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You will want to set up a convenient, colorful, and well-lit area in your home to apply lotions and creams. At first, you may need to coat your baby at every feeding and/or diaper change. With time, though, you will learn by experience what your child’s skin needs. Babies will often react better to warmed cream or lotion, as opposed to cold lotion. Try rubbing a scoop full between your hands before applying the cream or lotion on your baby.  Or try putting the tightly closed container in the warm bath water while you bathe him or her; the lotion will be warm when the bath is done.  Next, moisturize the rest of the child’s body. Rub the lotion or cream in well, gently massaging your baby as you go. This can be a nice time for telling stories, singing songs, or just talking to your baby.

Some of the most effective agents to remove scale include alpha-hydroxy acids, such as lactic or glycolic acid. Some products containing these ingredients are available by prescription, although many over-the-counter products contain them as well. Remember, though, that sometimes it is better not to try to remove the scale, but just to keep the skin supple and well lubricated.  Glycerin, urea, and propylene glycol are other effective ingredients that attract water (called humectants) and work well on severely dry skin. Glycerin alone can be purchased from any pharmacy; you can add it to your favorite lotion to help the skin stay moist longer.  Skin barrier repair formulas containing ceramides or cholesterol may also improve scaling.

Use your dermatologist’s guidance, but at the same time begin learning the active ingredients in the creams and lotions you use. Although there is a dizzying array of topical products available for purchase over the counter, most, you will find, are composed of a relatively small number of key ingredients. At the same time, prices vary considerably, even among remarkably similar products.

Often, a heavier cream, which forms an occlusive barrier, is helpful to seal in moisture once you have applied a humectant. Again, these are most effective when applied immediately after a bath.  Many occlusives contain a petrolatum or mineral oil base.  Lotions, although easiest to apply, are often relatively ineffective at holding moisture in the skin.

Some products (particularly the alpha-hydroxy acid lotions and creams) may cause stinging or mild irritation especially in small children, so it is wise to discuss their use with your dermatologist. Avoid applying these to areas where the skin is cracked or raw. Furthermore, there is a theoretical risk of systemic (internal) lactic acidosis (accumulation of lactic acid in the blood above normal levels), particularly in infants. Again, work closely with your dermatologist in determining your child’s treatment regimen.