In winter, the child has rough skin. Dry skin in a child. Normal skin in a child

08.03.2020

The human skin is a reliable shield that protects the internal organs and the entire body from injury and the negative effects of the environment. Any problems inside, diseases are immediately signaled by external manifestations. Dry skin on the feet of a child may appear due to improper care or health problems. It is important to understand the symptoms in time and eliminate peeling.

Does the rough skin on the baby's legs always indicate pathology? When should the pediatrician intervene? In the first month after birth, and sometimes a year, the body of a newborn adapts to new living conditions and often reacts to this with diaper rash, rashes, and dryness. You do not need to immediately sound the alarm, but wait until the physiological processes end. But no one cancels the consultation, the doctor must conduct an examination.

In older adults, dryness appears as a result of the low moisture content in the stratum corneum of the skin. Symptoms:

roughness;
changed appearance;
loss of elasticity;
wrinkling;
the appearance of scales.

Causes of appearance in children

This condition can be observed in the first three years of a child's life. There are a number of reasons for its appearance:

Poor quality cosmetics. The use of care products that are not intended for children often provokes problems. When buying baby shampoo, oil, cream, be sure to pay attention to the age for which they are designed. Check the composition for the absence of preservatives, dyes.
Vitamin deficiency. A rough foot is the main symptom of a lack of important vitamins in the body. Avitaminosis tends to develop after prolonged illness or after winter.
Contact with chlorinated pool water. Harsh water treatment chemicals adversely affect the skin of adults and children.
Metabolic diseases, SARS, infection or diseases of internal organs.
Insufficient amount of water. Pure water is the main source of moisture for the human body. The more the baby drinks, the better the digestive system works, the intestines are cleansed faster, the dermis cells are hydrated and function correctly.
Allergy to food or an external factor;
Excess sunlight. During the summer holidays, you should not forget about UV protection. In the heat, the body evaporates a lot of moisture and with insufficient care, cracks may appear. If you do not notice a cosmetic problem in time, it will turn from a temporary one into a permanent one. Dealing with it will be more difficult.
Wrong nutrition. Violations in the diet immediately affect the quality of the skin. A whole list of products has been developed that increase its softness and elasticity. Make sure that the child eats vegetable oils, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish.
Bathing in hot water. For children, the optimal water temperature is 37-37.5 degrees.
Low quality synthetic clothing. All things for the baby should be made of natural fabrics that can pass air.

If treatment is not started in time, the dry skin on the legs will become covered with cracks, which will cause excruciating pain to the child. The danger is the accession of a secondary infection. Wounds are open gates for pathogens, they need to be healed faster.

If cracks have already appeared, do not allow the child to walk barefoot, protect the legs with socks.

Treatment Methods

If the epidermis is not able to retain moisture on its own, then it needs help with external use. What cream or ointment to buy, the pediatrician should advise. This is an important step, since dry skin on the legs can react negatively to a new irritant.

As a treatment, they are prescribed:

vitamins in a dosage strictly calculated according to the age and state of health of the child;
preparations based on urea, as an option - Excipial M;
calcium preparations;
vitamin E;
fish fat.

In each case, the doctor develops the optimal treatment regimen.

Decoctions of medicinal herbs help to quickly overcome dryness, but they can only be used after consulting a doctor.

In what cases should you see a doctor

If the prescribed cosmetic care does not solve the problem, then the reason lies in the pathological process in the body.

Dry skin can signal the following diseases:

Atopic dermatitis. Appears due to allergies, the skin becomes crusted, thickened, some areas become inflamed.
Eczema. The nature of the disease is allergic. The symptom is accompanied by burning, rash and itching.
Renal pathology. Against the background of poor kidney function, the skin begins to dry, turns yellow, the child does not eat well, is slow, vomiting and nausea appear.
Hypothyroidism. A sick thyroid gland also manifests itself in dull hair, brittle nails, swelling and fatigue.
Psoriasis. Dry areas can become inflamed, peel, swell.
Sjögren's disease. The disease causes problems with the skin, teeth and eyesight.
Diabetes. It tends to damage the folds of the skin.
Lichen. Protruding dry spots of fungal rock.
Ichthyosis. The skin is covered with scales, like a fish. Bubbles rarely appear.
Contact dermatitis. A rough area appears where the hand, foot or finger comes into contact with the material - the allergen.

