Care Advice
Treatment for Cracked Skin on the Feet
What You Should Know About Cracks on Feet:
- Most often, cracked skin of the feet is caused by repeated contact with moisture.
- The main cause is often wearing wet (or sweaty) socks. Swimmers also have this problem.
- The soles of the feet are most often involved. Usually, you see cracks on the heels and big toes.
- This is called tennis shoe or sneaker dermatitis.
- Cracked, dry feet usually can be treated at home.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Shallow Cracks - Use Ointment:
- Cracks heal faster if protected from air exposure and drying.
- Keep the cracks constantly covered with petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline). Put it on the cracks 3 times a day.
- If the crack seems mildly infected, use an antibiotic ointment instead (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Put it on the cracks 3 times a day.
- Covering the ointment with a bandage speeds recovery. You can also cover it with a sock.
- Option: if you have it, a liquid skin bandage works even better. Don't use liquid bandage and ointment together.
Deep Cracks - Use Liquid Skin Bandage:
- Deep cracks of the feet or toes usually do not heal with ointments.
- Use a liquid skin bandage that will completely seal the crack. Many brands of liquid bandage are available. No prescription is needed.
- Start with 2 layers. Put on another layer as often as needed.
- As the crack heals, the plastic layer will be pushed up.
Prevention of Cracks on Feet:
- Change socks whenever they are wet or sweaty.
- Take an extra pair of socks to school.
- When practical, do not wear shoes. Go barefoot or wear socks only.
- Do not use bubble bath or other soaps in the bath water. Soaps take the natural oils out of the skin.
- Use a moisturizing cream on the feet after baths or showers.
- Wear shoes that allow the skin to "breathe."
What to Expect:
- Most cracks heal over in 1 week with treatment.
- Deep cracks heal if you keep them covered all the time with crack sealer. Deep cracks will heal in about 2 weeks with crack sealer.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Starts to look infected (redness, red streak, pus)
- Cracks last more than 2 weeks on treatment
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Treatment for Cracked Skin on the Hands
What You Should Know About Cracks on Hands:
- Cracked skin of the hands is usually caused by repeated contact with moisture.
- Examples are washing dishes or washing the hands often.
- Soap removes the natural protective oils from the skin.
- Cracked, dry hands usually can be treated at home.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Shallow Cracks - Use Ointment:
- Cracks heal faster if protected from air exposure and drying.
- Keep the cracks constantly covered with petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline). Put it on the cracks 3 times a day.
- If the crack seems mildly infected, use an antibiotic ointment instead (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Put it on the cracks 3 times a day.
- Covering the ointment with a bandage speeds recovery. You can also cover it with a glove.
- Option: if you have it, a liquid skin bandage works even better. Don't use liquid bandage and ointment together.
Deep Cracks - Use Liquid Skin Bandage:
- Deep cracks of the fingers usually do not heal with ointments.
- Use a liquid skin bandage that will completely seal the crack. Many brands of liquid bandage are available. No prescription is needed.
- Start with 2 layers. Put on another layer as often as needed.
- As the crack heals, the plastic layer will be pushed up.
Prevention of Cracks on Hands:
- Wash the hands with warm water.
- Use soap only if the hands are very dirty. Also, use soap for anything that won't come off with water.
- Wear gloves when washing dishes.
- During cold weather, wear gloves outside.
- Use a moisturizing cream on the hands after anytime they have been in water.
What to Expect:
- Most cracks heal over in 1 week with treatment.
- Deep cracks heal if you keep them covered all the time with crack sealer. Deep cracks will heal in about 2 weeks with crack sealer.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Starts to look infected (redness, red streak, pus)
- Cracks last more than 2 weeks on treatment
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Treatment for Chapped Lips
What You Should Know About Chapped Lips:
- The lips can become chapped in children from too much sun or wind.
- If the lips become cracked, it's usually from a "lip-licking" habit.
- The skin around the lips can also become pink and dry. This occurs especially when children suck on their lips.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Lip Balm:
- A lip balm should be used often, even hourly.
- Be sure to put it on after eating or drinking.
Avoid "Lip-Licking":
- Help your child give up the habit of lip-licking or sucking.
- This habit usually is not seen before age 6.
- This habit will only change if you can gain your child's active participation.
- Appeal to your child's pride. Show your child in a mirror how lip-sucking has affected their appearance.
- Give them a lip lubricant to put on their lips. Tell them to use it when they feel the urge to suck on them. Another option is to replace lip-sucking with chewing gum.
- Offer an incentive for going an entire day without lip-sucking. Examples of rewards are money or points towards a prize.
- Avoid any pressure or punishment. It will backfire, cause a power struggle and make the habit last longer.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Starts to look infected (redness, red streak, pus)
- Cracks last more than 2 weeks on treatment
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Treatment for Dry or Itchy Skin
What You Should Know About Dry Skin:
- Dry skin is a common condition.
- Mainly caused by too much bathing and soap (soap dermatitis).
- Soap removes the skin's natural protective oils. Once they are gone, the skin can't hold moisture.
- Dry climates make it worse, as does winter weather (called winter itch).
- Genetics also plays a role in dry skin.
- Dry skin is less common in teenagers than younger children. This is because the oil glands are more active in teens.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Bathing - Avoid Soap:
- Young children with dry skin should avoid all soaps. Soaps take the natural protective oils out of the skin. Bubble bath does the most damage.
- For young children, the skin can be cleansed with warm water alone. Keep bathing to 10 minutes or less.
- Most young children only need to bathe twice a week.
- Teenagers can get by with using soap only for the armpits, genitals, and feet. Also, use a mild soap (such as Dove).
- Do not use any soap on itchy areas or rashes.
Moisturizing Cream:
- Buy a large bottle of moisturizing cream (such as Eucerin). Avoid those with fragrances.
- Put the cream on any dry or itchy area 3 times per day.
- After warm water baths or showers, trap the moisture in the skin. Do this by putting on the cream everywhere after bathing. Use the cream within 3 minutes of completing the bath.
- During the winter, apply the cream every day to prevent dry skin.
Steroid Cream:
- For very itchy spots, use 1% hydrocortisone cream (such as Cortaid). No prescription is needed.
- Use up to 3 times per day as needed until the itching is better.
- Eventually, the moisturizing cream will be all that you need for treating dry skin.
Humidifier:
- If your winters are dry, protect your child's skin from the constant drying effect.
- Do this by running a room humidifier full time.
Preventing Dry Skin:
- Don't use soaps or bubble bath.
- Wash the hands with warm water. Use soap only if the hands are very dirty. Also, use soap for anything that won't come off with water.
- Don't use swimming pools or hot tubs. Reason: pool chemicals are very drying.
- Run a humidifier in the winter if the air is dry.
- During cold weather, wear gloves outside. This helps prevent drying of the skin.
- Drink lots of fluids.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Dry skin lasts more than 2 weeks on treatment
- You think your child needs to be seen
- Your child becomes worse
Remember! Contact your doctor if you or your child develop any "Contact Your Doctor" symptoms.