What Kind of Lotion to Use on My Kids Faces??

My kids have both had issues with eczema and dry skin, and their pediatrician recommended either Aquaphor or Eucerin. I've used both and had pretty good results with both. It depends on how chapped their skin is. Aquaphor is more like vasaline if their skin is really chapped, whereas the Eucerin is a creamy lotion more for "upkeep" if you will.
Also for washing... she recommended Cetaphil, since it does not contain soap which can dry the skin, but is a very mild cleanser.

Hi A. -

We have had the best luck with Vanicream. It is a thick lotion that I put all over their bodies but especially on my girls' faces. They have very sensative skin, one with eczema and one with keratosis pilaris. The Vanicream is awesome. I get it over the counter at the pharmacy in Target.

I agree with the moms who said Vanicream.
I have two sensitive skinned daughters, so it's a nice, clean cream without too much junk in it.
We also use good old vaseline at night on their cheeks.

Hi A.~

My name is A. and I just wanted to encourage you to think about giving your kiddos omega-3's to help with the dry chapped skin. Many mom's think that lotion is the answer but typically dry skin/eczema is a lack of the essential oils like omega-3 in the body!

Let me know if I can help you further!

A.

P.S. I give my kids a certain brand of omega-3's as well:)

Hi A.:
Just pay close attention to the ingredients in the product that you choose for your kids' face. Our skin is our largest organ and whatever we put on it get absorbed into our organs and bloodstream so be sure you're not putting extra toxins and harsh chemicals on your children's skin. Be sure to make a wise choice and check the ingredient label. If water or oil is the first ingredient, it means that there's about 80% of that ingredient in the product (water completely dillutes the ingredient and oil completely clogs the pores so the skin can't breathe). So some of the products may help lubricate the outer layer of skin and make it feel a little better, but you're doing nothing for the underlying condition which is most likely dryness. The dryness starts in the 2nd and 3rd layers so you need to find a product that penetrates into the skin, which means one that has no oils or fillers. I'm a first believer in L'Bri Pure n' Natural's skin care products, namely Intensive Moisture cream for eczema and severe dryness. Check out the ingredients:

Intensive Moisture Creme

This Exclusive Formula Contains: Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Stabilized Gel), Centella Asiatica (Hydrocotyl) Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Glycerin, Dimethicone, Squalane, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Camella Sinesis (Green Tea)Leaf Extract, Ceteayl Alcohol, Hypnea Musciformis Extract, Gelidiela Acerosa Extract, Sargassum Fillipendula Extract, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl (Vitamin E) Acetate, Equisetum Arvense (Horsetail) Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, ,Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Retinyl (Vitamin A) Palmitate, Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Cyclomethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Ceteareth 20, Carbomer, Hinokitiol, Tetrasodium EDTA, Triethanolamine, Cucumber Essence

Hope this helps.

Hi A., two things - use a good soap - so many of them like Ivory are very drying, so a handmade soap is best. I would recommend pure natural shea butter for their faces. You can't get any more natural than that. Keep in mind that any lotion with water in it will have preservatives, which are chemicals. Good luck!

I use coconut oil on my own face after I shower. I've also used olive oil on my own hands and on my infant son after he has a bath. They're both food products, so they're completely safe. It would sound like an oil would cause breakouts, but I've found the opposite to be true. In fact, if I have a skin irritation on my legs or something, I'll apply coconut oil and it will clear up in a matter of days. Coconut oil, apparently, has been used for centuries as a way to keep skin supple. It's not your usual looking oil in a jar because it's solid at room temperature. (It's a saturated fat.) However, I spread the chunky stuff on my skin and it melts within seconds. Look for it in the natural foods section of your grocery store. It's about $8 a jar (last time I looked), but it's still cheaper per oz. than most lotions.

If you decide to go with a lotion, you may want to check out www.cosmeticsdatabase.org to find out how toxic it could be. Even though lotions are applied EXTERNALLY, remember that our skin is porous and absorbs things quite easily. It's the largest organ in (or on) our body, so it should be treated with as much care as our liver, lungs, heart, etc.

Good luck!

My daughter has sensitive skin, so we use Aquaphor for her skin (back, legs and arms) every night, but I wasn't sure about putting it so close to her mouth. So I use the left over lanolin from when I was breastfeeding for her cheeks. It's natural, so if they do accidently ingest any, it's not going to harm them. After putting it on in the morning and evening for a day or two, it's usually cleared up.