If the baby has accompanying symptoms in addition to roughness, contact a medical facility immediately. The described pathologies require regular monitoring and serious treatment.

Baby foot care

To prevent dryness, you need to monitor the nutrition and lifestyle of your child:

In the room where the child spends most of the time, optimal humidity should be maintained, especially in winter.
The skin of the feet will be moisturized with prescribed preparations.
Powder, laundry detergent and hygiene products should be hypoallergenic.
Toys, accessories and clothing made from natural materials.
Shoes are true to size.
Nutrition is correct, complete, in compliance with the prescribed drinking regimen.

Try to dress your children according to the weather. Too warm clothes cause sweating, the feet will be damp, which will provoke the development of unpleasant problems.

Dryness Prevention

As a prevention of dryness as a cosmetic defect, it is necessary to regularly smear the skin with moisturizers or oils. Any pharmacy offers a wide range of safe products for children with hypoallergenic ingredients. Procedures are best done after bathing on steamed skin.

There are many reasons why young children have dry skin on their feet, and many of them are harmless. At the initial stage, try to make changes in caring procedures and nutrition. But with inflammation, cracks, do not delay going to the doctor, it is dangerous for the health of the child's skin. And if the damage is a symptom of the disease, then the baby needs immediate qualified help.

Ekaterina Morozova

Reading time: 6 minutes

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One of the most common reasons for a young mother to visit a pediatrician is the appearance of rough dry spots on her baby's skin. This problem is most common in infants - in almost 100% of cases. However, most often the problem is quickly and easily solved.

What can be hidden under the peeling of children's skin, and how to prevent it?

Causes of dry and rough spots on the skin of a child - when to sound the alarm?

Any manifestation of dry "roughness" on children's skin is a sign of some kind of disturbance in the body.

Mostly, these disorders are caused by illiterate care of the baby, but there are more serious reasons, which is simply not possible to find on their own.

Adaptation. After a cozy stay in his mother's tummy, the baby finds himself in a cold "cruel" world, to which he still needs to adapt. His delicate skin comes into contact with cold / warm air, rough clothes, cosmetics, hard water, diapers, etc. The natural reaction of the skin to such irritants is various kinds of rashes. If the baby is calm and healthy, not capricious, and there are no redness and swelling, then there is most likely no strong cause for concern.
Too dry air in the nursery. Note to mom: humidity should be between 55 and 70%. You can use a special device, a hydrometer, during infancy. It is especially important to regulate the level of humidity in the nursery in winter, when air dried by heating affects the health of the baby by peeling the skin, disturbing sleep, and susceptibility of the nasopharyngeal mucosa to viruses attacking from outside.
Illiterate skin care. For example, the use of potassium permanganate when bathing, soaps or shampoos / foams that are not suitable for children's skin. As well as the use of cosmetics (creams and talcs, wet wipes, etc.), which can cause dry skin.
natural factors. Excess sun rays - or frost and chapping of the skin.
Diaper rash. In this case, flaky skin areas have a red tint and clear edges. Sometimes the skin even gets wet and peels off. As a rule, if everything has gone so far, it means that the mother simply launched the problem. Solution: change diapers more often, arrange air baths, bathe with decoctions of herbs in boiled water and use special means for treatment.
Exudative diathesis. This cause usually manifests itself on the face and near the crown of the head, and in a neglected state - throughout the body. The symptomatology is simple and recognizable: red spots with the presence of white scales and vesicles. The problem appears due to violations in the nutrition of the mother (approx. - during breastfeeding / feeding) or the baby (if he is an "artificial").
Allergic diathesis. 15% of babies in the 1st year of life are familiar with this misfortune. At first, such rashes appear on the face, then they pass to the whole body. Allergies can manifest themselves as itching of the skin and anxiety of the crumbs.
contact dermatitis. The scheme for the occurrence of this cause is also simple: rough roughness appears on the feet or hands, accompanied by burning and pain due to exposure to soap or friction, chemical products, etc.
Eczema. A more severe version of dermatitis. Pour out such spots usually on the cheeks and on the forehead in the form of various red spots with fuzzy borders. Treat eczema in the same way as dermatitis.
Worms. Yes, yes, there are skin problems and because of them. And not only with skin. The main signs: poor sleep, grinding of teeth at night, lack of appetite, constant fatigue, pain near the navel, as well as rough spots and sores.
Lichen. It can occur after relaxing in a public place (bathhouse, beach, swimming pool, etc.) from contact with foreign animals or infected people, depending on its type (pityriasis, multi-colored). The spots are pink only at first, then they turn brown and yellow, appearing throughout the body.
Pink deprive. Not so common disease. Manifested from sweating in the heat or after hypothermia in winter. In addition, pink spots (may itch) all over the body, may be accompanied by joint pain, chills and fever.
Psoriasis. A non-contagious and hereditary disease that worsens with age. Peeling spots have different shapes, and can occur on the head and any limbs.
Lyme disease. This nuisance happens after a tick bite. It appears first with burning and redness. Requires antibiotic treatment.

