Written in partnership with Dr Clarence De BELILOVSKY, dermatologist member of the Mustela circle of experts.
To make emollient treatments a real moment of gentleness for your baby, discover a few simple tips.
Simple gestures for contact with baby's weakened skin First of all, a little preparation!
- Remember to wash your hands before each application.
- Remember to cut your nails regularly so as not to accidentally scratch your child. Take the opportunity to cut his own as well. If he can't help but scratch in the event of flare-ups, it will be less aggressive for his skin.
- Remember to remove your jewelry. We don't think about it, but a pretty ring or bracelet can also cause inadvertent scratches!
- For greater well-being, remember to warm the cream in your hands before passing it to him.
You are ready! You can apply an emollient cream or an emollient balm once or twice a day: in the evening after washing or before going to bed; in the morning after getting out of the bath or before getting dressed...
Whether during periods of calm or periods of flare-ups, do not hesitate to repeat the application as often as necessary: these treatments will effectively protect, repair and relieve your child's skin (see The benefits of emollients).
In case of flare-ups, only avoid oozing areas.
In this case, the ointments prescribed by your doctor will be more suitable. To make them penetrate, you can perform long massage movements, always going back towards the heart. For example, we start at the ankles and work our way up to the top of the thighs.
Same thing for the arms: we start at the wrists and finish at the shoulders.
And don't be jealous: for each area, we provide the same sufficient layer without being too thick, both for the front of the body and the back. Atopic eczema will have a harder time hiding in the hollow of the knees!
Even your baby's little feet deserve to be well hydrated.
The face can have its own circuit: we start in the middle of the forehead to go towards the temples to pass under the eyes to reach the little nose. Then, from the wings of the nose, we protect the cheeks and finish with the chin.
If you also take advantage of hugs and kisses, these moments can become very pleasant rituals in your baby's life.
To be made without moderation!