By Scott & Ashleigh | February 2026 | 8 min read
Three days into the school year and your child's skin has gone from "pretty good" to "what the hell happened?"
We see it every single year. Holidays = manageable skin. School starts = instant chaos. And it doesn't make sense, right? They're excited to be back. Seeing their friends. Getting into a routine. All good things.
Except their skin didn't get the memo.
Here's why it happens, what's actually going on at school, and the realistic routines that get you through the first month without losing your mind.
Why School Always Triggers Flare-Ups (Even When They're Happy)
Change is stress. Even good change. Your child's nervous system is processing new routines, earlier wake-ups, and performance pressure. And stress = cortisol = inflammation = eczema flares.
Timeline: Usually takes 3-4 weeks for the body to settle into the new routine and for skin to stabilise.
The Hidden School Triggers Nobody Warns You About
1. The Hand Soap Catastrophe
Most schools use industrial-strength liquid soap. One week of this = completely wrecked hands. Red, cracked knuckles. Dry palms.
- Email the teacher (see template below)
- Send a gentle soap-free wash for your child to use instead
- Apply barrier cream on hands before school
2. Air Conditioning Wars
Inside the classroom it’s 18-20°C with aircon; outside it’s 30°C. This "hot-cold" swing is brutal for the skin barrier.
- Send a lightweight cotton cardigan
- Focus on barrier repair at night so skin can recover from the day
The Realistic Back-to-School Routine
Morning Routine (5 Minutes)
Goal: Protect, not perfection.
- Quick rinse: Lukewarm water only. No cleanser.
- Pat dry: Never rub.
- Barrier protection: Apply Calm Balm on trouble spots—inside elbows, behind knees, and hands. This creates a protective layer before the hand washing assault begins.
After-School Routine (10 Minutes)
Goal: Repair the damage.
- Strip off uniform: Switch to soft cotton immediately.
- Cool rinse: Use a gentle soap-free wash like Soft Suds to remove sweat and irritants.
- Apply barrier repair: Apply Calm Balm while skin is damp to trap moisture.
What About Products?
We're obviously biased (Noody is our business), but here's what we actually use with Freddie and Georgie during back-to-school season:
The Wash: Soft Suds
The Cream: Calm Balm
Prebiotics matter when things are flaring. They feed the good bacteria, which helps the skin barrier repair faster.
The Teacher Conversation: Email Template
Subject: Quick heads up about [Child's Name] and eczema
Hi [Teacher Name],
Hope term one is off to a good start! Just wanted to give you a heads up that [Child's Name] has eczema. We've found the school hand soap can be quite harsh. Would it be okay if [he/she] uses a soap-free wash I provide instead? I'm happy to provide a bottle of Soft Suds for the classroom so it's easy for [him/her] to access.
Thanks,
[Your Name]
Download the Back-to-School Survival Kit
Get our printable routine checklists, email templates, and emergency kit guides.
GET MY FREE SURVIVAL KIT →About the Authors:
Scott and Ashleigh are the founders of Noody Skincare. After years of managing their own kids' eczema (Georgie and Freddie), they created a prebiotic skincare range specifically formulated for children's sensitive skin. They're not dermatologists—just parents who learned a lot the hard way.