What to do if the child has very dry skin - first aid for the baby at home

For a mother, dry spots on the skin of her child are a reason to be wary. Self-medication, of course, should not be done, a visit to a pediatric dermatologist and receiving his recommendations is the main step. The specialist will do a scraping and, after receiving the results of the analysis, will prescribe treatment in accordance with the diagnosis.

For example, antihistamines, special vitamin complexes that increase immunity, antihelminthics, etc.

Mom's desire to save the baby from incomprehensible peeling is understandable, but you need to remember what you can not do categorically:

Apply ointments or creams based on hormonal preparations. Such remedies give a quick effect, but the cause itself is not treated. In addition, these funds in themselves can harm the health of the child, and against the background of an imaginary improvement, time will be lost to treat the cause itself.
pick off the crusts (if any) on similar spots.
Give medicines for allergies and other illnesses with an unexplained diagnosis.

First aid for a child - what can a mother do?

Assess the condition of the baby - are there any accompanying symptoms, are there any obvious reasons for the appearance of such spots.
Eliminate all possible allergens and eliminate all possible external causes of stains.
Remove soft toys from the room, allergic foods from the diet.
Use products that are acceptable for the treatment of dry children's skin and various skin manifestations. For example, a regular baby moisturizer or bepanthen.

Prevention of dryness and flaking of the skin in a child

Everyone is familiar with the well-known truth that it is always easier to prevent a disease than to treat it for a long and expensive time.

Dry skin and the appearance of flaky spots are no exception, and you need to think about preventive measures in advance.

For mom (before childbirth and during feeding):

Eliminate bad habits.
Carefully monitor your diet and daily routine.
Walk regularly (this strengthens the immune system of both mother and fetus).
Follow the diet while breastfeeding.
Use only high-quality mixtures of well-known manufacturers.

For baby:

Remove all objects that collect dust from the children's room, including the canopy over the crib.
Limit all possible contact of the crumbs with pets.
Wet cleaning - daily.
Maintain the desired level of humidity in the room (for example, by buying) and ventilate it regularly.
Bathe the baby in water at 37-38 degrees, without using soap (it dries the skin). You can use (on the recommendation of a doctor) or special moisturizers for children.
Use baby cream (or bepanten) before a walk and after water procedures. Children's cosmetics, if the child's skin is prone to dryness or allergies, should be replaced with sterilized olive oil.
Remove all synthetics from the children's closet: linen and clothes - only from cotton fabric, clean and ironed.
Choose a gentle washing powder for washing baby clothes or use laundry / baby soap. For many toddlers, skin problems disappear immediately after moms switch from powders to soaps. Rinse clothes thoroughly after washing.
Do not overdry the air with air conditioners and additional heating devices.
Timely change the baby's diapers and wash after each "trip" to the toilet.
More often arrange air baths for the baby - the body must breathe, and the body must be tempered.
Do not wrap the child in "a hundred clothes" in the apartment (and on the street, too, dress the baby according to the weather).

And don't panic. In most cases, this problem is easily solved by following the rules for caring for the little one and with the help of Bepanten.

Site site warns: self-medication can harm the health of the baby! The diagnosis should be made only by a doctor after the examination. Therefore, if you find symptoms, be sure to consult a specialist!

Often, the child's skin becomes dry and rough. This phenomenon can affect both the whole body and individual places. In such a situation, you must definitely visit a doctor, as the reasons can be very serious.

Why does a small child have rough skin?

