Objective To explore the application effect of perioperative nursing based on skin aesthetic needs in children undergoing circumcision and its influence on children's skin aesthetic effect and negative emotions. Methods A total of 100 children undergoing circumcision admitted to Chishui People's Hospital from January 2022 to January 2024 were selected, and they were divided into the control group and the observation group by the random number table method, with 50 children in each group. The control group received conventional nursing, and the observation group received perioperative nursing based on skin aesthetic needs. The skin aesthetic effect, skin sensitivity and negative emotions were compared between the two groups. Results The scores of VSS and skin ffatness in the observation group at 1 and 3 months after operation were lower than those of the control group (P<0.05). The time for pigmentation regression in the observation group [(20.18±2.67)days] was shorter than that in the control group [(27.46±3.12)days] (P<0.05). The scores of skin sensitivity assessment scale in the observation group at 1 and 3 months after operation were lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The negative emotion scores in the observation group immediately after operation and at 3 months after operation were both lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Perioperative nursing based on skin aesthetic needs for children undergoing circumcision can effectively improve skin aesthetic effect, alleviate skin sensitivity, and relieve children's negative emotions.