Keeping Baby Skin Healthy
| 5:25 AM |
Recent studies have shed light on the differences between adult and baby skin. Baby skin is more "active" than adult skin — it's constantly continuing to develop. It's more vulnerable to irritants, changes in temperature and changes in humidity. Therefore, you need to protect your baby's skin against environmental changes and harsh cleansers.
Your baby’s skin barrier is his first line of defense from the outside world. To remain healthy, it is important for the skin to be properly hydrated. Be sure to keep his skin moisturized to help protect against dryness.
Your baby’s skin absorbs water faster than adult skin can, and can also lose water faster too! That's why regularly moisturizing your baby's skin is a good way to help protect against dryness.
Cradle cap can show up during baby's first or second month, and usually clears up within the first year. Also called seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap is caused in part by excess oil and shows up as a scaly, waxy, red rash on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, the sides of the nose, or behind the ears. Your pediatrician will recommend the best treatment for cradle cap, which may include a special shampoo, baby oil, or certain creams and lotions.
Your baby’s skin barrier is his first line of defense from the outside world. To remain healthy, it is important for the skin to be properly hydrated. Be sure to keep his skin moisturized to help protect against dryness.
Keep Your Baby’s Skin Hydrated
It’s a good idea to use a moisturizer after bathing your baby. In a clinical study, 10 percent of mothers surveyed believed that their baby's skin was dry, when in fact, more than 60 percent of these babies had clinical signs of dryness!Your baby’s skin absorbs water faster than adult skin can, and can also lose water faster too! That's why regularly moisturizing your baby's skin is a good way to help protect against dryness.
Excess Oil Causes Cradle Cap
Cradle cap can show up during baby's first or second month, and usually clears up within the first year. Also called seborrheic dermatitis, cradle cap is caused in part by excess oil and shows up as a scaly, waxy, red rash on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, the sides of the nose, or behind the ears. Your pediatrician will recommend the best treatment for cradle cap, which may include a special shampoo, baby oil, or certain creams and lotions.Avoiding Skin Problems at Bath Time
Remember, newborn skin is soft and sensitive. Keep baby's skin hydrated by bathing in warm water for only three to five minutes. Avoid letting your baby sit or play or soak for long in soapy water. Apply a baby lotion or moisturizer immediately after bath while skin is still wet, and then pat dry instead of rubbing.Baby Massage
A nice way to monitor the healthiness of your baby's skin is through massage. It gives you an opportunity to go over the entire surface and to check for dryness or chafing. But that's not the only benefit: as your baby grows and undergoes developmental changes, massage can help ease transitions. It provides many emotional and physiological benefits for your growing baby to help:- Calm him when he's fretful — massage has been shown to reduce the circulation of the stress hormone cortisol in the bloodstream
- Increase his sense of well-being — massage has been shown to stimulate endorphins, which can lift your baby's mood
- Ease gas and constipation — stroking his tummy can help disperse air
- Release tension caused by, for example, teething
- Relax his arm and leg muscles
- And of course, to help him develop a close and trusting relationship with you
