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Skin Care

We are born with soft, smooth and flawless skins. As time passes, the skin is exposed to many factors which spoil its natural beauty. There are environmental factors, like dirt and pollutants in the air, seasonal changes and the lifestyle. Probably the most important factors which can contribute to this are neglect and abuse.

A child’s skin is tender and should be treated gently. Skin care does not mean the care of facial skin only, but that of the entire body. Mild soaps should be used for children. During the dry season, massage of the skin with oil, before bathing, goes a long way in keeping the skin soft and clean. The Ayurvedic system advocates the selection of oil according to the season. Olive, coconut and sunflower oils are good during summer, while almond and mustard oil are for winter. Sesame seed (til) oil is very popular in Ayurvedic massage, as it is said to be balanced and helps in achieving a balance of all the “doshas”. You can choose any of these oils, but make sure that it is pure. You can add a few drops of pure essential oil of lavender, rose or sandalwood. This will give a natural fragrance. Oils with heavy perfumes should not be used, as some perfumes are known to cause skin allergies and irritations. Essential oils should never be used by themselves. They should be added to other “pressed” oils, like olive or sesame seed oil.

When the child is small, creams and cosmetics should not be used, except to relieve dryness. A mild moisturizing lotion should be used. Avoid heavy creams as these can clog the pores, specially when the child is nearing the teens. A child can continue to use baby lotions and creams when there is dryness. You can also give the child a natural treatment once a week, by mixing besan with milk into a dough-like paste. Rub this gently on the body before bathing. It is said to have a cleansing and softening effect. During the pre-teen years, take care to see if the skin is oily, so that you can take preventive measures in good time. If the skin begins to look greasy, use a rose-based mild skin tonic to wipe the face. The face should not be washed with soap and water more than twice a day, as this makes the skin too alkaline and encourages bacterial activity.

Many anxious mothers write to me to seek advice even for babies and very small children, about excess hair on face and body, or about making their children fair. Many babies are born with excess hair, which usually disappears or decreases with time. Obviously, hair removal methods cannot be carried out on children, but rubbing the body with a besan and milk paste is said to discourage fine hair growth. The besan should be mixed into a stiff dough. This may also help to make the skin colour lighter. Curd can be applied daily on the skin and washed off after 15 to 20 minutes. You can add a pinch of turmeric (haldi) to the curd. This is said to lighten skin colour. If there is excessive hair growth, which does not disappear by the time the child is 7 or 8 years old, you can seek the advice of an endocrinologist. I also advise that mothers should not be too anxious about problems of skin colour, because they can convey their anxiety to their children. The result is that the children grow up with a complex about their colour. It can play havoc with the child’s self esteem. How can they grow up to be self confident? It is not the colour, but the health of the skin, which is important for beauty.

Hair Care

Hygiene and cleanliness extend to the hair too. Regular shampoos are a must. In fact, the hair collects more dirt and grime than the skin and these tend to cling to the hair. There is no harm in washing the hair frequently, provided mild shampoos are used. You see that the child uses very little shampoo, but washes thoroughly with water. This helps to get all the dirt, oil and flakes out of the hair. Very often, people use plenty of shampoo, but do not rinse thoroughly with water. The result is that soapy residue, along with oil and scales, collect on the scalp.

There is a scalp condition which is quite common in babies. It is called “cradle cap”, in which yellowish scales collect and stick to the scalp. One should not try to pull them out, as the skin on the baby’s scalp is also tender. Secondary infections can also result. Instead, try to soften the scales by applying olive oil or baby oil on the collections of scales, using cotton wool. Leave it on, so that the oil will soften the scales. Then you can try to remove them with moist cotton, rubbing very gently. Wash the scalp with a baby shampoo. If the condition does not improve, you should definitely consult your child specialist. Where babies are concerned, mothers feel afraid to wash the baby’s scalp. Actually, when you bathe the baby, the scalp should also be washed. Use the palm of the hand to rub the scalp very gently. Avoid too much pressure and avoid using the fingers.

Treat your child’s hair gently. It is much better to use a wide toothed comb, rather than a brush. Make sure that the teeth of the comb do not have sharp edges. They should be rounded. Avoid the use of hair dryers for children.

Children, specially those who are nearing teenage, can be prone to dandruff. In fact, neglect of dandruff makes the condition severe and can even lead to rashes and spots on the skin. If the condition is severe and there is itching, you should consult a dermatologist and ensure if the condition is actually dandruff. The scalp should be kept clean and healthy. In cases of severe dandruff, the hair should be washed three or four times a week, using a mild herbal shampoo. Add the juice of a lemon to a mug of water and this should be used as a last rinse, after shampoo.

Hot oil treatments also help the hair and scalp. Once a week, heat pure coconut or olive oil and apply this on the child’s scalp, using cotton wool. Leave it on overnight. Next day, the hair can be washed with a mild shampoo, using a lemon rinse after washing.

Head lice is another common problem among children. Special shampoos are available for lice infestations and are easily available at a chemist’s shop. After washing the hair, use a fine toothed comb to comb the hair thoroughly. The nits (eggs) will have to be removed physically. As a home remedy, grind fenugreek (methi) seed and add some oil to it. Apply it on the scalp and hair. Wash the hair with water after one hour. Or, you can add half teaspoon neem oil to one table spoon coconut oil and apply on the scalp and hair. Do this twice a week. The hair can be washed with “neem water” too. This prevents skin and scalp problems. Boil water and add neem leaves to it. Do not boil, but allow it to simmer for a few minutes. Then let the neem leaves stand in the water overnight. Next day, strain the water. This water can be used as a last rinse.

Children can also suffer from hair loss. This is usually a condition called alopecia areata, where a bald patch may develop. The cause of this condition is not known, but emotional stress is thought to trigger it. Usually, the hair may grow back, but you can always consult a doctor, or take advice at a hair care clinic. We have been treating alopecia even in children, with ozone therapy and the application of specialized hair tonics. We should also take care to see that our children do not have any feelings of emotional neglect or insecurity. Sometimes, with the birth of a second child, we may unknowingly neglect the first child. This can create a sense of insecurity in the child. Excessive pressure of studies and educational performance can also cause stress in children.

Beauty cannot be achieved in a day. It is the result of regular care and a healthy lifestyle. The importance of good health should never be undermined. That is the true foundation of beauty.

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