What are the causes of roughness?

Red rashes and dryness can be manifestations of acne, which is due to an excess of hormones in the body. Usually this phenomenon goes away on its own upon reaching one and a half months;
Dry indoor air;
Lack of fluid;
vitamin deficiency;
Bad water for bathing, the use of drying herbs (oak bark, chamomile, string);
Frost and wind. In this case, spots appear only on open areas of the body;
Frequent use of shampoo provokes dryness of the scalp;
Excessive use of baby powder;
Congenital diabetes mellitus. The disease is accompanied by increased appetite, thirst, increased blood glucose levels;
congenital hypothyroidism. The metabolism slows down, the surface layer of the skin does not have time to renew itself. Elbow and knee joints are particularly affected;
hereditary pathology. It often appears at the age of 2-3 years;
Ichthyosis. The keratinization of skin cells is disturbed: it becomes dry, then covered with gray and white scales, which later exfoliate. The skin resembles fish scales. Metabolic processes and the work of internal organs are disturbed;
Hyperkeratosis leads to thickening of the keratinized layer of the skin. The feet, elbows, hips and head are severely affected. The disease can be inherited or result from a deficiency of vitamins A, E, C. The provoking factor is the use of hormonal drugs, stress, dry skin, excessive insolation, gastrointestinal diseases, exposure to household chemicals;
Worm infestation;
Atopic dermatitis is an allergic reaction of the body, manifested in the form of rough spots.

The risk of allergies in a child increases if the mother during pregnancy took hormonal and other medications, smoked, and used vitamin complexes uncontrollably.

Breastfeeding partially protects against allergies. A breastfeeding mother should eat a balanced and healthy diet. Exclude fried, fatty, smoked and seasonings from the menu. An important role is played by hereditary predisposition to allergies, the presence of urticaria in relatives, bronchial asthma, etc.

In atopic dermatitis, allergens can be:

Food, mother's milk, adapted milk formulas. In older children, the rash often occurs after sweets;
Synthetic clothing;
Hygiene products and household chemicals;
Animal wool;
Tobacco smoke (passive smoking).

Dryness may be localized. If infection with streptococcus occurs, crusts form with weeping and an unpleasant odor. However, such phenomena can be the result of poor hygiene, for example, when spitting up, parents do not wipe the baby well.

Spots, rough and dry, on the skin of a child with dermatitis

Symptoms of the atopic form of the disease depend on the age of the baby. In infants, these are mainly diaper rash, peeling on the face and head, itching, redness. The skin on the buttocks and cheeks is especially affected.

With appropriate therapy, these phenomena are quickly stopped. If you do not see a doctor in time, the deeper layers of the skin are affected, vesicles and sores appear. The inflammation spreads to the limbs and trunk. The child becomes capricious due to itching. Often there is a bacterial or fungal infection.

Atopic dermatitis in children older than a year is characterized by a protracted course and frequent exacerbations. There may be a complication in the form of eczema. Without adequate therapy, allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma develop.

Treatment of children with dry skin

If roughness is caused by domestic causes, it is easy to eliminate it with a baby cream. The lack of fluid in the body is also very easily replenished.

In the future, the child is better dressed if he reacts sharply to frost and wind.

But in the case of allergies, serious measures must be taken. Therapy involves both the doctor and the parents.

Dryness caused by climatic conditions

Parents should minimize adverse environmental impacts. The apartment should be regularly ventilated. In the child's room, the air should be fresh, cool and humidified. If the crumbs have dry skin is a feature of the body, climate equipment is installed in the room.

Toys should be washed with hot water. It is better to remove carpets, heavy curtains, soft toys from the room. Wet cleaning should be done daily.

Second hand smoke

Family members who smoke must do so outside the apartment. Contact with such people should be kept to a minimum. Why? The matter is that the smoker exhales the air polluted with harmful substances from cigarettes.

Clothing and hygiene products

Underwear and bed linen should be made entirely from natural materials, such as linen, cotton. It is better to wash the baby's things with phosphate-free hypoallergenic powders, rinse three times. In severe cases of the disease, boiled water is used for rinsing. Children's dishes are washed without the use of household cleaners.

When going for a walk, the baby is dressed according to the weather. Excessively warm clothing leads to sweating. You need to walk every day for at least 3 hours. In winter, before a walk, the face is treated with a greasy baby cream (an hour before going out) so that dry spots do not appear on it.

