Tonight as I rubbed cream on Ella’s dry legs, arms and cheeks, I decided that it was time to bring up the topic of dry skin problems in children born in Guatemala. Whether or not they are more prone to having these skin problems than say, infants born in the US, I have been unable to determine, having yet to locate any published studies. What I do know, is that many mothers of Guatemalan adoptees often talk about their children’s extremely dry skin.

According to Medscape, children under the age of two have thinner skin than adults; one-fifth thinner to be exact.

The thin epidermis is correspondingly weaker, and keratinocytes are more loosely attached. Thus, children's skin may be less resistant to alkaline attack and more prone to dryness than that of adults.

Most mothers have found the over the counter baby lotions ineffective in treating really dry skin. Nivea Soft works best on Ella, but I have to apply it daily. Other mothers on our agency’s post adoption forum have said that Aveno and Cetaphil lotion worked well on their children.

Dr. Jane Aronson, an experienced and knowledgeable adoption doctor, reports that zinc deficiencies in children raised in orphanages can cause dry skin. She also reminds us that it is not wise to bathe our children in very hot or very cold water, as it will contribute to a dry skin problem. On a personal note, I’ve found that bathing Ella 3-4 times a week instead of every day has helped her skin situation somewhat.

Aquaphor or Cetaphil are Dr. Aronson’s creams of choice, and she recommends applying them twice a day to keep the skin moist. According to her, steroid creams should be used cautiously on particularly red areas of the body or on their faces, and any creams with a perfume should be avoided. And true to her kind and gentle spirit, she reminds us that applying cream is a good way to introduce our children to “tactile stimulation via massage.”

While I was researching for this blog, I found this interesting article: “Major Gene Discovered That Causes Dry Skin And Leads To Eczema And Asthma” , and if you want to get into some of the serious medical problems that cause dry skin, may I suggest you read here.