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[lordhindlip]

My DS has some Afro-Caribbean heritage which isn't obvious in his appearance. He has faintly olive skin and fine, thick dark hair with a loose curl in it, especially as it grows. Think gorgeous and vaguely Mediterranean and you'd be about right.

What skin and hair care would you think he needed? At the moment he gets E45 emollient in his bath and hairwash no more than once-twice weekly with really good conditioner (Johnsons).

He has recently started on complaints that all tops are 'scratchy' and hates having his hair washed or brushed. Probably just cussedness but I wondered if it reflected any genuine discomfort that could be helped by different hair/skincare?

Anyone who can solve the scratchy tops complaint gets a large cyber mars bar by the way

My dd is mixed race white and has loose curls like your ds. Her skin is dry in the winter but not so bad in the summer. In the winter I sometimes have to moisturise her two or three times a day. When she was a baby my HV perscribed doublebase gel and diprobath. We still use the doublebase gel now as and when she needs it. I have a repeat perscription. I don't really use the diprobath. I also use palmers coco butter and Tesco own brand coco butter. I have tried oilatum but I didn't think much of it.

My dd's hair is a NIGHTMARE. I hardly ever wash it with shampoo and I condition it every other day. I use the 'Aussie' range of conditioners and detanglers. It has taken me years to get her hair under control as I am white and I didn't know what I was doing at all and the black side of my family couldn't help me either as it isn't afro either. I have tried using afro hair things on her hair but it was too greasy. I have bought loads of hair stuff including Aveda and the mixed chicks stuff which is for mixed race hair but I like the Aussie range the best.

I can't help you with the clothes. I know a child who can only wear 100% cotton clothes because of his skin. My two wear cotton M&S vests all year round.

Hope this all helps

lots of people get itchy skin in the winter, regardless of skin colour - mixture of central heating and cold perhaps? Anyway, I rate Aveeno products both for bath and to cream afterwards (v. important if you have tendency to dry skin). I use natural oils on dd's hair as much as possible.

Agree with you savoycabbage that the Aussie haircare range is fab for mixed race hair. I use it on DD who has very tight frizzy corkscrew hair and swear by the miracle hair insurance, leave in conditioner spray and use it on both wet and dry hair. DS has thick course hair that has a very loose curl when left to grow, but I keep it short so don't really have any special haircare routine for him except to wash approx every 4 days.
DD has very dry itchy skin and I sometimes use Palmers Cocoa butter on her but recently started using pure coconut oil which is good as it has no unnatural additives and seems to be just as effective. I also wash her with a aquas wash bar soap substitute.

My children are mixed race and have dry itchy skin. We use diprobase cream after bathing.

However, I've noticed that they have been particularly dry and itchy the past couple of weeks... but so have I (I'm white). I put it down to the fact its winter and we have the central heating on all the time.

Hopefully this extreme itching will just pass soon!

Good luck.