“Mom, My Skin Is Itchy!” How To Cope With Dry Winter Air

Photo credit: spud

Dry winter air can be tough on all of us, and is especially tough on young children. Heating our homes is a necessity in winter, but breathing the dry air can irritate nasal passages and throat and cause the skin to be dry and itchy.

The best way to handle dry air is to encourage your kids to drink a lot. Water is preferred, but milk and limited amounts of 100% fruit juice are also good options.

Using a humidifier in your kids’ bedroom at night is also a good idea, although you need to make sure that the air is not TOO humid, SINCE that Could encourage mold and fungi. To make sure the humidifier doesn’t become a source for germs and bacteria, use distilled water; empty the humidifier every morning and rinse well; and disinfect it weekly with bleach or vinegar.

If your child suffers from dry skin, have them use a mild soap when they bathe such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser. Apply moisturizers while your child’s skin is still damp. Choose an alcohol and fragrance free moisturizer such as Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream. For dry lips, apply a moisturizing, fragrance free lip balm.

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