please help my child's skin issue?

Question

My adopted son who is 11, has a skin issue. Where we live its very cold and packed with snow. Ever since Winter came around my son has skin that feels very rough and dry, feels like it has no moisture in it.

I have gave him a bath every day but that has done nothing. His whole body is dry and rough like this, his arms,legs, thigs, back, just about everywhere.

Its not a different colour skin or anything. I am only 27 year old mother and I have no idea what I have to do with this, please give me some info.

Answer 1

no baths!!!! baths get him even more dryer. keep him WARM as possible and baby lotion on him!

Answer 2

First off, if his skin is dry giving him a bath will dry it further.
IF it is ONLY dry skin, have him drink more water, and also give a multivitamin once daily. There are vitamins that will help the skin retain the moisture he is drinking.
If you have forced air heat, that is going to keep the skin dry as well.
Providing this is only dry skin, it will clear up once there is more moisture in the air.
In the meantime, stop using soap on his skin, it dries it and there is no need to use anywhere that isn't a 'smelly' or dirty place like the hands (ask and doc or dermotologist on that one if you doubt it.) Do not bathe more frequently than every other day and apply a moisturizer or lotion after. (one thing I do that really seems to help, when I do take a bath, I open one vitamin E gel tab in the water. It is readily absorbed by the skin and feels oh so good!)
You can see his doctor if you think it may be something else.
Good luck, HTH

Answer 3

First of all, don't give him an overly long or overly hot bath, and don't bathe him too often; that will only dry his skin out worse. Do give him a short, warm bath at night before bed, though, and apply a thick moisturizer all over after gently patting him dry. Then put clothing on top once his skin is coated with moisturizer to keep it from rubbing off in bed.

Aquaphor is an excellent moisturizer for this purpose; Eucarin Calming Cream is good too, but not as thick. Use Aquaphor at night and Calming Cream during the day. Your pedicatrician should be able to give you samples.

If you repeat this therapy nightly for a couple of weeks, you'll see great improvement. My daughter had a similar problem, with very dry hands especially, and this was the regimen her pediatrician advised us to follow. It worked very well but will probably be a chronic problem for her, especially during the winter.

Answer 4

Okay, if you are giving him hot baths then the heat could be taking away more of the moisture from his skin. The cold weather will do it too.As soon as he gets out of the tub try putting lotion on him from top to bottom. My grandmother used to use Vaseline or baby oil too. I get amazingly dry skin too, I use St Ives. Aloe and Chamomile. I have used all sorts of others but this works for me. So you may have to try a bunch of different types. Also, if the skin still does not soften up you may need to take him to the doctor to be sure that there is not something else going on. Be careful if the skin starts to break open and bleed because he could end up with an infection. Good luck

Answer 5

I'd say Carley's Clear & Smooth Natural Soap Bar & moisturiser!!! It's the BEST!! Everybody LOVE it!!! cuz it's ADDICTING & really makes you feels CLEAN!! It seems to cure many skin problem indluding eczema, acne, dermatitis, dry skin, rough skin & many more!

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But the bar is SOO big!!! It's 6 ounces per bar!! How big is that?? I suggest you to try their moisturiser (if it's for the body, try their body lotion at their eBay Store) because you'll get FREE 1 bar soap!!! You WILL love their products as much as I do!!

And don't forget, warm oatmeal baths!!

Here's how:
You'll need a blender, food processor or coffee grinder and 1 cup of oatmeal, 1 cup of milk (or more according to your liking), 2 tablespoon of honey & olive oil each. You can use instant oatmeal (unflavored), quick oats or slow cooking oats- all work equally as well. For babies, you'll only need about 1/3 cup per bath.

Blend or process the oats on the highest setting until you have a very fine, consistent powder. To test the colloid property of the oats, stir 1 tablespoon oats into a glass of warm water. If the oats readily absorb the water and give it a milky look and a silky feel, you've blended long enough.

Giving the bath:
Sprinkle the oats into a tub of running water and stir the water with your hand several times to ensure even distribution. Add milk, honey & olive oil.

Feel along the bottom of the tub for clumps and break up any you find.

Get into the tub carefully as the oats & oils will make the tub even more slippery than usual. Allow yourself to soak in the tub for 15-20 minutes and pat dry with a soft towel rather than rubbing. Slather moisturiser.
You can use this bath once or twice a day.

If it's your face, do an oatmeal facial. Mix oatmeal with milk to a paste. Apply it to your face & wait for about 20-30 minutes. Wash off with warm water. Follow with a splash of cold water. Pat dry! Apply moisturiser.

GOOD LUCK!!

Answer 6

Your son seems to be among the many many sufferers of winter skin. Dryness, redness, cracking etc are normal symptoms of winter skin.
To regain the moisture and prevent winter skin in future seasons, your son should:
1. Bathe or shower in lukewarm -not hot- water. Hot water removes natural oil from the skin, making it dry and itchy.
2. Drink lots and lots of water, throughout the day.
3. Apply moisturizers to skin immediately after a bath or shower while the skin is still wet. Putting on a cream, ointment or lotion helps trap the water in the upper layers of the skin and decreases dryness and itching.

Answer 7

Hi there , I am your age. I suffer from Raynaud's phenomena. Perhaps your son has this also, as i have very dry palms and skin on my body ( not my face though). Is he always cold? Are hsi hands and feet cold. I would get a blood test done and check for this disease. It is not life threatening but I try to avoid cold climates. His doctor might prescribe nicotinic acod which addss a flush to the body and warms things up. With Raynauds the veins inyour body are narrow so vblood flow is constricted making it cold in parts of the body and drying out. Good luck withoyur step son. Feel free to E mail me if you like.

Answer 8

Sounds like a skin condition called eczema. It can be treated with a prescribed lotion. Consult your pediatrician or buy a good quality lotion for extra dry skin. I suggest you apply the lotion immediately following his bath/shower to lock in moisture. Apply as often as needed. Also, have him drink more water.

Answer 9

Same problem get a good body buddy RIGHT after you wash! Thats ver inportant and if that will not work Baby oil! It works also in the bath ADD DRIED MILK this is for sofer baby skin

Answer 10

As related in other answers, multi-vitamins and skin cream/wash. Go to the website quoted below, click products, order the USANA Body Rox vitamins and body wash and body cream lotion. Drink water, less harsh washing ( USANA's body wash is gentle), use body cream. USANA's products and preparation is pharmaceutical quality. If you are really concerned, it is worth the very best. I've seen burn cases recover using this!

Answer 11

dry skin is caused by too much bathing, after bathing rub him with a soft cloth that has baby oil on it. or put a spoon full of baby oil or olive oil in his bath water, however really aligator feeling skin can also mean he has a thyroid problem so it wouldnt hurt to see his doctor.