Written in partnership with Dr Clarence De BELILOVSKY, dermatologist member of the Mustela circle of experts.
If your child has extremely dry skin, what can they do leisurely?
Some precautions should be taken to avoid attacking the skin or stimulating the immune system so that it reacts.
IN WATER
Does your child love the pool or the sea? The chlorine of the first or the salt of the second can be irritating factors.
So, before he dives headlong into the water, don't hesitate to apply his usual specific baby-child emollient treatment all over his body (see our file on the benefits of emollients).
If the baths take place outside, then protect it with a very high protection sun milk without specific baby-child fragrance, indicated for skin with atopic tendency and high index. It is thus ready to jump in the waves!
From time to time you can check if any redness appears. If you spot patches or once he has finished splashing, simply rinse your child's skin thoroughly under the fresh water shower often available nearby, even at the beach.
Back home, the same calmer and more thorough ritual with its adapted Stelatopia cleansing cream, its shampoo then its emollient balm...
You can also turn to the treatment your doctor prescribes if the redness is still there.
Here is your child well cleaned and well protected.
Still wondering if all that time in the water is reasonable? In the event of a flare-up, the question may not arise because your child will find contact with iodine or bleach a little painful and will not want to go there. Otherwise, during periods of calm, swimming is a suitable activity because it makes you sweat less... Good point!
IN THE GARDEN AND ELSEWHERE
Sweating will therefore be an important element to take into account for other games and activities. The ideal is to favor calm activities which do not forget to be fun or captivating depending on your age: marbles, bowling, pétanque, bobwhite, hide and seek, treasure hunt, 1,2,3 sun, cinema, carousel, etc... The ideas are numerous and inexhaustible!
WHICH SPORTS SHOULD YOU FAVOR TO AVOID FLARE-UPS?
Basketball, football, volleyball, dance, athletics... All these disciplines require a certain amount of energy and therefore... cause some heatstroke! Without forgetting the intense outdoor games with your friends: running, playing tag, somersaults...
In order not to increase his body temperature too much, you can: - Prepare loose cotton outfits for him1. - If possible, choose long-sleeved pants and tops. If he has to roll in freshly cut grass or sand for example, this can protect him from irritating factors.
- In summer, suggest organizing their matches or other leisure activities at the end of the day when it is cooler.
- Spray from time to time and absorb sweat with paper tissues.
- Rinse it as quickly as possible after activity or play, under a shower for several minutes and protect it again with its emollient treatment.
- Here too, apply your emollient treatment before exercise. If atopic eczema appears, it will be better to take it easy for a few days until the redness disappears.
The opportunity to vary your leisure activities: board games, mimes, drawings, etc.