Seconding several good suggestions here:

Kids should be taking an essential fatty acid dietary supplement. Good for skin dryness as well as eczema.

Unrefined shea butter is dirt cheap in bulk from a co-op and the best thing. Second would be olive or coconut oils.

Look up your top suggestions on the Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database. There are many on the list you've gotten here that contain petroleum by-products and therefore hexane (a carcinogen). Many so-called 'organic' or 'natural' products are anything but. The regulation on those terms on packaging is piss poor. You definitely do not want anything with 'fragrance' listed, and some essential oils are estrogen-mimickers. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/browse.php?maincat=babycare

Hi A.,
My grandson is 6 mos. old and has severe eczema. We have tried every product possible to relieve him and found the absolute best for comfort is Aquaphor or vaseline at night, and Vanicream during the day. They are all great for comfort with nice healing results, and very gentle. Vanicream was developed at the Rochester Mayo Clinics dermatololgy dept. for eczema sufferers.

Renew from Melaleuca is the best I found, after 40 years of looking. ask me how.
S.

Hi A.,
I just use Neosporin on my kids faces. I put it on at night before bed and by morning the chapped areas and redness is usually gone.
Good luck with whatever you choose.
R.

I read through many responses and agree with Aquaphor - it works great. A little Vaseline on the cheeks before going outside also helps protect from any windburn. We also use Cal-ben Pure Soap in the bath. I was using Burt's Bees, but my daughter's itchy skin was not healing. Once I switched to Cal-ben (you can find it online), her skin improved within a week.
I would be cautious when putting any lotions or products on babies. Lots of them contain parabens, which are proven carcinogens, and fragrances can be very drying.
We've also tried Coconut oil and lanolin with good results.
Good luck!

The Arbonne Baby line is wonderful! It is very mild and plant-based so is nice. Good Luck!

I use Johnson and Johnson natural face stick and I love it. It seems to prevent chapping and isn't grasy to use.

Eucerin cream is the best. It is pricey (about $24.99 for a big tub)but you can find it anywhere, and it really does the job! Only use it on those rough areas (not on whole body)and you can help preserve.

I got some stuff from baby depot called face butter, it comes in stick form so it is easy to apply and smell really good.

Well let me tell you that my 2yr. old son has bad eczema all over his body. ANYTHING with mineral oil or glycerin is NOT good for their skin it just coats it. Oat is extremely moisturizing and very gentle. I use the ARBONNE ABC baby body lotion works with just 2 uses( I even use it on my hands!) and it spreads easily. I do not like to spend a lot of money on products bu this is worth all the money, seriouslly I Cannot tell how wonderful this product is. ( I am not an arbonne consultant dont worry) For his body and hair wash I use Cetaphil, and that seems to be doing well. Also if your get the skin wet and apply lotion while wet it is much more moisturizing. For protection right before going out in the could maybe use the aquaphor then. Good Luck

Hi A.,

We have the best product on the market.

It's a non-greasy lotion that's been clinically shown to work faster, better, and last longer that the "Original Eucerin" the leading dermatologist brand.

Our daughter has excema. and her skin is beautiful now!

Our whole family uses it!

J.

My kids freak when I use lotion on their faces, as just about any kind of scent makes it sting. Since I know my boys are prone to chapping, I just vaseline them every night at bedtime. My oldest licks his lips a lot, so he gets it particularly on his lips, and my baby (1) just gets it when his cheeks start looking a little pink and dry. They don't mind wearing it at night, and their faces look less painful in the morning. I haven't tried it before they go outside, although I keep thinking I should.

Arbonne has a great kids line that I use on my girls who all have very dry skin. I also use the skin conditioning oil on their faces in the winter. Let me know if you'd like to try it. And stay away from anything with mineral oil in it--it will actually pull the moisture out of the skin.

Best of luck--I know how hard it is to see your kids with painfully dry skin...

Eucerin. The jar is quite expensive but willlast a LONG time and is worth the money! I used it on my daughters chapped cheeks when she was little and I use it on my own hands in the winter.

Vanicream worked well for my daughter. You can get it at any pharmacy. It is fragrance free. I also put Aquaphor on her cheeks before we go outside in the winter.

our pedi recommended and we use Aquaphor.

We go through a lot of Eucerin in the winter.

A.,

I would suggest Mary Kay's extra emollient night cream. It's been around for over 45 years and is great for really dry skin. Some doctors recommend it for children with eczema.

