One, all alone
When people ask me what beauty product I would choose if I had to use it for the rest of my life, I answer without hesitation: a 2-in-1 moisturizer for face and body. Over 11 years of working in glossy magazines, I've tried thousands of products and clearly understand: no blush "for a fresh face" or highlighter can compare to clean, moisturized skin. My mother taught me this kind of care, and I teach my daughters, who are 5 and 2, the same.
When I was getting ready for my first trip to the maternity hospital, I only took moisturizer with me—for myself, by the way, not for the baby, and in vain! It turns out that even a breastfed baby should have this product in their arsenal.
Kinder Surprise
At some point, a nurse came into my room with a verbal reminder: "Lay the baby to the breast like this, hold the head in this position, apply the following to the navel, and don't forget to moisturize the skin twice a day." Being an obedient mother, I immediately started surfing the internet for that very product. I ordered several pharmacy brands and, prepared, went home.
And then I immediately got caught up in the chaos and forgot all about the instructions. Nothing good came of it. At our regular checkup, the pediatrician sternly pointed out the dry patches on Masha's skin. They were small at first, but then they grew larger and redder, eventually leading to atopic dermatitis (a skin condition characterized by dryness, itching, and inflammation). Several factors contributed to this: the humidity in the apartment (it was nowhere near the recommended 50%), hard water, inconsistent use of emollients, and my diet, which wasn't ideal. On the pediatrician's advice, I consulted an allergist, and here's what he recommended. The first thing to consider is the room temperature: 19...20°C is optimal, but that's a bit chilly for our family, so we tried to maintain a temperature of 22°C. It's already better than the 25°C we had before. A humidifier is also a must-have for a child's bedroom.
The next step is bathing: buy a thermometer and make sure the water temperature doesn't rise above 34°C. Showers should last no more than 5 minutes, and baths should last no more than 15. Atopic skin doesn't like heat and dryness. Have you noticed that when a child with atopic dermatitis goes outside, their red, dry cheeks immediately turn pale, and after bathing, on the contrary, their skin turns red and feels like sandpaper? So, we regularly air out the rooms, take our little one for walks, and give him air baths—we take off his clothes so his skin can breathe.
No Fanaticism
Now let's move on to skin care: we need products without fragrances or with a hypoallergenic fragrance and without soap. Options with strawberries, oranges, and other "appetizing" ingredients on the packaging are not for us! We start with washing: we choose a children's shower cream-gel marked "0+" or oil, which is more gentle on sensitive skin.
Among the latest innovations, my girls and I liked the Cerafavit LIBREDERM cleansing cream-gel. It's very convenient to have a universal product for the whole family in the shower. It has a pleasant composition: ceramides, prebiotics, vitamin F, natural oils, and moisturizing components. After washing, the skin remains moisturized.
Choose whichever you like
Immediately after a shower, apply an emollient to your entire body and face using circular massage movements, not forgetting the bunions and the area behind your ears. We are currently using the Cerafavit LIBREDERM line, which is designed specifically for sensitive, atopic skin. It's great that it offers products with different textures: cream, milk, and balm. My husband chose the cream; he applies it to his face after shaving and to his hands throughout the day. My eldest daughter and I love the milk—it has a convenient pump and is also suitable for super-dry skin. For our youngest, the balm has proven to be optimal—it's lightweight and absorbs quickly. All of these products contain ceramides, prebiotics, and vitamin F, which I mentioned above, as well as shea butter and almond oil.
Let's summarize
Dear mothers, atopic dermatitis affects almost every fourth child and 2-3% of adults. Yes, it is not very pleasant and can create problems, but only if nothing is done. Over almost 5.5 years of motherhood, I've realized that following simple rules like long walks in the fresh air, ventilation, maintaining the right air temperature and humidity indoors, gentle washing, and generous moisturizing of the skin twice a day are the key to success in the fight against atopic dermatitis.