What Should I Know About Baby Eczema
Its pretty normal for babies to have dry skin on their faces and have dry skin patches. But its important to know the difference between dry skin and eczema. Eczema is usually considered as a baby dry skin rash. It shows up as red, itchy, and rough patches on your babys skin, and usually rears its head during the first few months of a newborns life. Eczema occurs when the body makes too few fatty cells called ceramides. Without enough of these cells, your skin becomes dehydrated and dry. It can run in families, so if you or your partner had eczema, chances are your little one might have it too.
The good news is its totally normal and most infants outgrow it by school-age if not sooner.
Baby eczema is different than cradles cap, which is just a cute term to describe a baby with dry skin on their head. Cradle cap is normal for newborns to have and is characterized by rough, crusty bumps that sit on top of your babys scalp. It isnt painful or itchy, though, and usually goes away within a few weeks to a few months with the help of a mild shampoo.
Is It Normal For Newborns To Have Dry Skin
Newborn babies often have dry, peeling skin. Most of the time, newborn skin peeling is normal. Most people expect newborn babies to have soft, flawless skin, and new parents or caregivers often express concern if their newborns have imperfect skin. However, it should not usually be cause for concern.
Does My Child Need To See A Doctor About Dry Skin
Probably not. But you should take your child to your GP if your child has:
- dry skin that doesnt get better with the treatment described below
- patches of dry skin that are inflamed and itchy
- patches of painful dry skin
- dry skin that has yellow or inflamed spots on top.
Your GP might send your child to see a dermatologist if the dryness doesnt get better with standard treatment.
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What Does Dry Skin In Babies Look Like
Roughness, flakiness, ashiness and fine lines or cracks are all signs that your sweeties skin needs more moisture. Dry spots can strike anywhere, but theyre especially common on the hands, feet, face and lips.
Mild dryness probably wont bother your baby much. But very dry skin can get itchy, which can lead her to scratch and irritate skin further.
Skin Problems That Cause Dry Skin
The dryness of the skin can be the result of the below-mentioned skin conditions or diseases:
There are a plethora of reasons behind dry skin in babies. However, most of them could be dealt with simple and natural home remedies under pediatric guidance.
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Newborn Skin Soaks Up Calming Touch
Giving your newborn a massage is important one-on-one time. Like cuddling, a massage is a way to convey your love and affection for your baby. In fact, research shows that a baby’s very survival depends on being touched by others — as touch triggers hormones, boosts immunity, and helps fight disease. Also, massaged babies are calmer, sleep better, and cry less — every parent’s dream!
There’s no special technique to massaging a baby. Find a carpeted floor in a warm room. Simply lay baby on a soft blanket or fabric. Get a little baby oil or a gentle lotion. Warm it in your hand. Then gently massage baby’s chest and tummy — using a gentle yet firm touch. Try to make eye contact and talk to your baby. Sing softly.
If there’s any fussing, baby may not be ready for a massage. Or the massage may be too forceful, so use a gentler touch. It’s the time spent together that’s most important.
Make Baths Short And Sweet
Long baths can remove moisture and hydration from your newborns delicate skin. Make efficient use of your babys bath time! Five to seven minutes is the ideal length of time for your newborns bath. Try not to allow it to last more than 10 minutes.
When it comes to bathing babes, more is not always better. In addition to keeping baths short, make sure not to bathe your baby too frequently. Limit baths to once per day. Anything more could dry out your little ones skin.
Between bath times or when youre on the go, you can use No Rinse Soothing Cleansing Water, which will keep your baby clean from head to toe no bathwater or rinsing needed!
After bath time is over, gently pat your babys skin dry from head to toe and make sure to pay special attention to the tricky nooks that have the potential to trap water and moisture the diaper area, chubby leg folds, and tiny armpits. Trapped moisture could lead to skin irritation or a rash.
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How Long Does It Take To Recover
Cradle cap can occur in babies and toddlers up to 3 years of age. If cradle cap is the cause, your child may continue to have a dry scalp until theyre older. Once cradle cap or dandruff resolves, it usually wont return.
Some causes of dry scalp are chronic, such as eczema. Your child might need occasional treatments as they age.
Genetic factors, such as dry skin and allergies, may also persist throughout childhood and adulthood. If your babys scalp recovers, other skin symptoms may show up later in life, but treatments are available.
Normal Causes Of Peeling Skin
When your baby is born, youll notice that they are covered in fluid. This is usually a mix of amniotic fluid, the fluid theyve been living in, as well as the mothers blood. Your nurse will dry your baby off with warm, clean towels. A newborn can quickly lose body heat, so your child will be placed under a heat lamp during this process. Because your baby has been living in fluid for months, its natural that their first one to two layers of skin will flake off in the coming weeks.
