Skin Articles

What can I use to help keratosis pilaris on my child’s skin? 

Keratosis pilaris is a harmless and very common condition. The best thing to do to manage it is to moisturise and smooth the skin. I’d recommend using moisturisers that contain salicylic acid or urea for the best hydration. Although exfoliating can help adults with the condition, I would steer clear of this for your child as it may cause irritation and pigment change in younger skin. 

When should I treat my child’s port-wine birthmark? 

It is better to treat port-wine stains when your child is tolerating it visually, this means they’re less likely to even realise why they need laser. Your GP needs to refer your child to plastic surgery or dermatology clinics. A laser specialist is likely to advise treatment for when your child can tolerate laser which can vary for every child. 

What is infantile acne? 

Infant acne is thought to be caused by genetic factors and it affects children between the ages of six weeks and one year. Normally, it shows itself on the cheeks, forehead and chin. It should disappear in a few months but, if it is persisting, you can look into topical treatments like benzoyl peroxide. Also, it can cause scarring so it’s better to get things sorted sooner rather than later! 

How can I find out what is causing my child’s rashes?

When a young person is experiencing frequent and unexplained rashes, it might help to get them tested for allergies. There are two tests that you can do, the prick test for food allergies and a patch test which is for allergens in creams and other things that touch our skin. It’s best to start with the prick test which is carried out by immunology. The patch test is performed by dermatologists. 

My 12-year-old is developing spots, do you think that I should take her to a dermatologist?

I would advise that you take your daughter to a GP who can diagnose her acne and refer her to a dermatologist. The earlier you can do this the better as then you will be able to get her skin under control. There is a number of treatments available on prescription for acne including Epiduo and Duac gels to oral antibiotics and Roaccutane for more severe cases. If you need more help, British Skin Foundation’s acne expert Dr Adil Sheraz answered some acne FAQs for us, here! 

If you need some extra support with your children’s skin, our myeczemachild support programme is full of actionable advice for managing eczema and other conditions.