I highly suggest Renew from Melaluca. It is kind of spendy, but worth EVERY penny. I too have a child with dry chapped skin in the winter and I use it on his face all of the time. It does not smell or sting (no perfumes). Find a friend or family member who belongs to Melaluca so that you can save money by getting the discount! Otherwise you pay full price or you have to join and commit to spending $XX monthly to get the discount pricing, not worth it unless you like a lot of their products and like to clean. :)

I will agree with the Eucerin. Hope it works for you too.

Eucerin (walmart has a excellant generic)
Vaseline
Johnson&Johnson's Baby lotion

I children have very sensitive skin and we were struggling with my youngest skin when the weather got colder and drier. She now has a steroid cream from the doc and we also use Vanicream lotion which is for very sensitive skin and use Free and Clear soap which are both available at Walgreens or can be ordered at the Phx at Walgreens. I love the products!!!

My kids have the same thing, we use Aquaphor by Eucerin, it is a little pricy but a little goes a long way, and it clears my kids faces up in one or two applications. We actually got samples of this that I am still using a year later from our doctor's office, if they are going to see their doctor soon, you might ask if they have some.

What I have found is a product made by Arbonne International called Rejuvenating Creme. I have seen it help with eczema, psoriasis and many other skin problems. They also have a ABC Baby Care line. The nice thing is that the ingredients are completely natural. They are gentle to any skin type as it is self adjusting. IT JUST WORKS WITH NO ISSUES. I can provide samples if you wish or you can go to liveandbehealthy.myarbonne.com and order it directly or I can provide you with discount. Please feel free to contact me and ____@____.com Hope this helps. T. Konotopka

I think the best is mustela brand. It's more expensive but my kids both have very sensitive skin and they have always done well with it. Actually every time they have rashed out from anything (usually teething) - I used the mustela hydra stick and it was gone the next morning. Their stuff is fragrance free and specifically for sensitive skin. You can find it at Babies R us or Kids Hair. They also have bath stuff, lotions, sunscreen. Works wonders! The hydra stick looks like a little deodorant stick. It's very easy to put on those teeny faces.

A. -
My 17 month old daughter is showing signs of having eczema, which wouldn't surprise me, because I have a family history of eczema. If you look at the ingredients in the expensive eczema safe lotions, usually the #1 ingredient is petroleum jelly (Vaseline). So, after my daughter's bath at night I rub her down with Vaseline, it's messy, but then I put her jammies on, and she goes to bed. So, it has a chance to set in and work. During the day, if her cheeks/lips are red, I will put more Vaseline on them. It works wonders. No more red and no more rashes. Otherwise, for myself, I've always used original Eucerin lotion, year round. I hope you find something that works!

Hi A.. I'm not sure of your kids skin textures or types, but what works best for me and my daughter is Cocoa Butter Sticks or cremes. The creme can be a little dry which is when I daub a fingertip full of Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly into the cream. And rub it in my palms then apply. This is actually a good protection against winter elements.

My daughter also get very dry chapped cheeks. I use Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Moisture Cream (fragrance free) daily, but have also used A&D a couple times when her cheeks have been really red. Both work for us.

I would use Arbonne's bby care lotion "ABC body care". This is a very gentle lotion that can be used on any age but is formulated to be very mild. I am an Arbonne consultant and can give you more info if you would like. Just email me. Good luck, I have eczema and know what that feels like! This really will help!

aquapore is a good one, its a cream in a squeeze tube, it really helps. I don't have any kids myself yet but we are currently trying. I have worked in several daycares though so thats how i know.

J.

The only thing that I have found to work really good on my sons really dry skin is Eucerin cream. It has no perfumes or dyes in it and it is very gentle. Good luck.

Hello A.,

I would love to help you out. The best lotion out there is called Renew it is by Melaleuca. I would love to help you get some of that. If you can email me I would love to share it. My email is ____@____.com. Thank you for your time.

J.
www.mommieathomewithkidos.com

You have received a lot of advice so I'll be short.
First - Renew from Melaleuca is safe and effective - my family loves it. What type of soap and detergents you use will also effect your skin. Melaleuca has wonderful safe non-toxic and cost effective laundry detergents and soaps that I have been using for my three children for 3 years now. I would never go with out it! All of these types of products in the store can have nasty things in them - and they do NOT have to print all of the ingredients on the label.