For bathing, it is best to use filtered or settled water. It is allowed to add decoctions of herbs such as yarrow, nettle, burdock. The use of drying plants is excluded. During water procedures do not use a washcloth. Soap and shampoo are used only once a week. After bathing, the skin is treated with cream, milk or moisturizing lotion.

How is rough skin treated in a child with dermatitis

First of all, you need to establish nutrition for the baby and the nursing mother. She, along with the pediatrician, should analyze her diet to identify the product that causes a negative reaction. The regularity of the stool in a woman is monitored, since with constipation, toxins are absorbed into the blood from the intestines, and then enter the breast milk.

When the baby is bottle-fed, he is transferred to soy mixtures for. If there is no result, they are replaced with cow's milk protein hydrolysates.

If a child has dry, red and rough skin after the introduction of complementary foods, they return to their usual diet. Then complementary foods are introduced again, observing the reaction of the body. Start with the smallest portions. This will reveal the food irritant.

This also applies to older children. Parents should keep a diary where they will record what the baby ate, what portion and what his reaction is. The most common allergens are citrus fruits, strawberries, chicken, fish, cheese, and eggs.

Sweets are completely excluded from the menu. It enhances fermentation and increases the absorption of allergens. You can not use kissels, honey, sweet drinks, exotic fruits, products containing preservatives, dyes, etc.

Any changes in the condition of the child's skin should alert parents. When the baby's skin becomes dry, red, cracked, itchy or flaky, this indicates the development of pathological processes in his body, improper care or a deficiency of any substances necessary for the harmonious development. What is the danger of dry skin on the body, arms, legs, head of a baby? Why can such a symptom occur in newborns, infants up to a year old, preschool children, younger schoolchildren from 7 years old? How to treat and prevent such conditions? Let's talk about this topic in detail.

What can be dangerous dry skin in a child?

Dry skin in a baby, even caused by harmless causes, if not properly treated, can lead to the development of some forms of dermatitis. It should also be borne in mind that dry skin can act as one of the first symptoms of rather serious pathologies, such as hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus.

Causes and accompanying symptoms

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This article talks about typical ways to solve your questions, but each case is unique! If you want to know how to solve your particular problem - ask your question. It's fast and free!
Dry skin in a child can be the result of various factors - both exogenous and endogenous (we recommend reading:). Only a qualified specialist can reliably determine the source of the problem. If the baby's skin looks dry, you should definitely contact the pediatrician so that he can prescribe a comprehensive examination and help determine the cause of the problem.
It should be borne in mind that when the baby was just born, his skin, by definition, is dry, since the work of the main glands responsible for moisturizing has not yet begun.
Allergy
Peeling red skin on the buttocks and face of the child, the appearance of overdried spots on the skin of different parts of the body and face may indicate that the baby is suffering from atopic dermatitis (see also:). This pathology occurs as a manifestation of allergies.
The cause of an allergic reaction is usually hereditary predisposition - both on the mother's side and on the father's side. In infants, the problem arises, among other things, due to non-compliance with the diet by the nursing mother. Also, allergies in children can provoke:
food for aquarium fish;
inhalation of tobacco smoke (if the child acts as a passive smoker);
wool of cats, dogs, other pets;
hygiene products (soap, shampoo, powder used for washing children's things);
synthetic fabrics from which clothes and bed linen are made;
food (including adapted formula milk and breast milk in the case of an infant).

Skin diseases
Between the ages of 2 and 6, a child may develop a hereditary skin disease. Usually, the first symptoms become noticeable before the baby reaches the age of 3 years, however, there are cases when dryness and flaking were noted in earlier or later periods (at 4-5 years).
If the baby's skin has become very dry, flaky and cracked, then the following pathologies may be the reasons:
Hyperkeratosis. Symptoms usually appear on the head, elbows and legs of the baby (dry spots appear on the hips and feet) (we recommend reading:). It is believed that hereditary hyperkeratosis manifests itself when exposed to provoking factors: diseases of the digestive system, interaction with synthetic detergents, excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, hormonal changes (especially in adolescents), taking hormonal medications or beriberi.
Ichthyosis. Hereditary pathology associated with a violation of the process of keratinization of skin cells. Over time, the patient's body becomes covered with scales, very similar to fish scales, hence the name of the disease. It is accompanied not only by dry skin, but also by metabolic disorders, dysfunction of internal organs.

