| A newborn's skin is soft and delicate. Proper skin care | | | | Avoid using soap if possible and do not scrub skin with |
| and bathing can help maintain the health and texture of | | | | washcloth. If soap is needed, use mild, moisturizing, |
| the baby's skin. It is important to understand that to | | | | unscented soap. Heat rash also problem baby skin and |
| take care of Baby's skin the most natural way is often | | | | causes little bumps on the skin that can show up when |
| best. Newborn baby may have some skin conditions | | | | your baby overheats. Keep your baby comfortably |
| that seem unusual to you. Most are fairly common | | | | cool by dressing him in loose-fitting, light cotton clothing, |
| such as Baby acne is a red, pimply rash on the face. | | | | especially in warm, humid weather. Massaging lotions |
| Generally, it disappears over time. Cutis marmorata is | | | | and oils into your baby's skin can relieve irritation. But |
| a condition where the skin looks like pinkish-blue marble | | | | anything you use should be free of petrochemicals , |
| when exposed to cold temperatures. Erythema | | | | which are themselves irritants. Premature babies skin is |
| toxicum is a common, splotchy red rash that can | | | | even more delicate, so it is important to withhold all |
| affect newborns. Some have firm yellow or white | | | | products until their approximate due date, as their skin |
| bumps surrounded by a flare of red. The rash tends to | | | | takes longer to mature. If your baby is overdue, his/her |
| come and go on different parts of the body. Vernix is | | | | skin may well be dry and cracked. Don't be tempted to |
| a greasy white substance that coats and protects | | | | use any creams or lotions. If night-time itching is a |
| baby's skin in the mother's uterus. Some babies are | | | | problem, use a cold, damp washcloth to soothe the |
| born with lots of vernix still on their skin. | | | | child's skin. |
| Milia are tiny whiteheads on your baby's face. It is | | | | Baby Skin Care Tips |
| harmless and can be washed or wiped off. Crusty | | | | 1. Babies' skin needs cleaning and cares for a healthy |
| patches on scalp. Overactive glands in your baby's | | | | function during their growth. |
| scalp can cause cradle cap. If so, use a mild soap | | | | 2. Humidity causes macerations. Don't use talc. It is |
| containing olive, coconut, or palm oil and possibly herbal | | | | abrasive and irritates the skin. |
| extracts such as calendula. Contrary to popular | | | | 3. Protect baby skin from sunburn as well as |
| thought, most babies may only need to be bathed two | | | | associated problems such as freckles and premature |
| or three times a week or every other day. Baths can | | | | wrinkles. |
| be given any time of day. Bathing before a feeding | | | | 4. Avoid frequent baths for eczema. |
| often works well. Sponge baths are required at first. | | | | 5. Keep baby's skin from becoming dry and itchy by |
| Bathing in a tub of water should wait until the baby's | | | | adding non-allergenic oil to the bathwater. |
| umbilical cord falls off, and a baby boy's circumcision | | | | 6. If your baby has seborrheic dermatitis, a mild |
| heals, to prevent infection. Contact dermatitis can | | | | hydrocortisone cream (0.5%) is safe and usually |
| develop after your baby's skin comes into contact with | | | | effective. |
| something irritating or that she's allergic to. Keep your | | | | 7. Apply unscented petroleum jelly or a cream with |
| child's skin moist. After bathing, apply moisturizer within | | | | zinc oxide to the skin of the diaper area to protect and |
| three minutes to retain the moisture in the skin. Avoid | | | | lubricate for diaper rash. |
| sudden temperature changes. | | | | 8. Avoid using baby powder or talc. |