Dry Skin in Babies: Causes and Protection

Skin is a very important organ in our body. It performs so many functions throughout the day, like protecting from harmful rays, acting as a sensory organ, protecting our body by performing osmosis and maintaining temperature, covering our blood vessels and thus, protecting our internal organs from injuries and many more. So we can imagine how vital it is for us to protect and take care of our skin.  Our skin gets thicker and immune to injuries gradually with age, but the skin of the newborn baby is extremely soft and delicate. It is more prone to injuries and needs more care than the skin of any elder. Your slight negligence can create a major trouble for your baby’s skin and thus, one needs to be extra careful when taking care of a baby’s skin.

Dryness

When your baby is born, it suddenly gets exposed to the environment. It usually takes time for your newborn and its skin to get adjusted and acquainted with the new environment. In the meanwhile, you should also take care of him. The exterior layer on the baby called vernix caseosa, is cleaned as soon as the baby is born. This white layer helps them in the womb against the acidic amniotic fluid. Once this is cleaned, then the skin immediately below it gets exposed. It automatically gets dry and the shedding process starts. This dryness in babies is very common. The dryness in babies can be of several types. They are peeling and dry skin, cradle cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis), red bumps, eczema, red pimples, and rashes.

Causes

There are so many causes for the dryness in babies. Being a parent you should be aware of every causes and condition.

Environment

Mother’s womb protects the baby in every way by providing a moderate soothing environment. Suddenly after birth, the harsh extreme outer environment affects the baby’s skin. Seasons like summer and winter also makes the baby’s skin dry. The moisture content in the atmosphere during those days becomes less so the baby’s skin loses moisture and it becomes dry.

Frequent bathing

Never ever bathe your baby for a long duration or more frequently. Make it of very short duration like for 3 to 5 minutes a day. Excess bathing can wash out the essential oils from the skin and make it dry.

Chlorinated water

These days the chlorinated water is also causing a big problem for babies. It damages the outer skin of the babies and makes it dry. Make sure the water in which you are bathing your baby remains pH neutral.

Soaps

There are some soaps available in the market which are more alkaline in nature. These remove the moisture, oils from your baby’s skin and damage. You should check all the ingredients in the baby products before purchasing and try and use products with less chemical content.

Excessive oil

When you apply excess oil to your baby’s skin, it also damages the skin. Cradle cap is one such example which is caused by applying excess oil to your baby’s skin and hair.

Protection or Prevention

There are several ways like using natural products, home remedies to protect your baby’s skin from dryness. Let us talk about a few:

Moisturizer

You can go for any pH balanced moisturizer available in the market and apply on your baby’s skin when you find it dry.

Natural oil

The Natural product has its own charm and can heal the dry skin tremendously. You can go for Coconut oil, Castor oil, Olive oil and apply on your baby’s skin. Try and use cold pressed oils like Kama Ayurveda as these are pure and do not harm the baby’s skin.

Ointments

When you see red spots, eczema, pimples on your baby’s skin you should consult the doctor. You can go for the prescribed medicines and ointments and use according to the directions. Never use any ointment on the baby without consulting a doctor.

Avoid chemical cosmetic products

Cosmetic products are not meant for your baby’s skin. It can damage your baby’s soft skin. So you should avoid such products. Always go for natural products. Only soaps recommended for the babies must be used during bath.

You may also like: Best Baby Soaps in India

Clothes

Choose cotton and soft fabrics for your baby. Your baby will get a comfortable feeling in such clothes and by the meantime, its skin will also get protected. Always make them wear dry clothes. A little amount of wetness can also irritate their skin.

Detergent

Every single thing matters for your baby’s health, even the detergent. Choose soft and mild detergents to clean your baby’s clothes.

Read Out Post: Best Baby Detergents

Avoid sweating

Sweats makes the baby’s skin itchy. Always protect your baby’s skin from it. Change diapers frequently to avoid diaper rashes.

Dryness is not a very big problem in babies to deal with. All you need to take necessary actions before your baby suffers. Just a little care for your baby will make them happy and helps to stay healthy.