My son has dry skin?

Question

Ok so I found out yesterday that my 11 year old son does not have any kind of skin problem like eczema or a rash (thank god) but his skin is just plain dry on around his entire body besides his face.

I still make him have warm/hot baths for a long time.

What can I do to make his skin smoother (not with a rough dry surface)?

IF you had any past expierences please tell me what you did for your child (and what age they were at)

Answer 1

I've heard nothing but good about good old Virgin Olive Oil. The stuff has been a prized possession since biblical times. It has wonderful antibacterial, moisturizing properties and people have used it for so long. It's an awesome carrier oil too.

He can apply it at night if it's too oily during the day. Check out the link.

Answer 2

Hi there! I have 3 and my oldest is 6. He has eczema. But one thing that helps is to shorten bath time (10 minutes or less, as the water dehydrates, and so does certain kinds of soaps or bubble baths) and then putting very moisturising lotion on afterwards. Vaseline is kind of gross, but it locks the moisture right in. It doesn't have to be a lot, just enough to smooth on the skin. Anything with alcohol is bad for the skin, too. I also have 9 year old nephews - they prefer showers to baths and already have them without mom. Maybe your son can try that! Good luck!

Answer 3

100% pure Lanolin is the best stuff for dry skin hands down! You can find it at Whole Foods or other health food stores. Or, you can order it from www.iHerb.com like I did!

Lanolin is very sticky, so I would put it on his body at nice and put his PJs on over it so that is covers the stickiness. The next morning he will have completely moisterized skin and the stickiness will be gone. I slab a bunch on my feet and put socks on. Then when I wake up my feet look and fell GREAT! Beware that lanolin has a smell to it also, but it goes away along with the stickiness.

If you don't want to deal with sticky, smelly 100% Lanolin, at least find some moisterizer at the store with Lanolin in it. Another option would be to get Creamy Baby Oil by Johnson and Johnson. I use this as a body lotion when I get out of the shower while I'm still damp. Try putting lotion on your son after you gently pat him dry when he gets out of the tub. It will help seal in the moisture.

Answer 4

I have a 12 year old. This answer is simple, make your son drink more water. 8 eight ounce glasses a day. It sounds like a lot but he's probably pretty active. It'll make a big difference in his entire day not just his skin. The long hot baths are making his skin more dry. You have to put the water in him not on him. Not to mention he's at an age where everything in, on and around his body is changing. Your body needs water to function and that isn't just when you enter adulthood.

Answer 5

Do NOT have him take hot showers or baths. That is very drying on the skin. Don't use soap either. Use a moisturizing body wash, put a little bit on a buff puff (nylon net puff) in a warm shower to flake off skin. Then as soon as he gets out of the shower, put baby oil on his skin while it is still wet.
My son has had dry skin since about 13.

Answer 6

Try putting some baby oil ( about a cap full) in his bath water, or let him take showers using a deep moisturizing body wash for dry sensitive skin using a loofah to loosen and remove some of the dry skin and after wards baby lotion or baby oil gel by Johnson& johnson.You might also want to have him tested for allergies maybe he's allergic to sythetic fibers, etc in his clothing and you could aslo try washing his clothes in different laundry detergent he could be sensitive to whatever you are currently using. Mydaughter had really dry skin when she was a baby up until she was about 3 so this is what worked for me, but it's worth a try.

Answer 7

I use my own concoction -it is cheap and easy to make and it works like a bomb. My son also suffers from a very dry skin and this is all I have found that works - mix together a tub of Vitamin E cream, A tub of Aqueous cream and a bottle of Glycirin. Mix well together and apply as often as is neccessary. I now only apply in the evenings when he gets out of the bath and in the morning to his arms, legs and face. Another tip - don't let him soak in the bath tub - not good. My son is 4 yrs old but the whole family uses this lotion. My husband is a fuel technician and this does dry out one's skin and this lotion keeps his hands smooth and soft. Hope it works for you. Good luck

Answer 8

my son has the same problems, either cut out the hot baths because the heat draws the oils out of the skin, or cover him right after the tub with some really good moisturizer...no perfume, lotion doesn't do that well either. Showering isn't so bad at drying the skin out. Winter is also bad on the skin.

Answer 9

STOP THE HOT BATHS NOW! If a dermatologist has ruled out any actual ailments, it has to be related to environment. Long hot baths greatly dry out skin. Try a luke warm bath of a short nature perhpas with aveeno oatmeal treatment. It works very well. Also try rinsing all your sons clothes an extra time to make sure all soap products are removed. My dad used to have dry itchy skin from differant laundry soaps. Try changing to a dye free perfume free one. Good luck.

Answer 10

I have a 6 yr old son.. The bath is probably the wrong thing to do, especially if it is very hot,. Try using Cetaphil Lotion immediately after the bath, while skin is still damp, it will seal in moisture... If this does not help, try vaseline. Also, you may want to take him to a nail salon and get paraffin wax for hands and feet if it is really severe. Hope this helps