For the light of your life

we celebrate another Children’s Day, it’s time to be aware about skin and cosmetic issues in children. Children are innocent and fragile and so is their skin. The largest organ system ‘the skin’ undergoes dramatic visible changes in both male and female right from birth to before the resumption of sexual development at puberty.

A child’s skin is much thinner and fragile than an adult’s, thus requiring the need for extra-care, early diagnosis and specific treatment.

Though parents tend to be fully alert about all skin issues in babies but as they grow –start going outdoors – and they are not babies anymore, parents tend to relax a bit. But ironically the spectrum of skin disorders tend to rise as the child becomes more mobile, thus becoming more exposed to potential disease triggering antigens.

Things to do

n Overzealous bathing leads to washout of beneficial oils from skin surface and impairs natural skin barrier. Only mild cleansers should be used in children and bathing period should be brief. Contrary to popular notion, over usage of hand sanitizers and antiseptic soaps in children should be avoided.

n Moisturization is of utmost importance since cells in the outer layer of epidermis are less tightly packed in children as compared to adults. Sebaceous glands are less active till puberty. Due to skin barrier dysfunction, about 20 per cent of children suffer from atopic dermatitis. It is important to choose moisturisers, which are rich in ceramides and fatty acids but at the same time they should be fragrance free and hypoallergenic.

n It is important to read composite label of all products to be used in children. Same products as used in adults may not be suitable for children and there can be chances of skin irritation with these.

n Sun protection is equally important in children as well since they spend maximum time outdoors. Sunscreens for young children should be chemical free and zinc oxide and titanium based physical sunscreens should be preferred. Water resistant sunscreens should be preferred for children engaging in water sports like swimming.

n Protective full-sleeve loose cotton clothing should be worn to minimize sun exposure as well as to prevent harmful insect bites. Choose clothes that cover children’s arms, legs and neck. Look for lightweight material that allows air flow and has a tight weave which helps to reduce penetration by UV rays. Several manufacturers now provide sun-safe wear, especially with a UV rating known as ultraviolet protection factor (UPF). Choose fabrics with a UPF greater than 15 for children.

n Dust, pollens, fragrances or animal dander may cause flare up of eczemas in children. It’s important to keep children with allergic tendencies away from such sources.

n Viral infections like warts and molluscum contagiosum are also common in paediatric age groups. It is important to treat these at the earliest so as to prevent their spread to other sites of body as well as to other children.

n Acne can be troublesome for some children. Growing up with acne especially nodulocystic ones is hard and there are some acne you can’t prevent. Popping of acne should be avoided to prevent scarring and post inflammatory pigmentation. Early recognition of type of acne and specific management can prevent those disfiguring scars.

The incidence of cosmetic dermatitis is surprisingly on the rise in school going children. Children see their parents using some cosmetics all the time — and love to imitate what their parents do.

Stay away from

n Nail polish remover (contains acetone, which can be poisonous)

n Fragrance (the most common cause of skin allergies in children)

n Hair relaxer and permanent wave solutions (the most common cause of hospitalization).

The early detection of skin diseases in school-going children is of paramount importance as certain not so visible but highly infectious conditions can spread rapidly like viral skin infections and fungal infections. The inflammatory fungal infections of scalp and hair can lead to permanent irreversible bald patches.

(Dr Sharma is a Chandigarh-based dermatologist)