Improper skin care

The delicate skin of a baby, especially in the early stages of its development, requires careful and proper care. If parents neglect hygiene or make mistakes while caring for a child, the baby's skin can dry out and begin to peel off.
The most common mistakes of young parents that can lead to overdrying of the skin of the child:
frequent use of baby powder (we recommend reading:);
the use of shampoo (even high-quality, designed specifically for babies) more than 2 times a week;
poor-quality, hard water for bathing a baby;
frequent bathing of the child in decoctions of medicinal herbs that have a drying effect (chamomile, succession, oak bark);
poor-quality removal of vomit that enters the folds of the skin when regurgitation.

diaper rash

If the baby's skin is exposed to overheating or friction for a long time, is in direct contact with moisture, diaper rash may occur. Clothing that is too warm, being in a wet diaper for a long time, or not changing the diaper often enough can provoke such skin damage.
Diaper rash appears on any part of the baby's skin that is exposed to the factors listed above (we recommend reading:). At the initial stage, they look like pronounced red areas. In the absence of proper care and treatment, irritation will increase, microcracks will begin to form on the skin, a rash and weeping will appear.
Other reasons
In addition to the above reasons, dry skin in children of different ages may appear as a result of exposure to other internal and external factors. Among the most common include acne in newborns. It usually goes away by the time the baby reaches the age of 6 weeks.
The following causes of dry skin should also be noted:
lack of fluid in the body;
dry indoor air;
hypovitaminosis;
congenital diabetes mellitus (accompanied by elevated blood glucose levels, increased thirst and appetite);
hypothyroidism (the greatest dryness is noted in the areas of the elbow and knee joints);
helminthic invasion.

Treatment
Foci of dry and flaky skin should not be ignored. If the cause of the problem is obvious (for example, the baby spent a long time in a wet diaper or was dressed too warmly), such conditions do not require the help of a specialist, but you should not wait until everything goes away by itself. In all other cases, the child must be shown to the pediatrician.

Medical therapy
It is important to remember that the use of any medication is permissible only after consultation with a pediatrician. An ointment or gel that helped one baby may not be effective in treating another or even harm him.
The most effective drugs used in the treatment of dry skin in a child include the following groups of drugs:
antihistamines (Cetrin, Zirtek), calcium preparations (Calcium gluconate, Glycerophosphate) - are prescribed for severe forms of atopic dermatitis;
moisturizing lotions - usually applied three times a day;
creams and ointments - if we are talking about superficial lesions, then it is recommended to use a cream, if about deep lesions - an ointment (drugs with glucocorticosteroids can only be used as directed by a doctor);
for diaper rash, moisturizing and healing agents, such as Bepanten, Dexpanthenol, can be used;
to remove toxins from the body, it is recommended to give the baby sorbents - Enterosgel, Smecta, Sorbogel.

Folk remedies
In some cases, traditional medicines show high efficiency in the treatment of dry skin in children. Before using any homemade recipes, you should consult a pediatrician to avoid unintentional harm to the baby's health. Among the most popular folk remedies are baths with decoctions of medicinal herbs, sea buckthorn and olive oils, applied to the affected areas of the skin.

Sea buckthorn oil is a good helper for dry skin in a child
Prevention of dryness and flaking of the skin of the legs, arms and other parts of the body
The health of the baby requires constant care from the first minutes of his life. If you perform simple preventive measures, then it is possible to minimize the appearance of symptoms such as peeling and dry skin in children.
In order for the baby to always feel comfortable, and his skin to remain healthy and tender, it is recommended to be guided by the following rules:
wet cleaning of the room where the baby is located should be carried out as often as possible - chemical detergents do not need to be used;
if the child is genetically predisposed to allergies, then contact with possible irritants should be minimized;
treat exposed skin with a baby moisturizer 15-20 minutes before a walk;
children who wear disposable diapers need daily air baths - 15-20 minutes several times a day;
special hypoallergenic wet wipes can be used for hygiene procedures during the day, replacing washing;
it is recommended to use baby soap and shampoo for bathing no more than 1-2 times a week;
bed linen and clothes of the child should be washed only with special children's products;
you should make a choice in favor of underwear made from natural materials;
maintain the temperature in the room (the optimum temperature is 20 degrees Celsius), monitor the level of humidity (the recommended figure is 60%);
during breastfeeding, the mother must follow an appropriate diet.