One of the liquids that the nurse will wipe off of your baby after birth is called vernix caseosa. This is a thick, cheese-like substance made up of the babys shed skin cells and secretions. Because your child has been living in fluid, the skin cells form a thick paste that covers parts of the body. Once the vernix is gently wiped away, you may notice your babys skin has already begun to flake this is more common in babies born after 40 weeks.
As a rule of thumb, the more vernix a baby is born with, the less their skin will peel later on. Babies who are born with more vernix may peel less because their skin is protected. This explains why premature babies, who are born with more vernix, tend to have less peeling than those born after 40 weeks.
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Which Is The Best Products For Newborn Baby
- Aveeno Baby Fragrance Free Lotion. Buy on Amazon.
- Earth Mama Baby Lotion. Buy on Amazon.
- Noodle & Boo Skincare Line. Buy on Amazon.
- Mustela Hydra Bebe Baby Lotion. Buy on Amazon.
- California Baby Diaper Area Wash. Buy on Amazon.
- Stelatopia Moisturizing Cream.
- Burts Bees Baby Bee Buttermilk Soap Bar.
What Is Cradle Cap
If you notice that your infants scalp is flaking, your baby may have cradle cap, also known as seborrheic dermatitis. It is common in the first three months of life. Like peeling skin, it usually resolves on its own without any treatment. If it starts to get worse or lasts longer than a few months, talk with your pediatrician.
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Baby Skin Care: Diaper Rash
Most often, diaper rash is caused by the irritating wetness of a soiled diaper. The rash can also develop when baby’s skin is not properly dried after a bath. Sometimes, a bacteria or yeast infection will cause diaper rash. Babies taking antibiotics are especially susceptible to a yeast infection diaper rash because the drugs allow fungal growth.
Most forms of diaper rash don’t require medical care. To treat diaper rash — and prevent further newborn skin problems:
- Check diapers frequently.
- Change diapers immediately when wet or soiled.
- Wash the diaper area with mild fragrance-free cleanser or plain water. If the rash is severe, use a squirt bottle to cleanse without rubbing.
- Use a soft clean cloth, not baby wipes. The perfume or alcohol in some wipes can further irritate and dry baby’s skin.
- Pat baby dry. Don’t rub. Let the diaper area air-dry fully before putting on a fresh diaper.
- Apply a thick layer of petroleum jelly or a protective ointment such as Desitin, A& D or Boudreaux’s.
- Avoid using using baby powder.
See your pediatrician if the rash doesn’t clear up in two to three days. If the rash is caused by eczema, a bacterial or yeast infection, or other condition, you may need a prescription treatment.
Home Remedies For Dry Skin In Babies
Prevention and management of dry skin are easy if you follow some simple and natural home remedies.
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Breasts And Genitals In Newborns
Quite often, a newborns breasts are a little swollen and ooze some milk, whether they are a boy or a girl.
Your newborn’s genitals may appear swollen initially but will look normal within a few weeks. Baby girls also sometimes bleed a bit or have a white, cloudy discharge from the vagina.
All this is caused by hormones passing from you to your baby before birth. Do not be concerned.
Boys’ testicles develop inside their body and sometimes take a while to descend into the scrotum. A health professional will check whether they have descended as part of the newborn physical examination.
What Is The Best Moisturizer For Newborns
Healthline Parenthoods picks of the best baby lotion
- Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment.
- Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream.
- California Baby Super Sensitive Cream.
- Mustela Hydra Bebe Body Lotion.
- Johnsons Bedtime Baby Lotion.
- Baby Dove Sensitive Moisture Lotion.
- Earth Mama Sweet Orange Baby Lotion.
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When To Call Your Babys Healthcare Provider
After the first few weeks of the typical newborn skin peeling and flaking have passed, if your babyâs skin still seems dry or even irritated, even when you’ve followed all the tips above, itâs best to get in touch with your babyâs healthcare provider. Sometimes dry, flaky skin may be the result of an allergic reaction or skin rash that may need to be treated with a prescription medication.If the red, flaky skin is in the diaper area, it may be diaper rash. Diaper rash can often be managed at home with frequent diaper changes, exposing the skin to air more often, and by using a barrier ointment, but if the diaper rash looks severe or doesnât go away, itâs worth contacting your babyâs provider for personalized advice on what to try next.
What Can I Put On My Newborns Dry Skin
You can put olive oil, Vaseline, or AD ointment on those areas. If you want to use lotion, choose one that does not have perfume or dyes, such as Aquaphor or Eucerin. Bathing and soap are drying to your babys skin, so dont bathe your baby too often and use only a small amount of soap on your babys skin.
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When Can You Moisturise A Newborn
Research now indicates that less is most definitely more and it is better to avoid the use of skin cleansing and moisturising products for the first few weeks until your babys skin has had time to mature naturally. 1. Following birth, vernix should be left on the skin to absorb naturally.