The holidays are my favorite time of year. They’re also when our kids’ skin has the hardest time. Between cold, dry air, long car rides, hotel bathrooms, cookie-covered cheeks, wool sweaters from well-meaning relatives and late nights, December can undo months of careful skin care in a week.

After a few rough seasons, our family stopped hoping for the best and started planning ahead. Here’s the playbook we use now for travel, parties and gifts. I hope it helps your family enjoy the season with a lot less scratching.

Why the holidays are hard on sensitive skin

It isn’t your imagination. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) notes that dry air, cold temperatures and indoor heating can irritate a child’s skin and lead to eczema flares. The AAD also lists sweat and overheating as common triggers, and points out that stress can make skin itchier. Add new foods, new places and new products, and you have a perfect storm.

The good news: most of these triggers are predictable, and that means you can plan for them.

Part 1: Traveling without the flare

Pack a “skin go-bag” separately from the suitcase. Checked bags get delayed, and the first night somewhere new is when you most need your routine. Our carry-on bag holds:

• your child’s usual fragrance-free cleanser and a travel tube of their everyday moisturizer or eczema cream,
• a soft cotton washcloth (hotel towels can be rough and are often washed with strong detergents),
• a pillowcase washed in your own fragrance-free detergent, and
• cotton pajamas and a cotton change of clothes.

Stick to your bath-and-moisturize rhythm. It’s tempting to skip it when everyone is exhausted, but this is the step that keeps our trips on track. The AAD recommends bathing in warm, not hot, water and applying moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing. Hotel showers often run hot, so test the water first.

Plan for the car and plane. Long rides mean dry cabin air and sweaty car seats. We dress the kids in breathable cotton layers they can peel off, and we moisturize hands and faces at rest stops, especially after using hand soap in public restroom sinks.

Check the bedroom when you arrive. Grandparents’ guest rooms are often heated to toasty. The AAD suggests keeping children away from radiators, heating vents and fireplaces so the heat doesn’t warm their skin, and using a humidifier if the air feels dry. If you’re driving, a small travel humidifier is worth the trunk space. We wrote up what to look for in our humidifier guide for eczema-prone skin.

Part 2: Parties and get-togethers

Watch the food on their skin, not just in their mouth. Sticky fingers and saucy cheeks were a big trigger for our youngest. The AAD notes that food on the skin can cause redness and swelling, and recommends gently wiping it off with a soft cloth instead of rubbing. Ask your child’s dermatologist whether applying a thin protective layer of petroleum jelly before meals makes sense for your child. We keep a soft cloth in the diaper bag for exactly this.

Skip the baby wipes if you can. It’s a habit at parties, but the AAD suggests avoiding baby wipes for kids with eczema because they can contain irritating ingredients and the rubbing itself can be a problem. A damp cotton cloth works just as well.

Dress for the room, not the photos. That itchy holiday sweater or sequin dress looks adorable for about ten minutes. The AAD recommends loose-fitting 100% cotton and avoiding wool and polyester. Our compromise: a festive cotton shirt underneath, with the fancy layer on just for photos.

Manage overheating. Crowded houses, fireplaces and running around with cousins all mean sweat. Unzip, remove a layer, and take a break in a cooler room before your child gets overheated. When kids come in from snow or rain, the AAD recommends removing wet clothes and shoes right away.

Protect the routine on late nights. Even if bedtime runs late, we never skip the moisturizer. Overtired, wound-up kids scratch more, and five minutes of skin care is better than none.

Give relatives a gentle script. Not everyone understands eczema. We say: “Her skin is extra sensitive, so we’re avoiding scented lotions and wool. It isn’t contagious.” The American Academy of Pediatrics confirms eczema is not contagious, which answers the question most relatives are too polite to ask.

Part 3: Gifts that are kind to sensitive skin

Holiday gifts are a sneaky trigger, partly because the reaction may not show up right away. The AAD notes a flare can appear hours or even days after contact with an irritating product.

Gifts we steer away from (and quietly re-gift):

• scented bath sets, bubble bath and “kids’ spa” kits (the AAD suggests avoiding bubble bath for kids with eczema),
• scratchy wool hats, scarves and mittens,
• fuzzy stuffed animals that collect dust. The AAD notes rough fabrics and dusty soft toys can be triggers for some kids.

Gifts our kids actually love (and their skin tolerates):

• soft 100% cotton pajamas or a cotton hoodie (wash before wearing to remove extra dyes and finishes),
• cotton mittens or cotton glove liners for winter play, as the AAD suggests,
• art supplies they can use with a quick wash-up, like crayons, colored pencils and stickers, instead of slime kits,
• books, puzzles and board games for family time on cold evenings, and
• a “skin care kit” they can own: a fun washcloth, a small fragrance-free moisturizer and a sticker chart for their routine. Our kids are far more willing to moisturize when it’s their kit.

If grandparents ask what to buy, send a short list ahead of time. It saves everyone a returns trip.

When to call the doctor

Even with the best plan, flares happen. Call your pediatrician or a board-certified dermatologist if your child’s skin is oozing, crusting or blistering, if a rash isn’t improving with your usual routine, or if itching is keeping your child up at night. The AAP lists honey-colored crusting, weepy skin and pus bumps as signs to talk to your doctor about. Before you travel, it’s worth asking how to reach your child’s care team while you’re away.

Enjoy the season

Our holidays aren’t flare-free every year, but they’re so much calmer now. The secret wasn’t a single product. It was packing the routine, protecting the bedtime moisturizer and saying a polite “no thank you” to the wool sweater. Plan for the predictable triggers, give yourself grace for the rest, and go make some memories.

About the author: Minesh Patel is the parent of kids with eczema-prone skin and the founder of Eczema Honey, a family-owned company in Santa Rosa, California, that makes gentle, soothing skin care for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. He writes about practical, everyday comfort for families living with itchy skin.