3 Common Infant Skin Problems And How To Treat Them
Children, especially newborns and infants, have sensitive and delicate skin. That’s why they’re prone to having skin irritations, rashes and other skin problems.
It’s normal for babies to develop rashes from as early as a few days old. This is because the skin is still adapting to a different environment outside the mother’s womb. These rashes go away on their own. However, there are other types of skin irritation that may need treatment.
Parents have to be very careful about the skin of their children. Since they are more sensitive, they can become irritated easily. Here are the most common types of skin conditions your baby may suffer from and how to manage them for a clear, smooth and soft skin.
Eczema
Baby eczema is one of the most common types of skin problems in infants and children. In fact, this dry and itchy skin condition affects about one in five children. Usually, it affects children before they turn two years old. Eventually, they grow out of the condition by the time they reach their teenage years.
Also dubbed as atopic dermatitis, the condition is sometimes stubborn to treat. It affects the hands, neck, face, elbows and back of the knees. It’s caused by the lack of skin protection or barrier to prevent damage and cracks on the skin. Since the skin is dry and damaged, there is a high risk of developing infections.
Treating eczema depends on its severity. If your baby has mild eczema with only a few patches of affected skin, you can use a moisturizing agent like lotions, cream or ointment. Sometimes, using a low-dose steroid ointment may relieve itchiness and reduce the rashes.
The bottom line is, moisturizing the skin is the most important step in managing eczema. If you need to apply lotion or moisturize the skin many times a day, so be it.
Baby Acne
At a few days old, small pimple-like lesions will start to appear on your baby’s skin. Called baby acne, it’s just a normal skin reaction caused by exposure in the womb to maternal hormones. Since this is just a normal phase for newborns, there is no treatment needed.
The pimples will disappear after a few weeks, even before the newborn turns a month old. However, if you want the rashes to go away immediately and to provide comfort to your baby, you can use natural remedies like applying breast milk or coconut oil for baby acne.
Cradle Cap
Have you noticed yellowish patches or flakes on your baby’s scalp? Cradle cap is a very common skin condition among newborns. Just like baby acne, many doctors believe that cradle cap is also a result of the exposure of baby to maternal hormones.
In this condition, the sebaceous glands are more active, resulting to the overstimulation of new skin growth. However, old skin cells attach to each other, creating crusts and flakes on the scalp. It can also affect the forehead, ears and some parts of the face.
Conclusion
Infants and children are more sensitive when it comes to their skin. It is important to make sure that the skin is always moisturized. Dry skin could lead to various skin conditions and these can be irritating and distressing to newborns.
Use mild soaps, lotions, and other skin care products to make sure that the skin will not be irritated by harsh chemicals. The most important thing is, making sure the surroundings are clean and humid, to prevent dry skin and its associated complications.
About Author: Stacy Belk is the woman behind MomWoot.Com, For many years, She has been writing articles about mommies and babies on her own long experience and research prowess.