I have a son with severe allergies and eczema and I have tried manny things from the department store creams to aveeno creams and lotions. Either they dont work, I have to reapply and reapply or they are way too greasey and stain the clothes. I have found that Moisture Therapy from Avon works wonders. I use the cream for long lasting effect and the lotion for touch up or quick goes.

K.
Take a look at my ____@____.com/khathcock

They are running a special now for Intensive extra strength cream, Intensive Body lotion, Intensive hand cream, and 2 Intensive Lip moisturizers. All five of these products for $10. (normally over 20 dollars)

Just use A&D ointment. I know it sounds weird, but it is extremely healing. My daughter has eczema on her stomach, and her chin gets extremely chapped. All I do is put on a little A&D before bed and the chap is gone by morning. The best part is it is really cheap, and you only need to use a little. Plus, it is really mild. Also, there is lanolin in it, so you don't have to buy the expensive lanolin creams to get the same effect. We used to use Burt's Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Lotion when she didn't need as much moisture, and that worked for milder issues too.

Hi A.,

Try Vanicream. It's what they use for prescription compounding. And, it's free of dyes, fragrances, lanolin, parabens & formaldehyde. If the drugstore/pharmacy does not have it on their retail floor, you can ask for it behind the pharmacy counter. It's great, I've been using it for many years and recently when my 1 year old had a dry skin rash, our pediatrician recommended that I apply Vanicream three times a day.

Hi my son was also born with eczema (just very mild) I use Cetephil I can usually only find this product at walmart or at target stores. There is a whole line of products that this brand offers. While using this product I was able to get his eczema under control and I also found that they have the best face lotion I have ever used!! Hope this helps and good luck!
L.

Renew by Melaleuca is incredible! Overnight it clears up my son's raw chapped face, and it has done the same magic on friend's kids with eczema. The frustrating part is you need to be a member to order, or know someone who will order for you. Also, just want to let you know I don't "do" Melaleuca as a business, so my experiences are not here to persuade you to join! I personally have never found a lotion that seems to heal as well as protect so well. And that includes all the other cremes, lotions, jellies listed so far. While Petroleum products do seal and lock in moisture...I don't want a petroleum product slatheredon my son's face. I much prefer to go more natural.

My son also has eczema, but it is not nearly as bad this winter as it has been before. His dresser has more lotions and cremes on in than mine, but there are 4 that we use all the time. I really like Cetaphil (in the tub) and Aveeno (with the dark blue cap) because they are easily absorbed and not sticky. They are great for face and body. When he gets a bad spot or sometimes at bedtime I will "slather" him with Eucerin and/or Aquaphor. Both those are much more greasy and work more as a barrier. Our pediatrician recommended a 50/50 mixture of the two. Aquaphor works great on lips too. I myself have sensitive skin and use pretty much only Cetaphil products now without any problems.

I agree with the Vanicream suggestions. It does a great job moisturizing and does not cause breakouts on either of my boys. Also my pediatrician recommended using crisco for those areas that get really chapped (under the nose during a cold and also for chapped cheaks). I know it sounds crazy, but it really does work.

A.,

If you can find someone who sells Arbonne they have a all natural product called ABC lotion for babies and kids. My sister uses this and it is great. All it takes is about a pea size.

V. R.

The two that I have used that seem to work the best are Aveeno Intense Moisturizing-great for sensitive kids cause it has no fragrance whatsoever-and Boudreaux's Baby Kisses (it comes in a little tube and looks like Chapstick). My daughter gets what I call "alligator skin" in the winter, and lots of redness on the face, and these two products have worked great!
Good luck to you!

You should try Eucerin. It is gentle and very protective. My daughter is very sensitive and this lotion works great. They also have a lotion, not just the cream so you should try both. You can find them at any store - Walmart, Shopko, Walgreens, ect..

Our 9 month old son gets very dry red skin on his face as well and a friend recommended Auqaphor. It is wonderful stuff and definitely sensitive enough for your daughter's eczema! I highly recommend it, too!

Hi A.
If you want over the counter- most dermatologists will recommend cetaphil.
There's no burn.
You can also at night use plain old bacitracin gel like you would put over a cut--works wonders.

About me 48 yo perfusionist, wellness coach and mom to 7yo twin girls
B. J

Hi A. the thing I have found to work best on my kidsand daycare kids is Aquaphor. it is pretty grease thou.

