Newborn babies have very thin and delicate skin. Parents are careful not to cause harm by excessive wiping with cotton swabs, towels, or clothes. Despite regular skincare procedures, peeling may appear on the child’s body: on the head, cheeks, palms and feet. Natural questions from parents: “Is this normal for newborns? What should we do about it? According to pediatric statistics, this phenomenon occurs in 100% of cases in newborn girls and boys with varying degrees of manifestation. The skin is the largest organ and is constantly exposed to environmental influences. Renewal of the epidermis is a natural process. After birth, it takes time to adapt to new conditions, because from the intrauterine humid environment the child enters the air space, which is radically dry. This is the root cause why a child’s skin on the head, face and body peels. The situation is completely different if the motivating factor is illness.
Causes of peeling skin in children
Children quickly react to factors in the space around them. In addition to dry air and the adaptation period after birth, there are a number of other reasons for the appearance of peeling:
- improper care and hygiene violations;
- reaction to dry air or cold;
- allergic reaction to hygiene products, food;
- clothing made of synthetic materials;
- congenital diseases;
- lack of vitamins A and E.
Each of these reasons is widespread, but they are not always immediately excluded as a provoking factor. Dry air can be humidified. The optimal indicator for an infant is 50-60%. If necessary, it is recommended to change shampoos, soaps and bathing gels to hypoallergenic ones. Children 1 year of age and older may have a helminthic infestation. This provokes intoxication of the body, and hence skin manifestations. With treatment and regular care, peeling goes away.
Treatment
A certain therapy is prescribed by a doctor after diagnosing the disease. It may include medications and a number of care products, including traditional recipes. It can be especially difficult to get rid of fungal infections, but after identifying its type, this is quite possible with the correct selection of ointment. In case of an allergic reaction, completely different medications are prescribed - with antihistamine properties, and in case of vitamin deficiency - with a complex of vitamins. Even salon procedures such as paraffin therapy, hot or spa manicure can prevent peeling.
Medication
The prescription of drugs is determined by the reason why the skin is peeling. In case of fungal infection, treatment is carried out using such means as:
- Nizoral;
- Ketoconazole;
- Exoderil;
- Fluconazole;
- Lamisil;
- Diflucan.
Therapy may not be very quick and may take a long time, up to several months. If the cause is an allergen, then you need to limit contact with it. To enhance the effect, it is necessary to take antihistamines, for example, Suprastin or Zyrtec. In addition to them, sorbents are often used that remove toxins from the body. When treating more severe diseases, such as eczema or psoriasis, the doctor himself determines the therapy. It includes:
- corticosteroid drugs – Advantan, Lokoid;
- anti-inflammatory medications - Elokom, Bepanten, Fenistil.
Self-medication is unacceptable here, as is the case with syphilis, lupus erythematosus, scarlet fever, scabies and other diseases that cause peeling. If the problem is a lack of vitamins, then you should take a multivitamin complex and additionally eat more fresh vegetables and fruits. Ointments designed to regenerate the upper layer of the epidermis can be auxiliary products in the treatment of skin. The highest quality restorative drugs are:
- Bepanten;
- Panthenol;
- Radevit;
- Neutrogenia.
Folk remedies
Traditional medicine recipes are also effective in combating peeling hands. Although it is better to use them as an adjuvant to the main therapy against a specific disease prescribed by a doctor. If the skin peeling is not caused by serious pathologies, then you can use the following folk recipes:
- Celandine ointment. To prepare it, add 1 cup of vegetable oil to the leaves of the plant. Then you need to boil this mixture, add 20 g of wax to it and keep it on the fire until it is completely dissolved. Apply the resulting composition to the damaged areas 2 times a day.
- Gelatin. Baths are made from this product. To do this, pour 1 teaspoon of gelatin into 1 glass of water. The mixture is boiled for 40 minutes, then allowed to stand for a while. You need to place your hands in the warm mass and hold it until it cools.
