Dr. Mamina Turegano
Triple board-certified dermatologist, internist, and dermatopathologist who is on a mission to revolutionize traditional approaches to dermatology while empowering her patients to own their own wellness from the inside out.
- Kids’ skin is delicate—less is more. Children’s skin is thinner and more sensitive than adult skin, which means it doesn’t need complicated routines or harsh ingredients. Stick with gentle, fragrance-free products designed specifically for kids' skin. Avoid trendy or adult products—they’re often too strong.
- Daily moisturizing supports healthy skin—especially for dry, itchy, sensitive, or eczema-prone skin. Moisturizing 1-2x a day keep the skin barrier strong, reduces dryness and irritation, and can prevent flare-ups in kids prone to eczema. After bathing is the perfect time—it locks in hydration and reinforces skin’s natural defenses. Think of it as a simple habit that makes a big difference over time.
- Sun protection in childhood a big impact on skin health later in life. Most sun damage happens before the age of 18, and it adds up over time. Early UV exposure plays a major role in skin aging and increases the risk of skin cancer. Building sunscreen habits early—especially with gentle, mineral-based SPF—helps protect their skin now and sets them up for healthier skin in future.
Dr. Peter Lio
The founding director of the Chicago Integrative Eczema Center and a board member of the National Eczema Association. One of the nation’s leading experts in eczema and sensitive skin —with over 400 publications and three textbooks – he’s known for his holistic, whole person approach to pediatric skincare.
- Focus on defense, not just detective work. Eczema flare-ups can be triggered by a wide range of things—dry air, allergens, rough fabrics, even a restless night with poor sleep. Instead of chasing a single cause, shift the focus to strengthening the skin’s defenses. Daily moisturization is your secret weapon. It supports the skin barrier and helps protect against a wide range of potential triggers, from the obvious to the invisible.
- The skin microbiome matters more than you think. The skin is home to a bustling microscopic world made up of bacteria, fungi, and viruses vital to skin health. In kids with eczema or sensitive skin, this ecosystem can get thrown off balance. Gentle cleansing and daily moisturizers that support the microbiome can help restore harmony. Think of it like tending a garden: nurturing the good helps keep the bad in check.
- Gentle cleansing is the way. Harsh soaps and bubble baths certainly get things clean, but they often come with a price: stripping the skin of its natural oils and disrupting the barrier. For kids, especially those with dry or sensitive skin, opt for gentle cleansers formulated for sensitive skin. Bath time should leave the skin soft and hydrated, and not tight, itchy, or squeaky clean.
Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky
Known to her millions of followers as The Derm Guru, she is a board-certified dermatologist with expertise in pediatric and cosmetic dermatology. As a mom to two children with eczema, she combines clinical expertise with personal experience, bringing science-based skincare advice to families everywhere.
- Moisturizer works best on damp skin. Applying moisturizer right after bathing while the skin is still slightly damp is the best time to apply a moisturizer. It locks in far more hydration than applying to dry skin. This simple habit can prevent flares of dryness and irritation before they even start while preventing trans-epidermal water loss.
- Start to teach your child self-soothing skin habits at an early age. It’s not just what you apply to your skin, but how one treats it. Simple habits like patting (not rubbing) after a bath, avoiding tight clothing or irritating fabrics, and cooling itch with damp compresses rather than scratching are just a few things that can make or break your child's skin. These shape lifelong skin behavior. Empowering kids with gentle ways to care for their discomfort can reduce trauma to the barrier and lower risks of scars, mark, discoloration, or infections.
- Opt for modern, gentle washes and cleansers. While natural soaps like castile soap may look beautiful, the traditional way of soap making results in pH imbalanced products that can damage the skin barrier. Instead look for fragrance-free and pH-balanced washes and cleansers - these are made with modern gentle detergents.
Dr. Angela Chang
A board-certified pediatric allergist and immunologist with deep expertise in food allergies, eczema and hives. Passionate about early prevention, she loves to educate others to reduce allergy risks in infants and young children.
- Avoid fragrance, including "natural" fragrance: Fragrances, including essential oils like ylang ylang or tee tree oil, can cause irritation, increase the risk of developing allergic contact dermatitis, and should be avoided on pediatric skin.
- Foods are unlikely to cause or worsen eczema, so dietary elimination is NOT recommended: Eczema is a multifactorial disease that results in skin barrier dysfunction. Don't jump to the conclusion that it is a food causing eczema, as genetic risk factors and environmental factors can contribute to eczema risk.
- Food ingredients in skincare products in infants with eczema may the increase risk of developing food allergies: Recent studies suggest that exposure to food ingredients through broken, eczema skin, may lead to children developing allergies to those foods. For example, one study showed an increased risk of peanut allergy in infants using skin creams containing peanut oil. So, think twice before using skin care products that contain any foods such as peanut, almond, or coconut oil as a moisturizer.
Dr. Gayin Lee
As a dermatologist, researcher, and lifelong Korean skincare enthusiast, she brings a unique perspective shaped by growing up in both Korea and the U.S. She advocates for skincare that’s preventative, barrier-strengthening, and backed by science—not trends. Her belief is clear: healthy skin starts with gentle, consistent care.
- Prevention is the best treatment: For eczema-prone skin, consistent daily care is essential -- not just treating flare ups when they occur. Use a barrier-supportive moisturizer regularly, especially in colder months when dry air strips moisture from the skin. This helps prevent flare-ups and can reduce how often you need topical steroids.
- Embrace sun protective gear during peak UV hours: Protect your skin during peak sun hours, especially from 10 am to 4 pm when UV rays are strongest. Sun-protective clothing and wide-brimmed hats go a long way -- scalps, ears, and hairlines are common spots where we see skin cancers later in life.
- Barrier protection, like "icing a cake": Appropriate use of a barrier cream can significantly help with diaper rashes. We recommend using a barrier cream, such as petroleum jelly and/or zinc oxide paste, multiple times throughout the day. Apply the cream generously, as if you're "icing a cake," to ensure that urine or stool does not come into contact with the baby's skin.