During winter, skin tends to lose moisture quickly, which makes it extremely dry. This is especially true when it comes to baby’s skin as it is already prone to dryness. Therefore, as winter sets in it becomes more important to ensure that your baby’s skin remains healthy and supple.Winter fix-it!Winter is associated with cold winds and low humidity, both of which dehydrate the skin, resulting in its flaky appearance, itching and redness. Here’s what you need to know to ward off dry skin in babies:■ Heat rash: Contrary to what you may think, heat rashes occur during winter too! Bundling up your baby too warmly can make him sweat and irritate the skin, which can result in a bout of heat rash. So, dress your baby in breathable layers to allow proper ventilation. As cotton clothes are sweat absorbent, it is preferable to dress your baby in these first, followed by other ‘warm’ fabrics like wool.■ Dry skin: Dry skin can occur anywhere on your baby body, so you need to be prepared. Ensure that the bathwater is not too warm and only mild baby products are used. Hot water dries and shrivels up the skin, while stronger skin products remove the body’s natural oils. Remember to add a few drops of oil in the bathwater. After bathing, pat your baby dry with a soft towel and moisturise thoroughly. Choose a mild, herbal moisturiser and allow it to be fully absorbed by the skin. Keep moisturising every four to six hours during winter, which helps in maintaining skin integrity.■ Chapped lips: You’ve dressed your baby just right and applied moisturiser too, but have you forgotten the lips? Just like adults, baby’s lips are also vulnerable to chapping during winter. Coat the lips with a thin layer of moisturiser before leaving the house. This will create a barrier and significantly lower the chances of cracked, dry lips.— by Dr Archana PMResearch Scientist-Drug DiscoveryHimalaya Drug Company7 herbs for winter skincare!For generations, certain herbs have been used for topical wellness in babies. Ayurvedic texts also recommend the use of particular herbs to eliminate skin conditions in babies and children. Here’s a list of herbs that you can look out for when buying baby care products this winter:■ Olive Oil, enriched with vitamin E, nourishes, protects and softens skin and prevents chafing. It has soothing and antimicrobial properties, which keeps your baby’s skin healthy and soft.■ Almond Oil is an excellent skin softener, which gently moisturises your baby’s skin.■ Country Mallow, an antioxidant, has nourishing properties and protects baby’s skin from germs.■ Licorice protects and soothes your baby’s skin. Applied topically, licorice helps in relieving symptoms of itching, swelling and redness.■ Fenugreek is a perfect natural moisturiser, specially formulated to hydrate baby’s dry skin.■ Green Gram makes the baby’s skin soft and supple.■ Aloe Vera is used extensively in Ayurveda for wounds, burns, dermatitis and other skin ailments. It soothes and moisturises your baby’s skin and acts as an antibacterial agent, too.
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