Dry skin on the legs of a child is a common problem caused by both improper care of the baby and a number of diseases that require competent professional treatment. If the skin of a child is flaky and dry, provoking factors should be identified and the necessary measures should be taken to solve this problem.

Causes of dry and rough skin

The skin of the baby is distinguished by tenderness, thinness and hypersensitivity. Pediatricians identify the following causes of skin problems in a child under the age of three years:

Wrong, unbalanced diet. The lack of vitamins and microelements in the child's body affects the condition of his skin, making it pale, overdried, rough and flaky.
Violation of the drinking regime. If the baby drinks less than 1.5 liters of water throughout the day, this leads to dehydration and dry skin.
Unsuitable cosmetic preparations (baby cream, soap and other hygiene products). It is important to select high-quality cosmetics, which include only natural ingredients and are appropriate for the age of the child.
Allergic reactions.
Hormonal disorders.

In some situations, dry skin becomes with frequent bathing, dry indoor air, and other external factors.

However, sometimes a similar phenomenon in babies can act as one of the symptoms of diseases that require competent and timely treatment:

Atopic dermatitis is a hereditary allergic disease. With this pathology, the child's skin (not only on the legs, but also on the face and other parts of the body) becomes dense, rough, and crusted.
Eczema - accompanied by dryness, itching and burning sensation in the area of the affected areas.
Dermatitis - with this disease, individual dry spots appear on the skin of a child, which have a predominantly rounded shape.
Renal pathologies - manifested by disorders in the process of urination, painful sensations localized in the lumbar region, permanent lack of appetite, general weakness. The skin becomes not only dry, but also acquires a painful yellowish tint.
Ichthyosis - with this disease, the skin is covered with vesicles and specific scales.
Hypothyroidism is a disease caused by disorders in the functioning of the thyroid gland, accompanied by swelling, dry hair and skin, fragility of the nail plates, general weakness and increased fatigue.

If a child has similar symptoms, especially if they persist for a long time, despite proper care for the baby, it is important to seek help from a doctor as soon as possible.

Dry skin in a newborn

The problem is often associated with the physiological features of the structure of the outer cover of infants. The fact is that the baby has difficulties with heat transfer, which is associated with insufficient development of the sweat glands.

The epidermis of an infant contains an increased amount of lipids, which, on the one hand, protect his skin from external influences, but on the other hand, can lead to dryness and irritation.

The following factors can provoke the appearance of dry and rough skin in a newborn:

general overheating of the body;
prolonged exposure to the sun;
the use of air conditioners, heaters that dry out the air in the room;
violation of hygiene standards.

To avoid troubles in the form of dry skin, it is necessary to properly care for the child, and during the heating period to humidify the air, using special devices for this purpose or placing water containers around the apartment.

Why does an allergy affect the skin?

In most cases, rough skin in a child, prone to dryness, is a sign of allergic manifestations. Why is this happening? The fact is that allergy, in fact, is the body's defense against foreign proteins.

Specific allergen substances can also provoke its manifestation. In a small child, the immune and enzymatic systems are not yet sufficiently developed, so even many foods are perceived by the body as provocative allergens. Foreign substances are excreted from the child's body through the skin and urinary system, so they suffer the most.

Most often, babies are prone to such a disease as atopic dermatitis. In newborn babies with competent therapy, it is possible to quickly eliminate the symptoms of pathology and stop the further development of the disease.

In children in the age category older than one year, the disease is severe, often accompanied by the appearance of ulcers, damage to the deep layers of the skin. Treatment is difficult, and often the disease becomes chronic. However, the absence of therapeutic measures is fraught with the development of dangerous consequences: rhinitis, bronchial asthma, eczema, etc.

Which doctor should I contact?

If the child has dry and rough skin on the legs, and even more so there are other alarming symptoms, you should go to see a pediatrician.

The doctor will conduct an examination, study the clinical picture, analyze the collected anamnesis, write out directions for tests. If necessary, the district pediatrician will refer to such highly specialized specialists as a pediatric dermatologist, allergist, endocrinologist.

