What Can I do to get my child to apply lotion on his dry skin??!?

Question

My 13 year old son has the most dry skin ever. Ever since winter came around I felt that his entire body is almost like sand paper.
I always see him itch it and everything. I went to a dermontologist and she said he just needs to be using lotion every day on his body after he takes his shower/bath.

I just got a new Nivea Dry skin lotion, which is very thick for him. I told him he needs to apply it every day after his shower. I come in after and I apply it on his back where he cant reach.

I found out he is not even using the lotion, the bottle is still full, but his back is doing better, from when I do it, I told him many times, but he never uses it. This is what I did so far.

-I showed him pictures of people with bad bad dry skin.

-I told him that girls hate guys who have dry skin-

-I asked him if he wants to pick his own lotion from the store.

And then one day, I caught him squrting the lotion in the toilet.. Please tell me what I should do!

Answer 1

easy. Go in every day and supervise him doing it. If you don't want to do that then leave him alone. It is his skin and he has to put up with the itchyness. One day he will come to his senses and use it. In the mean time take enough money to cover the cost of the lotion he threw out. Make him realise that money doesn't grow on trees

Answer 2

Sometimes if you give kids some choices, they will take the bait but it sounds like your child is being stubborn. Have you asked him why this is so?
If there is no logical reason, like "it smells", etc, then I would start making him have baths with the special bath solution by Ego. He will not want a bath everyday, I'm sure so you say, OK, then you MUST put the cream on if you want to take showers instead.
You are the boss, as mothers often know best. By the way, you don't always have to give a reason as this sometimes is used as a leverage tool by the child who thinks they can "talk their way out of having to do something".

Answer 3

I know you want to help hon, but 13 really is too old to have mom come in to the bathroom after a shower. (Unless of course you hear a loud crash and a blood curdling scream!) They barely have control over what their bodies respond to and it may make him feel self conscious. (It's great that you want to help him so much! Maybe you could wait until after he gets out and lift up his shirt instead?)
My daughter's pediatrician told me not to let my daughter with the dry skin bathe more often than once a week, as her glands weren't oiling her skin right anyway. She just washed up whatever area needed it sponge bath style.
My skin is real dry and creams just disappear, so I use a real light coat of petroleum jelly after bathing and voila! Lasts a lot longer and doesn't smell wierd. Suggest that, and research foods/vitamin supplements that help promote healthy skin.

Answer 4

I know what you mean. I am going through that with my daughter who is now 10, her legs looks like a reptile. Creepy.

If you have the time and courage, do it yourself. I know he's 13 but that's the beauty of it, if he doesn't want you doing it then he better show you that he is responsible enough to do it. Constant reminder doesn't work and it gets tiring after a while.

You can always buy one of those body wash that has moisturizers built into it.

Answer 5

If he acts like a child treat him like a child, put the lotion on your self every day he takes a shower one day he will get tired and embarrass and he will end up doing it him self, works like a charm.

Answer 6

do woteva the ppl above are saying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
or you culd cuva his bath towel in it so when he dries himself he will be topped up with cream
it mite help
ya neva no!!!!!!!!!!!!

good luk
x x x