Skin care for Babies
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The document discusses common skin conditions that babies may experience such as diaper rash, cradle cap, acne, and eczema. It provides information on identifying the conditions and how to treat issues that can be addressed at home versus those that require medical care. Home treatments include using gentle soaps and moisturizers while avoiding triggers. Most baby skin conditions are harmless and clear up on their own without intervention needed.
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Skin care for Babies
- 1. There's nothing quite like the so1, delicate skin of a baby. And nothing like a cranky infant irritated by diaper rash, cradle cap, or another skin condi<on. While your baby is perfect, your baby's skin may not be. Many babies are prone to skin irrita<on in the first few months a1er birth. Here's how to spot and treat common baby skin problems.
- 2. The good news about your newborn's rashes: Most cause no harm and go away on their own. While caring for baby's skin may seem complex, all you really need to know are three simple things: Which condi<ons can you treat at home? Which need medical treatment? And how can you prevent baby from experiencing skin problems to begin with?
- 3. The good news about your newborn's rashes: Most cause no harm and go away on their own. While caring for baby's skin may seem complex, all you really need to know are three simple things: Which condi<ons can you treat at home? Which need medical treatment? And how can you prevent baby from experiencing skin problems to begin with?
- 4. Baby acne gets its start in the womb, where baby is exposed to mom's hormones. Those hormones boost oil produc<on, clogging baby's oil glands. Pimples on baby's nose and cheeks usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks. So you don't need to treat baby acne or use lo<on.
- 5. Lots of babies have birthmarks — more than one in ten as a maLer of fact. Birthmarks, areas of skin discolora<on, are not inherited. They may be there when your baby is born, or they might show up a few months later. Generally birthmarks are nothing to worry about and need no treatment. But if your baby's birthmark worries you, talk to your pediatrician.
- 6. Eczema is an itchy, red rash that occurs in response to a trigger. It is common in children who have a family history of asthma, allergies, or atopic derma<<s. Eczema may occur on baby's face as a weepy rash. Over <me it becomes thick, dry, and scaly. You may also see eczema on the elbow, chest, arms, or behind the knees. To treat it, iden<fy and avoid any triggers. Use gentle soaps and detergents and apply moderate amounts of moisturizers.
- 7. You probably shouldn't worry if your newborn has peeling, dry skin – it o1en happens if your baby is born a liLle late. The underlying skin is perfectly healthy, so1, and moist. If your infant's dry skin persists, talk to your baby's pediatrician.
- 8. Cradle cap can show up during baby's first or second month, and usually clears up within the first year. Also called seborrheic derma<<s, cradle cap is caused by excess oil and shows up as a scaly, waxy, red rash on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, the sides of the nose, or behind the ears. Your pediatrician will recommend the best treatment for cradle cap, which may include a special shampoo, baby oil, or certain creams and lo<ons.
- 9. Showing up as small pinkish-‐red bumps, prickly heat usually appears on the parts of your baby's body that are prone to swea<ng, like the neck, diaper area, armpits, and skin folds. A cool, dry environment and loose-‐fiWng clothes are all you need to treat prickly heat rash — which can even be brought on in winter when baby is over-‐bundled. Try dressing baby in layers that you can remove when things heat up.
- 10. Babies can inhale the very fine grains of talcum powder, which could cause lung problems. So it's best to avoid using talcum powder on your infant. A corn starch-‐based powder is considered safer. But yeast, which can cause diaper rash, feeds on corn starch. So to protect baby skin, you're beLer off skipping the powder.
- 11. As many as one in two newborns get the liLle white bumps known as milia. Appearing usually on the nose and face, they're caused by skin flakes blocking oil glands. Milia are some<mes called "baby acne," but baby acne is related to hormonal changes. In this case, baby skin care is easy: As baby's glands open up over the course of a few days or weeks, the bumps usually disappear, and need no treatment.
- 12. Yeast infec<ons o1en appear a1er your baby has had a round of an<bio<cs, and show up differently depending on where they are on your baby's skin. Thrush appears on the tongue and mouth, and looks like dried milk, while a yeast diaper rash is bright red, o1en with small red pimples at the rash edges. Talk to your pediatrician: Thrush is treated with an an<-‐yeast liquid medicine, while an an<-‐fungal cream is used for a yeast diaper rash.
- 13. Avoiding skin rashes will keep your baby smiling and happy: Use a gentle detergent to wash everything that touches your infant's skin, from bedding and blankets, to towels and even your own clothes. You'll cut down on the likelihood of baby developing irritated or itchy skin.
- 14. Usually occurring two or three days a1er birth, jaundice is a yellow colora<on that affects baby's skin and eyes. It’s common in premature infants. Caused by too much bilirubin (a breakdown product of red blood cells), the condi<on usually disappears by the <me baby is 1 or 2 weeks old. Treatment for jaundice may include more frequent feedings or, for more severe cases, light therapy (phototherapy).
- 15. The sun may feel great, but it could be exposing your baby's skin to the risk of damaging sunburn. Avoid baby skin problems by protec<ng from sunburn: keep your infant out of direct sunlight during the first six months of life. Later, use a strong baby sunscreen, hats, and umbrellas. For mild infant sunburn apply a cool cloth to baby's skin for 10-‐15 minutes a few <mes daily. For more severe sunburn, call your child's pediatrician.
- 16. Apply sunscreen to the areas of baby's skin that can't be covered by clothes. You can also use zinc oxide on baby's nose, ears, and lips. Cover the rest of your baby's skin in clothes and a wide-‐ brimmed hat. Sunglasses protect children's eyes from harmful rays.
- 17. Shopping for baby skin care products? Less is more. Look for items without dyes, fragrance, phthalates and parabens -‐-‐ all of which could cause skin irrita<on. When in doubt, talk to your pediatrician to see if a product is appropriate for newborn skin.
- 18. Remember, newborn skin is so1 and sensi<ve. Keep baby's skin hydrated by bathing in warm water for only three to five minutes. Apply a baby lo<on or moisturizer immediately a1er bath while skin is s<ll wet, and then pat dry instead of rubbing.
- 19. If rashes or other skin condi<ons are making your baby irritable, try baby massage. Gently stroking and massaging baby's skin can not only help boost relaxa<on, but it may also lead to beLer sleep and reduce or stop crying, according to a recent study.
- 20. Most baby skin rashes and problems aren't serious, but a few may be signs of infec<on — and need close aLen<on. If baby's skin has small, red-‐purplish dots, if there are yellow fluid-‐filled bumps (pustules), or if baby has a fever or lethargy, call your pediatrician for medical treatment right away.