Written in partnership with Dr. Clarence De BELILOVSKY, Dermatologist and member of the Mustela circle of experts.
If your child has extremely dry skin, what can they do in terms of leisure activities?
Some precautions should be taken to avoid irritating the skin or triggering the immune system to react.
In the water
Does your child love the swimming pool or the sea? The chlorine in the former or the salt in the latter can be irritants.
So, before he dives headfirst into the water, don't hesitate to apply his usual specific baby-child emollient care all over his body.
If bathing takes place outdoors, then protect him afterwards with a very high protection perfume-free baby-child sunscreen lotion, indicated for atopic-prone skin and with a high SPF. He is then ready to jump into the waves!
From time to time, you can check for any redness. If you spot any patches, or once he has finished splashing around, simply rinse your child's skin thoroughly under the fresh water shower that is often available nearby, even at the beach.
Back home, the same ritual, but calmer and more thorough, with her adapted Stelatopia Cleansing Cream, her shampoo, then her emollient balm...
You can also turn to the treatment your doctor has prescribed if the redness is still present.
There you have it, your child is clean and well protected.
Are you still wondering if all this time in the water is reasonable? During a flare-up, the question might not even arise because your child will likely find contact with iodine or bleach a little painful and won't want to go. Otherwise, during periods of remission, swimming is a rather suitable activity because it makes you sweat less... A definite plus!
In the garden and elsewhere
Sweating will therefore be an important factor to consider for other games and activities. Ideally, prioritize calm activities that are still fun or engaging depending on their age: marbles, skittles, pétanque, blind man's bluff, hide-and-seek, treasure hunts, red light, green light, cinema, carousels, etc... The ideas are numerous and endless!
Which sports are best for preventing flare-ups?
Basketball, football, volleyball, dance, athletics... All these sports require a certain amount of energy and therefore... can lead to some heatstroke! Not to mention the intense outdoor games with friends: running, tag, somersaults...
To prevent his body temperature from rising too high, you can: - Dress him in loose-fitting cotton clothing. If possible, choose long-sleeved pants and tops. If he needs to roll in freshly cut grass or sand, for example, this can protect him from irritants.
- In summer, suggest that he organize his matches or other leisure activities at the end of the day when it is less hot.
- Use a spray bottle from time to time and absorb sweat with tissues.
- Rinse it as quickly as possible after activity or play, under a shower for several minutes and protect it again with its emollient care.
- Here too, apply your emollient before exercise. If atopic eczema develops, it's best to take it easy for a few days until the redness disappears.
An opportunity to vary leisure activities: board games, charades, drawing, etc...
