complicity with your child (Read our file on the benefits of emollients). You could even set up a little game: a kiss on the shoulder when the right arm is finished, two kisses on the inside of the hand when it's the left arm... without forgetting the surprise tickles! First signs of flare-up... Is your baby's skin starting to show redness? To become thicker? Is he having trouble sleeping? A surge is certainly about to appear. You can anticipate and, in this case, do not hesitate to apply emollient treatments more often than usual and several times a day. They help to cure extreme drought. They can even immediately reduce itching sensations by up to 95%, like the Stelatopia Emollient Cream or Emollient Balm. A real asset to put on your side. Face-to-face with extremely dry skin Despite all the attention you pay to your baby to prevent extremely dry skin from appearing, does your baby still come to visit him? Small two-step action plan in the event of a flare-up: 1. Focus on the red areas. That is to say, concentrate on the inflammatory areas, as soon as they appear. Like many ailments, the sooner they are treated, the quicker and more effective the remedy. For this, nothing better than the treatment prescribed by your doctor. Indeed, whether they are simply irritated or already oozing, these manifestations require particular and extremely targeted care. In ointment or cream, you will certainly have been prescribed a “dermocorticoid”, a corticosteroid-based treatment, to be applied directly to the skin. His role ? Reduce inflammation. Redness, lesions, itching, swelling, plaques: it's up to you to calm everything down and, above all, to make it all disappear after a few days. Here, for each type of extremely dry skin, its treatment. The one prescribed to you by your doctor will not necessarily be that of the little neighbor, who is himself subject to atopic eczema. So don't worry if the dosage or duration of application is different. The only course of action to follow: apply this treatment only to red patches and during flare-ups and for as long as your doctor recommends it. 2. Continue to pamper the skin on the rest of the body. That is to say, continue to apply emollient treatments everywhere other than on the oozing patches. From the face to the little feet, from the shower and/or as many times as necessary in massage, they will continue to repair the skin, making it more supple, more hydrated... Some tips for greater comfort Another great joy: these emollient treatments will also help you combat the sensation of itching. A few tips can also help you put these unpleasant sensations to rest, or at least not give them pride of place: - Play in a trio. Count on the cold which anesthetizes the itching. So don't hesitate to put a mist and/or your emollient treatment in the refrigerator and take them out just before using them, or apply cold water compresses... - If your baby can't help but scratching, do not hesitate to cut his nails regularly to avoid scratching lesions. This little precaution will undoubtedly help him not to add more!