Caring for your little one’s skin may seem overwhelming, especially if your baby or child suffers from a skin condition. The good news is that, while caring for your child’s skin is an important task, it does not need to feel complicated or stressful!

Since young skin typically functions healthfully with only a little assistance, making sure to stay on top of your child’s skin care will generally mean that their skin stays comfortable, healthy, and youthfully vibrant. If an issue does arise, having excellent skin care on hand will make the healing process that much faster and easier.

ATOPALM simplifies the whole process with one ingredient: Multi-Lamellar Emulsion, aka MLE. MLE was the ingredient that launched the entire line of ATOPALM products, and it remains our star to this day.

Not only that, but it was actually created to comfort and support the healing of eczema in the skin of babies and children.

That’s right, our star ingredient was created for kids!

MLE perfectly mimics the skin’s natural lipid layer, which is the layer of skin that’s responsible for keeping moisture in and “bad stuff” out. Think of it like a castle’s walls—when intact, it protects against attack from outside forces, and makes sure the inhabitants are able to carry out their lives safely and efficiently. If the wall is compromised, there’s trouble.

MLE was created when our founder’s sons were suffering from eczema at very young ages. He set out to find an ingredient that wouldn’t just mask the problem, but would instead support the skin’s healthy functions. He found it in multi-lamellar emulsion which, under a microscope, is a perfect copy of the skin’s natural lipid structure.

What this means for you and your children is that ATOPALM MLE and our sister brands are perfect for supporting the health and function of otherwise compromised skin. Whether your family’s skin issues are genetic, chronic, or short-term, MLE will be able to help your skin get back on track to becoming more healthy, comfortable, and beautiful.

To maximize the health and function of your child’s skin, here are a few tips for caring for their delicate skin as they grow.

Bathe mindfully
As adults, we are used to bathing on a regular basis, whether that’s every day or every other day. (Hopefully not much longer than that…) But because children do not secrete the same hormones and sweat as adults, they do not need to bathe nearly as often. In fact, it may be harsh on their skin to have nightly baths!

When you bathe your baby or child, do so a few times a week with a gentle, moisturizing cleanser. A good rule of thumb is to bathe your child every other day, or when they’re actually truly dirty—after a hike, for example.

When they do bathe, make sure the water isn’t too hot, and pat their skin dry instead of rubbing it. Finish off with a mini-massage using an MLE moisturizer, and your little one will be all set!

Protect against sun damage
Sun damage is a big deal. We all hear it, we all technically know it, but it’s important to really believe it. From the time we are young, the sun’s rays cause damage to our skin, especially during prolonged sun exposure. This damage leads to premature signs of skin aging, permanent discoloration, and at its worst, skin cancer.

This isn’t to say that your child’s summer sunburn will turn into skin cancer, but it does mean that a lot of small damage adds up over time. Give your child the best chance possible to enjoy beautiful, healthy skin by protecting it with sunblock anytime they’ll be outside for more than 15 minutes.

Aside from using sunblock, you can protect your child’s skin with clothing, hats, or simply choosing a shady place to spend time outdoors. Sun protection isn’t the most fun part of enjoying the great outdoors, but it is definitely one of the most important things to remember.

Keep them hydrated
Up to 60% of the human body is water, yet many people shun water drinking every day. For kids, it’s hard for them to stay on top of their water intake, so it’s up to us as parents to keep track of it for them. Keeping the body hydrated on the inside is one of the best ways to keep skin healthy and happy.

If you need to help your child improve their water intake, improve your own first. Kids naturally mimic what they see, so drinking lots of water will put it in their mind to do the same.

If they need more help, invest in a high-quality water bottle and note how many ounces it holds. Refill your child’s water as many times as it takes to help them reach an optimal number, which can be easily calculated online based on their age and weight.

Replace juice and even milk at mealtimes with water, which will also promote healthy digestion. Just be sure to limit liquids in the evening if your child is young or struggles with wetting the bed.

Teach them to cherish their skin
It’s a beautiful thing that today’s society is becoming more mindful of self-care. While teaching your children to care for and honor their bodies, include skin care in that conversation!

Your skin does so much for you. It protects your body against injury, keeps your body at a healthy temperature, prevents loss of moisture, protects organs against damage (including UV radiation damage), and acts as a sensory organ. Plus, it’s also a source of beauty and identity.

Teach your child that their skin is precious and worth taking care of, along with the rest of their body. Learning this lesson at a young age will go a long way toward how your child views themselves as they grow up.

A note on skin conditions
You’ll notice we didn’t discuss common childhood skin conditions, such as eczema, contact dermatitis, diaper rash, and the like. That’s because we believe that those topics are best discussed with your child’s doctor or dermatologist.

The one thing we will say is that ATOPALM MLE was created to maximize the skin’s health and functions, and has been proven to be ultra gentle and safe for use on all skin types, at any age. We are proud to make this statement, and hope that your child’s doctor or dermatologist will be happy to hear that you’ve chosen MLE for your little one’s skin.