As I headed out to work today the weather really caught my attention, how cold and dry it has become. Yes, it’s winter in San Diego!  My hands were also cold and dry and it made me think about all of my patients with eczema and dry skin.  Boy, is their skin going to flare unless it gets moisturized and hydrated.

Children with this condition already need to be moisturized daily and usually more often than that.  Now it’s going to be even more important to stay on top of it.  There are several great moisturizers/creams available to use.  Some of my favorites are Eucerin, Cetaphil and CeraVe.  (If your on a tight budget you can always opt for the generic version, just make sure it’s fragrance free and go for the cream.  Another trick I use is Amazon.com, they have great deals on these products and usually even better pricing than a discount store).  I typically recommend putting them on at least twice a day, and for more moderate to severe cases, three to four times a day.  Don’t forget to always use a gentle soap like Dove and wear natural fibers like cotton, which are best for the skin.  It’s important to remember that you also hydrate your skin from the inside out.  So make sure your kids drink plenty of fluids and stay hydrated.  Hopefully all of this extra attention will keep  dry skin and eczema flares to a minimum.   Good luck!