A baby’s skin is very thin and extremely sensitive. This is why babies tend to have a lot more skin issues than adults do. In fact, dry skin and rashes in babies are a fact of life. It is, therefore, up to you as the parent to keep your baby comfortable and do all that you can do to protect his skin.

The thinness of your baby’s skin not only makes it easy for tears and scratches to occur, it also does nothing to hold in moisture which makes it easier for dry skin to occur. In a healthy adult, skin is kept moist by both the thickness of the skin and the presence of sebum. Sebum is an oily substance that is produced by hair follicles all over the body. This substance coats the skin blocking out the elements while holding vital moisture deep in the tissue.

Your baby has yet to develop all of these protective measures that help prevent dry skin. That means that you need to be extra careful and diligent when it comes to taking care of your baby’s skin.

Here’s how:

7 Ways to Prevent Dry Skin on Your Baby

Water temperature Hot water can contribute to dry skin. Make sure that your baby’s bath water is lukewarm or tepid. A baby’s sensitive skin cannot withstand that much heat so the proper water temperature will feel a little cooler than what you think it should.Lotion Always use lotion on your baby. Apply lotion after every bath and during every outfit change. You may also want to apply lotion throughout the day if you think that dry skin is developing.Vaseline Babies are prone to rash and dry skin. Make sure that your baby’s skin is protected against anything that it may come into contact with, such as urine, by forming a barrier with Vaseline. Vaseline will help hole moisture in while at the same time prevent things that could break down the skin from coming into contact with it. Vaseline should only be used for isolated sections of skin that are extremely dry or may become dry.Elements Protect your baby’s skin from the elements by wrapping him up in the winter and shielding him from the sun in the summer.Clothing Certain clothing may irritate your baby’s skin and cause dry skin. Stay away from clothing materials that may be rough and harsh for your baby’s skin.Laundry detergent Your baby’s skin requires a different detergent than you use. Be sure to use a gentle detergent especially made for baby clothing. Bath time Dry skin has many causes including body washes and shampoos. Make sure that the bath products that you use on your baby do not cause him any irritation. Never use products that you would use on yourself on your baby. 5 Ways to Treat Dry Skin on Your Baby

Lotion If you notice that your baby is developing dry skin, increase the amount of times that you put lotion on him throughout the day. In many cases, this in itself is enough to restore health and moisture to the affected skin.Over the counter treatments Sometimes you will need to buy something a little stronger than lotion to counter your baby’s dry skin condition. Be sure to consult with your doctor to see what he recommends.Increase fluids If your baby is older than six months of age and is experiencing dry skin, you can increase the amount of fluids that he is drinking. This will help restore moisture to the skin.Prescription creams In extreme cases of dry skin, you may need to obtain a prescription from your doctor to treat your baby’s skin. If this occurs, be sure to follow all of your doctor’s instructions for treating the affected skin.Be gentle Always be very gentle with dry skin. Pat your baby dry after bath time instead of rubbing him. Take care not to snag the skin with any rough fabrics or fingernails. Expect that your baby will feel some discomfort and itchiness in the affected area and take care to address his needs. Dress him in loose clothing and apply Vaseline to areas that are easily chaffed.Remember, if your baby’s skin condition does not improve or gets worse, contact his doctor. What appears to be dry skin may be something else altogether that requires a different type of treatment.

By: Della Franklin