- Honey with oatmeal. A mask is made based on them. To do this, take 1 tablespoon of each ingredient, mix and leave for a couple of minutes. Leave this mask on the skin of your hands for about half an hour, then wash it off with warm water and lubricate the skin with a rich cream.
Cosmetics
Proper regular care is very important for hand health. Cosmetics in the form of creams, ointments, lotions and other types help to carry it out. Preparations with the following components will be effective for the health and beauty of the skin:
- hyaluronic acid;
- linoleic and linolenic acids;
- hexahydric alcohol sorbitol;
- collagen;
- glycerin.
These components help provide hydration to the epidermis, stimulate cell renewal, increase protective qualities and add elasticity. Moisturizers based on olive oil, jojoba oil, grape seed and apricot are also very useful. Any fatty ointment with these components has a positive effect. Baby cream and Lyubava cream are suitable for any skin type. Regardless of the drug, it is applied in a thin layer to the skin, allowed to absorb, after which the excess is removed with a sponge.
Signs of low hemoglobin in a child
Pathological conditions of the body can be temporary or chronic. This is an indicator of low hemoglobin in the blood. This is one of the factors that disrupts the normal functioning of the skin. In the first days of life, hemoglobin is at the level of 180-240 g/l, and by the end of the first week it drops to 200 g/l. The norm for children over 1 year of age is 120-160 g/l. If your child's skin is peeling, it means his hemoglobin level may be low. Pay attention to the following signs: lethargy and drowsiness, moodiness, weakness, decreased appetite. In school-age children with low hemoglobin, disruptions in learning and memory are observed. A characteristic symptom is pale skin color.
When to see a doctor
A dermatologist will be able to help you deal with the symptoms and complaints of young patients after diagnosis at an appointment. He will determine why the child’s skin is peeling on different parts of the body. Leading specialists with extensive experience in dermatology and pediatrics work at JSC “Medicine” (academician Roitberg’s clinic) in the center of Moscow. Various peelings are not always the cause of pathological conditions. Seek advice when your child develops severe itching and the location of dry patches begins to increase and change shape. In advanced cases, the skin may peel off (peele).
Diagnosis of skin conditions
At JSC “Medicine” (academician Roitberg’s clinic) you can conduct a comprehensive examination of the health status of children. When a child’s skin on his body peels, a dermatologist conducts an examination and asks about the time of onset of symptoms and their nature. Of the main diagnostic methods, ultrasound may be needed to identify the relationship of pathologies with the condition of internal organs and laboratory tests:
- blood test (biochemical, general, antibodies and antigens);
- analysis of scrapings from the peeling area (microscopy);
- histological and cytological studies;
- flora culture to determine sensitivity.
Possible diseases: symptoms
Peeling is not always such a harmless phenomenon. The reasons for its appearance may be not only living conditions, hygiene procedures with detergents and the influence of temperatures. Congenital, autoimmune, chronic diseases are causes of concern for parents.
Seborrheic and atopic dermatitis
You should definitely seek advice if you have a history of seborrheic and atopic dermatitis. In the first case, the phenomenon in the form of dense brown-yellow crusts on the head is typical for all newborns, but they can also appear in preschool children. This type of seborrheic dermatitis usually resolves as the enzyme system strengthens with age. If we are talking about its other signs, when flaky spots on the child’s skin appear on the cheeks, forearms, and chest (red in color and irregular shape), the diagnostic tactics are different. There may be disturbances in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, which will be investigated. Atopic dermatitis is a more complex disease. If you notice that your child’s skin is too dry, he scratches it a lot under the knees, on the neck and on the bend of the elbow joints, you need control of a dermatologist. Without treatment, atopic dermatitis can spread throughout the body as we age.
Severe peeling of fingers
Localization of skin problem sites indicates different causes. Contact your dermatologist if your child of any age experiences peeling and itching between the toes—it could be scabies. The manifestation of such a symptom on the lateral surface of the fingers presumably signals a fungus. Silvery-white scales are characteristic of psoriasis or lichen. An urgent consultation is needed if a fever develops, which is typical for scarlet fever.
