Parents: Don't Forget Skin Protection in Winter Weather

Most parents lather sunscreen on their kids in the summer. Beach, playground and pool exude a lovely coconut scent in June, July, and August. Once the sun stops beating down with intense fury, most parents put away the skin protection. Problem is, the sun doesn't go away in winter. It's still busy sending ultraviolet rays down to earth.

Winter sunburns are infrequent. That may be more about the layers of clothing than a lack of sunlight. Still, your child needs protection from the sun. Kids love to play in the snow. While the rest of them is covered to ward off the cold, their face still gets a full dose of sun. Plus, in winter, the sun is not the only environmental enemy.

What about the wind and blowing snow? Tuck some protective lip balm into your kids pockets this winter. This simple measure will keep the sun and wind from causing chapped lips. As added protection, use sunscreen on exposed facial areas. If your kids faces get chapped from the cold winds, use a little plain petroleum jelly for healing purposes.

Prevention keeps kids skin healthy. Chapped skin can be painful and unsightly. Rather than treating it after the fact, use protection daily. Teach kids to make skin protection part of their daily regimen, even in the winter months. Legs can become chapped and reddened, even through winter clothing. Kids who drink plenty of hydrating water and use lotion have less to worry about.

During the summer months, kids lounge about in sandals or flip flops. By the end of the summer, their feet are dry and rough. Show kids how to heal summer dry feet overnight. Simply apply lotion nightly. Have kids wear socks over lotion-ed feet for better absorption. This treatment keeps feet from drying in cold months too.

Some kids suffer from eczema. This condition can be aggravated in cold weather. I should know. It runs in my family. Everyone from my Mom right down through to my grand-kids suffers from eczema. There is prescription medicine available for flare ups. Still, we find keeping skin protected makes for less frequent issues. Parents, don't forget skin protection in winter weather. It's just as important as that bottle of sunscreen in your beach bag.

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