Winter Care – Skin Protection for Kids


Winter has effect on our skins – hands, legs etc. On children the winter weather effect is more pronounced. E.g.: Dry/ chapping of lips, dry skin, itching etc.

Some tips for taking care of kids’ skin during winter:

1. Prevention is Better than cure:

    • Keep the skin moisturised; hydration of the skin is the key
    • Ensure kids have their ears covered, use scarf to over the mouth on cold days, when going outside
    • For infants, cover completely, to protect from cold air.

2. Protect from Sun’s rays: Apply sunscreen in winter as well.

3. Optimize bath schedule/ duration: Its surprising but true, that bathing aids in  to dry skin, as it removes skin’s protective oils along with dirt during washing.

        Its surprising but true, that bathing aids in  to dry skin, as it removes skin’s protective oils along with dirt during washing.

    • Reduce the number of times kids’ bathe every week. Alternatively, wipe child’s body with a warm cloth
    • Reduce the length of bath time if the skin is dry; max. of 10 mins is a good optimal duration.
    • Restrict use of chemical/ harsh soaps.
    • Use warm water, instead of hot water.
    • Use moisturizer right after bath, when skin is semi-dry.

4. Use hand Lotion: Washing hands is very important during winter and flu, but soap dries the skin. Keep hand lotion/ moisturizer near the wash basin and ensure kids use it after washing their hands

5. Control the Air temperature: Externally heated air contributes to dry skin in a great way. This can be controlled using a humidifier. But make sure that the humidifier is taken care properly and cleaned regularly.

Last but not the least, if kid is having consistent dry skin or cold burns, consult doctor. They can prescribe suitable medication to ease the same.