Hi A.
As many of your other posts have said, my family has had good results with Eucerin lotion and Aquaphor. But I also wanted to suggest lanolin, it is used by breastfeeding mothers for sore nipples but works great on many types of skin irritation. I like the Lansinoh brand which is all natural and hypoallergenic, you can find it at Target or Walmart. It is sort of sticky and a little goes a long way, but I use it on my children's chapped cheeks, lips and sore noses; in my experience just one application before bed provides much relief by morning.
Good luck.
A.

For the severe dryness our doctor told us to use Aquafor. Otherwise we use Cetaphyl or Lubriderm. I use Aveeno in the bath which is very mild as well.

hi A.....i'm a big fan of california baby calendula cream....ESPECIALLY if your child has sensitive skin....it can be ordered online or maybe you can get it at a local co-op health food store....i used to be a product junkie (bath and bodyworks, bodyshop, all sorts of smelly good stuff) until i had a baby....i was doing some research into my own skin problems...and i can tell you, i decided to make a change to all natural products for my family...and i have no regrets....

california baby costs a lot....a small tub of calendula cream is 11 or 13 dollars...but i use a bit at a time...and it's lasted a long while....it is soothing to my dry skin and i even use it for facial moisturizer....it's ingredients are so pure that you can eat it, so i don't worry about what is being absorbed into my 2 year old's skin....and i know it has healing properties....

so there is my two cents from my experience....i am working on this whole parenting thing...but i really have dived into the skin/natural product research, and i can give this recommendation with confidence that i'm not steering you wrong...

good luck mama!

Our Ped and Pharmisist both recommend plain old Vasiline! The also said Aquafor is ok for the face, but it is basically the same thing as Vasiline and much more expensive. My baby is just 6 months old and she gets terrible red & chapped under her chin. You know...where the drool meets the collars on her clothes :) At bed time, we just put a coat of Vasiline under her chin and by morning it is gone! Good luck!

Sorry, I know that you've gotten a million responses, but I looked through and I don't think anyone mentioned my "miracle." My son also gets very chapped cheeks and I've tried many things including the "all natural" products by Melaleuca, Shaklee and Arbonne. I've also tried: Johnson's, Aveeno, Burt's Bees, Vaseline, Aquaphor, Mary Kay and a few others. Nothing works as well for him as UDDERLY SMOOTH! It sounds weird and can be hard to find (can sometimes be found at Target, but Snyder's and Fleet Farm always have it), but it works wonders...literally overnight. It's very inexpensive, too. It's on sale this week at Snyder's for $0.99 but is usually $1-2/tube. My mom even orders it online. It is the best, and if nothing else, if it doesn't work for you then you didn't spend much money trying it. However, I swear, for us it is wonderful and I can't be without a tube of it this time of year!

A. I have just always used vaseline when my kids had chapped cheeks. I used to put it on mostly at night and if I would take them outside.

Hopes this helps!
J. M.
thecardhub.com

We use Eucerine lotion on our kid's faces and bodies. It doens't have a scent and it is really good.

Renew from Melaleuca is great! It helps with our son eczema also. And it does wonders for diaper rash. Our son actually asks for the lotion whenever he is itchy.

Anything that is fragrance free and thick that can't be poured out of a bottle is what my pedi dermatologist told me. Some brands she recommends:
Eucerin
Vanicream
Cera Ve
Cetaphil
Vaseline
Aquaphor

Lots of responses, but we have used Eucerin cream as well, with great results.

We use Eucerin Creme on our baby's face. He had dry spots that looked like scrapes or bad acne, and they cleared up within a few days. We use it morning and night. It's the super heavy creme, not the lotion.

Good luck! Looks like you got a lot of good responses -- one of them should work:)

Cetaphil is very gentle and works great for my son's chapped cheeks.

I find the Aveeno sensitive formula is gentle enough for my son's face. My mother always used vaseline on me.

We use Baby Aveeno, specifically for Eczema. The bottle says it. We get it at Walgreens in the baby section or KMart.

I've been just using good ole Johnson's baby lotion on my kids' faces (2.5 and 9 months). It seems to work well.

Since my family and I live in cold winter land Minnesota I have found that using hydrocortizone creme to get rid of the redness and then afterwards I use baby oil. I also bath my son in Dr Bronners oil soap. Its a natural oil to help clean the skin without over drying it out which soap tends to do. Hope this helps.

I've used Aquaphor on both my kids faces for a couple years now - it is greasy but works wonders. (I bought a big medium sized tub about 2 years ago and it's only 1/2 gone - a little bit goes a long way!)