Winter Skin SOS: When to Visit Urgent Care for Dry, Cracked Skin 

As temperatures drop, dry skin and other skin issues often increase. Cold weather, indoor heating, and dry air can irritate your child’s skin and trigger eczema flare-ups. Children’s skin becomes dry, flaky, itchy, or even painfully cracked. Winter can be tough on little ones, and pediatric urgent care centers often see an increase in visits for skin issues during the colder months. Dry winter air, indoor heating, frequent handwashing, and chilly wind can all strip moisture from a child’s skin, leaving it irritated and uncomfortable. 

Understanding how winter impacts your child’s skin and taking steps to protect it can make a big difference in their comfort. And when symptoms go beyond home care, knowing when to visit PM Pediatric Urgent Care matters. We’ve outlined all the key details below. 

Common Winter Skin Issues in Children 

Eczema 

What is Eczema? 

Eczema causes dry, itchy patches on the skin that are not contagious. 

Eczema can cause the skin to become extremely dry and prone to cracking, increasing the risk of bacterial, viral, or fungal infections, and may require treatment when flare-ups occur, an article by NIH Medline Plus details, also noting that managing eczema can be challenging for both children and caregivers. 

Impetigo 

What is Impetigo? 

It is a common and highly contagious bacterial skin infection, especially prevalent in young children who develop crusty, oozing patches or yellowish sores on the face or hands. For more information, we have a full blog dedicated to impetigo and symptoms to watch for. 

Chapped Skin and Cracking 

Repeated exposure to cold air or frequent handwashing can cause fissures that bleed or become painful, making simple daily activities difficult. In addition, the cold wind and drool can lead to irritating, raw, areas around the mouth and cheeks. 

Contact Dermatitis 

Contact dermatitis is common in newborns, whose skin is adjusting to the outside world. For children of all ages, new winter clothing, wool fabrics, scented lotions, and certain soaps can irritate their sensitive skin. 

Protecting Your Child’s Skin This Winter By: 

• Moisturize more often: Be sure to moisturize after every handwashing, bath, and before bed. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, they recommend using an ointment for extra dry or chapped skin because it holds more water and reduces the risks of extra irritation. 

• Shorten and Soften Bath Time: Keep baths warm, not hot, and limit them to 10 minutes. Immediately apply moisturizer while the skin is still damp to lock in the hydration. 

• Use a Humidifier: Using heat in the winter is expected, but it often dries out the air. Running a cool-mist humidifier in your child’s bedroom can help restore moisture, which in turn reduces overnight skin dryness. 

• Protect Skin Outdoors: Before going outside, make sure to apply a protective layer of moisturizer on exposed areas of the skin, such as cheeks and hands. Use scares, gloves, and soft fabrics to shield skin from the wind and cold. 

• Switch to Fragrance-free: Making the switch to fragrance-free products such as detergents, lotions, and soaps can help reduce the irritation caused by fragranced products. 

• Child-safe Lip Balm: Carry a child-safe lip balm to help prevent chapped lips and apply it regularly, especially before bed and before going outdoors. 

When to Visit PM Pediatric Urgent Care for Winter Skin Problems 

While most cases of dry skin can be managed at home, some symptoms mean it’s time to seek care. Bring your child to our urgent care if you notice: 

• Cracked skin that bleeds or looks infected 

• Yellow crusting or oozing (possible impetigo) 

• Severe itching that disrupts sleep 

• Painful red patches or worsening eczema 

• No improvement after regular moisturizing 

• A rash accompanied by fever 

We can evaluate the skin, rule out infection, and provide prescription creams if needed to calm inflammation or treat bacterial issues. 

Winter can be harsh on children’s skin, but with a few simple daily habits, most dryness and irritation can be prevented. And if your child’s skin becomes painful, inflamed, or infected, our pediatric experts are here to help get it under control quickly so your child can stay comfortable all winter long. 

Sources Cited: 

MedlinePlus Magazine. (2024, January 30). Eczema and the cold: How to avoid flare‑ups this winter. MedlinePlus. https://magazine.medlineplus.gov/article/eczema-and-the-cold NIH MedlinePlus Magazine 

American Academy of Dermatology. (n.d.). Winter skin care for childhood eczema. AAD. https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/eczema/childhood/itch-relief/winter-care