A baby’s skin is soft and delicate, but it is also five times thinner and more fragile than that of adults. It requires special care and attention in order to fight against external aggressions. Many babies are prone to skin reactions or lack of hydration. Here are the tips for taking maximum care of your child’s skin.
Your baby’s skin requires special attention from you, young parents. First of all, newborns have skin that is five times thinner than that of adults, so you have to take care of it, because it reacts more easily to external aggressions. Baby’s skin is prone to allergies as well as dryness, even if you moisturize it daily. This is why it is important to set a specific routine for care.
Newborns are prone to rashes. Don’t worry, they often go away on their own. Faced with such a problem, we all ask ourselves the same questions:
- What do I have to do ?
- Can I treat it alone?
- When should I seek medical advice?
- What to do to prevent this from happening again?
How to recognize and treat diaper rash?
If you notice a red area around the diaper, your baby may be prone to diaper rash. It is a dermatitis, that is to say an inflammation of the skin, due to irritation of the skin, the appearance of erythema is frequent between the 6 to 12 months of the child.
There are many factors: for example, a diaper that is too tight, diaper changes that are not frequent enough or even an allergy to certain care or hygiene products used.
To avoid a recurrence, keep the irritated area in the open air as long as possible, change the baby’s diaper as soon as it is wet, use a liniment. On irritated skin, treat the erythema with a zinc cream or a specific cream like Bepanthen.
Does my baby have acne, how do I treat it?
Baby acne is not actually acne as we may know as teenagers. At the end of pregnancy, mums produce too many hormones and this would impact the baby’s skin via excess sebum, but not only. The presence of yeast in the infant’s body causes this inflammatory reaction. Generally, these pimples disappear within a few days, there is no need to treat them. If it persists beyond 6 months of baby, talk to your pediatrician.
What is infant eczema? How to treat it?
Eczema is characterized by a red rash that is bothersome to the baby. It appears on the face, elbows, chest or behind the knees. The causes are varied, but it can be a so-called “contact” or food allergic reaction. Preferably use mild soaps and neutral moisturizing products. If the eczema persists, the doctor may prescribe a cortisone cream.
My baby has cradle cap, what should I do?
They often appear during the baby’s first or second month and disappear during their first year of life. Also called “seborrheic dermatitis”, cradle cap is located on oily areas of the skin. Seborrheic dermatitis is manifested by a red, scaly rash on the scalp, eyebrows, sides of the nose. The pediatrician will recommend a shampoo adapted to the case of your baby, oils and creams to moisturize. Do not scratch the cradle cap, as this may cause further irritation.
What are baby heat rashes and how to avoid them?
Whether in summer or winter, your child may be subject to these small pimples related to perspiration on certain areas of the body such as: the neck, the armpits, the folds of the skin. To promote the disappearance of pimples, choose loose and very dry clothes. In winter, do not wrap your baby too much, put several layers of clothing instead.
Enjoy bath time
The bath is recommended two to three times a week and should not exceed 5 minutes. Avoid letting it bubble too long in soapy water. When you get out of the bath, baby’s hydration is essential. To dry it, tap rather than rub it, it’s softer and less aggressive for its skin.
Choose a natural talc
Many parents use talcum powder when diapering for its absorbent properties. But first of all, you have to choose a product specially adapted for the fragile skin of babies and avoid using talc with perfume and other chemical products likely to attack the skin. Use a natural herbal talc and avoid as much as possible putting it on the diaper area at the risk of promoting the phenomenon of maceration.
The choice of layers
Most skin irritation in the diaper area comes from the diapers you use. To avoid inconvenience, change the diaper as soon as it is wet at the risk of causing infections. Choose a brand of natural and organic diapers, for example the diapers of the Love and Green brand.
Limit sun exposure
Before the age of 6 months, babies should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Try to keep them out of the sun or cover them as much as possible. In summer, apply sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30, SPF 50 is obviously recommended for more protection, as well as UV protective clothing, hats and sunglasses.
Used products suitable for baby’s skin
The use of products adapted to the fragile skin of newborns will limit possible skin problems. For laundry, detergents and softeners specially designed for babies are recommended. When it comes to care products, special attention should be paid to the components. Look for products that are fragrance-free, phthalate-free, and paraben-free. These components promote allergic reactions.
What to do to relieve baby?
If your baby has an allergic reaction or skin irritation, try massaging them with moisturizing products like oil or creams, it should be natural and suitable for their fragile skin. Gently stroking and massaging your baby penetrates the moisturizer and removes the unpleasant sensation they may feel.
To give your child hydrating massages, we recommend 9love caress massage oil.