Skin Care for Growing Children - Coping up with Common Child Disorders

As children get older, their skin becomes stronger and less vulnerable to harmful effects from outside, although allergic responses to environmental factors remain a problem for a significant number. Difficulties affecting the skin of growing children are more likely to arise from infections and infestations.

Infections

Older children are more active. This means that the rough and tumble of the playground can easily translate into cuts and grazes. Though the injuries themselves may be minor, they increase the risk of infection.

This is because the skin acts as a defense barrier to protect us from the bugs, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, that we encounter in everyday life. If this barrier is broken - by a burn, scratch, or gash - it becomes easier for these bugs to land on the skin and get into our bodies.

That is why skin hygiene is important in growing children. Cuts, grazes, or any injury that breaks the skin should be cleaned carefully with a mild antiseptic, and the wound kept clean and dry. Seek medical advice if you suspect an infection.

Signs Of Infection

Consult your doctor if you notice any sign that your child has developed an infection, for example:

• A cut or sore that just does not heal.

• A redness and tenderness around the damaged area.

• Discomfort or pain that lasts more than a day or two.

Infections and infestations are passed easily from child to child through close physical contact during play.

Infestation

Once children start attending kindergarten or school, they come into regular contact with a much wider group of people. This makes it easy for infestations to pass from child to child and spread through a class.

Head lice

Probably the most common infestation that affects children. These tiny insects, which live on human blood, attach themselves to the hair shafts close to the scalp and lay their eggs in large numbers. There is no connection with poor hygiene lice may even prefer clean hair. They are spread by close contact, usually from scalp to scalp.

Symptoms

The lice themselves are rarely visible, but if you look closely you'll see little white flecks, which are the eggs, sticking to the hair shaft. The lice can cause tiny red, itchy spots, and although they may not show, the child's scratching is a common indicator. Scratching can lead to other skin conditions, such as inflammation, infection, and impetigo.

Treatment

Treat all the family with an insecticide shampoo or lotion, which kills lice and eggs quickly. Check with your doctor, pharmacist, or school nurse which product to choose. Follow the instructions to the letter - these products can be dangerous. As a preventative, and to get rid of lice if your child gets them, apply conditioner to your child's hair after washing and remove insects and eggs by combing thoroughly with a fine-toothed comb. Repeat at least twice a week. Wash all bedlinen at high temperature.

Scabies

Also a fairly common infestation in children. It is caused by a tiny mite called Sarcoptes scabiei, which burrows into the skin and lays its eggs. Scabies is very contagious and is spread by close physical contact.

Symptoms

Scabies causes an intensely itchy, blistering rash, most often on the hands, feet, neck, and groin. Because of the itching, children scratch their skin, which can lead to scabs and sores.

Treatment

A variety of insecticides is available, and you should follow the instructions carefully. These treatments kill the mites, but itching may continue for a week or so. Wash all your child's bed linen and clothing in hot water to kill any remaining mites.