Manifestation of dry skin on the legs
If a child has peeling skin on his legs, the reason may lie in vitamin deficiency. In newborns, as they grow and receive sufficient feeding, the deficiency eliminates itself. If there is no improvement, the dermatologist prescribes vitamins in the right dosage according to age. The causes may also be gastrointestinal diseases, for example, dysbiosis. In case of peeling and itching in preschool and school age, children should be examined for the presence of fungal infections.
Rare disease - ichthyosis
This disease is rarely found in its classical manifestation, but about 30 varieties are known to medicine. At different stages of the disease, skin lesions appear from mild roughness, pityriasis-like peeling to severe forms. The epidermis resembles the scales of a fish. The main symptoms are: thick, keratinized areas of skin, severe itching and overheating of the body due to impaired sweating. The disease requires medical monitoring and daily correction of the skin condition with creams, ointments, gels, water treatments, etc.
Prevention and advice
The doctor determines why a child’s skin is peeling. At home, preventing this phenomenon is to use a humidifier. This is especially important during the heating season. Preventive measures also include the following:
- apply baby cream to the skin before walking in the cold season;
- exclude synthetic clothing from your wardrobe;
- select household chemicals from the children's segment (powders, rinses);
- do not wrap your child up too much at home or on the street;
- bathe babies and older children not in hot water (maximum 37);
- monitor your drinking regime (avoid dehydration);
- stick to a diet without foods that cause allergies;
- avoid vitamin deficiency.
What to do
A dermatologist can correctly diagnose the reason why the skin of your hands is peeling, so if you have such a symptom, it is better to immediately contact a dermatologist. Until this point, you can try to improve the condition or at least alleviate it. The first thing you need to do is start taking care of your skin. After washing, they need to be dried thoroughly. Twice a day, the skin should be lubricated with a nourishing cream containing chamomile, glycerin or aloe. The following will help improve your condition:
- Baths. A very effective recipe is 1 tablespoon per 1 liter of water. Leave your hands in this composition for about a quarter of an hour, after which they are blotted with a napkin and lubricated with cream.
- Masks. Honey ones are especially useful. Honey should simply be applied to the skin. After half an hour, it is washed thoroughly.
- Lotion. Rub your hands with a piece of cucumber, then lubricate them with a mixture of glycerin cream and lemon juice.
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How to make an appointment with a dermatologist
You can make an appointment with a dermatologist at the pediatric department of JSC “Medicine” (academician Roitberg’s clinic) using the form on the main page of the site. It is necessary to enter feedback information in order to agree on a convenient time and date for a visit with the child.
If it is necessary to make an accurate diagnosis, the doctor can additionally refer you for examination to other specialized specialists: an allergist, an immunologist, etc. Contact reception number for questions and appointments with doctors. The clinic has a convenient location in the Central Administrative District near the Mayakovskaya metro station at the address: Moscow, 2nd Tverskoy-Yamskaya lane, building 10. Other stations are within walking distance: Belorusskaya, Chekhovskaya, Novoslobodskaya, Tverskaya " Qualified doctors with extensive experience treat young patients with care and attention.
Take care of the health of your children together with JSC “Medicine” (clinic of academician Roitberg).
Prevention
Regular preventive measures can help prevent skin problems. It consists of good hand care, which includes:
- Dry your hands thoroughly after washing;
- refusal of antibacterial soap in favor of a soft gel for sensitive hand skin;
- drink up to 2 liters of fluid daily to prevent dehydration;
- use sunscreen in summer;
- in cold weather, always wear mittens or gloves;
- maintain proper nutrition so that the diet is rich in vitamins;
- use rubber gloves when doing housework;
- use hypoallergenic cosmetics;
- Lubricate your skin with moisturizing creams daily.
