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
Today, one in every four or five babies and toddlers suffer from dry skin. This makes them prone to more serious skin conditions such as eczema. Since their skin is more delicate than adults’ skin, it is important to know the ins and outs of skin care for them.
Causes of Baby Dry Skin
When the baby is born, she is initially covered in a slippery coat of amniotic fluid. During the first several days, her skin may still not be used to such a dry environment and develop patches of dry skin and redness. Dryness in the air, such as during winter and inside heated homes, can also strip her skin of moisture.
Doting parents may be tempted to give the baby daily baths to make sure she stays clean. What most people don’t know is that daily baths are unnecessary, and may actually harm and dry the skin even more. Summer is also a time for swimming in the pool and the ocean, especially for active toddlers. The salt and chlorine have drying effects on the skin and can cause rashes.
Prevention and treatment of baby dry skin
Adding a humidifier or vaporizer in the baby’s room will help control the moisture content in the air and help hydrate her dry skin. When the temperature gets too cold, it is often a better idea to give the baby more clothes to wear instead of turning the heat up; doing so will lower the humidity. During the summer, take steps to protect the baby from sunburn. Give her gloves or mittens during the winter, both to protect against dropping humidity levels and scratching.
When it comes to washing the baby, a bath every three or four days is actually enough to give her a measure of protection against dry skin. As the baby grows and begins to crawl and get dirty, a bath scheduled every other day is reasonable; just make sure to avoid bubble baths as much as possible, as soap and lather tends to dry the skin. It is often enough to simply sponge areas that look dry during the day.
While giving baby a bath, it is advisable to use warm water instead of hot, as hot water dries the skin. It is also a good idea to cut down the bath time to ten minutes or so-any longer will sap most of the moisture from her skin. Don’t use soap on the baby. Instead, use a soap-free, fragrance-free cleanser. Soap, as in every other possible case, dries the skin. Within a few minutes after the bath, pat her dry and apply a moisturizer, lotion, or emollient. This will lock in the moisture her skin took in from the bath and keep her skin supple until the next bath time. Make sure the moisturizer has no dyes and heavy perfumes, as these can irritate and dry skin.
When washing the baby’s clothes, wash them in a batch separate from the clothes of other members of the family. Do not use laundry soap and fabric softeners on her clothes, as the detergents can irritate her dry skin and cause allergies. Tea-tree oil and baking soda has been advised in the past as a substitute for laundry detergents. During the day, make sure the child isn’t dressed too tightly, and try to avoid any wool or nylon in her wardrobe. Wool, as well as other synthetic materials, has rough edges which easily causes irritation, especially on the baby’s delicate skin. Disposable and cloth diapers are both fine and acceptable for babies. There is only one rule to remember about diapers: if it’s wet, change it. Many parents leave disposable diapers on their babies for too long, until the core bursts and exposes the baby’s skin to more than just wetness.
Toddlers love to play in the water, and trips to the beach or the pool are often in order during the summer. To protect against dry skin caused by salt and chlorine, rinse the child completely in tap water after swimming, then apply a good moisturizer. As a general rule for children, the thicker the moisturizer, the better.
Consult your doctor
Regularly check your child’s skin for any dry skin and redness. While eczema is often treatable with regular applications of moisturizers, it is often best to see the child’s doctor if the redness does not disappear or if the child is always uncomfortable. Red, dry skin may also be an indication of icthyosis, a genetic medical condition. As dry skin gets worse, it may break, swell, or get infected.
It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor if your child’s dry skin problems worry you. Schedule a visit if her dry skin does not respond to home treatments.
By: Della Franklin