Treatment

Therapy for dry skin of the legs in a child is prescribed individually, depending on the root causes that provoked this phenomenon, the age category of a small patient.

If dry skin is a symptom of a certain diagnosed pathology, then first of all it is necessary to treat the underlying disease. The course of recreational activities is developed by the doctor, depending on the diagnosis, the age of the child, the stage and degree of the course of the pathological process, and other features of a particular clinical case.

If the problem is caused by allergic reactions, malnutrition or baby skin care, then it is enough to adjust the lifestyle to achieve positive results.

Medicines

Medications are prescribed for diseases such as dermatitis, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, renal and endocrine pathologies. Systemic drugs are selected by the doctor according to an individual scheme. When dry, rough spots appear on the skin, the baby may be recommended to use external medications (Fenistil ointment, etc.).

In the case of atopic dermatitis, severe allergic manifestations, the child is prescribed ointments and creams that include hormones - glucocorticosteroids. Such drugs give a good therapeutic effect, but they should be used only as prescribed by the doctor, strictly observing the dosage.

Cancel hormonal drugs gradually, reducing the amount of the drug over several days. In especially difficult, advanced cases, the use of antihistamines, calcium, and glucocorticosteroids may be recommended.

Diet

Diet therapy is the main way to treat and prevent dry skin in children. If the baby is breastfed, then the mother should exclude from the menu all foods that cause the development of allergies.

If the problem arose after the introduction of complementary foods, it is recommended to restore the child's usual diet for two weeks, and then reintroduce complementary foods.

Any product is included in the menu in a minimum amount for three weeks. Such a scheme helps doctors identify the presence of a certain food allergen in a child that adversely affects the skin.

The basis of the baby's diet should be the following foods:

cucumbers, tomatoes;
melon, pumpkin;
spinach, carrots, cabbage;
dairy and dairy products;
eggs;
porridge.

Sweets, fried foods, citrus fruits from the menu of a small patient are recommended to be temporarily excluded.

Folk remedies

With dry skin in a child, traditional medicine helps well. The simplest and most effective recipes are:

Foot baths. Dissolve a tablespoon of vegetable oil in a bowl of warm water. The optimal duration of the procedure is about 10 minutes. Excellent results are given by foot baths with decoctions, infusions of rose petals, sage, chamomile.
Cucumber infusion - has moisturizing, regenerating, refreshing properties. To prepare the medicine, you need to finely chop a few fresh cucumbers, immerse them in a liter jar and pour alcohol or vodka. Knead for infusion in a dark, cool place for two weeks. After the specified period, cucumber tincture can be used to treat the baby's legs 1-2 times a day.
Lemon compress - softens the skin, gives it softness and elasticity. To make such a remedy, it is enough to apply a little lemon juice on a gauze cloth and apply it to the affected area of the child's skin, securing it with a plaster or bandage. The recommended exposure time is 10 minutes.

For serious diseases, folk recipes can only be used as an addition to the main treatment after consulting a doctor, especially when it comes to very young children.

Effects

In the absence of timely measures taken, dry skin of the legs in a child can lead to the following complications:

the appearance of painful cracks;
ulcerative, erosive lesions of the skin;
eczema;
chronic form of atopic dermatitis.

If the cause of dryness and roughness of the skin lies in the last of the listed items, then chronic allergic reactions, bronchial asthma, and neuropsychiatric disorders may develop.

Prevention

Any problem is easier to prevent than to cure. To avoid dryness and roughness of the skin of the legs in a child, doctors advise parents to pay attention to the following preventive recommendations:

Take care of the correct, balanced nutrition of the child, provide his body with the necessary amount of vitamins A, B and E.
Give your child as much liquid as possible, especially during the hot period, giving preference to clean water, milk, natural juices, fruit drinks.
Use natural baby cosmetics, give up ordinary soap.
Choose high-quality genuine leather shoes for your child that match his size.
Refuse to use socks, tights, sliders made of synthetic materials.

Dry skin of the legs in a child is not the most serious problem, but this symptom gives the baby some discomfort, and may also indicate the development of serious allergic diseases. Therefore, such a manifestation should not be ignored. Provide the baby with proper care, and if this does not help, first of all seek the advice of a pediatrician.