Good personal skin care is important for so many reasons. You're shedding skin cells throughout the day, so it's important to keep your skin healthy and in good nick. An effective routine can help prevent acne, treat wrinkles, and help keep your skin glowing!
But did you know, baby skin care is just as important? Newborn skin is delicate and so is the baby's immune system. While there are several normal skin conditions that newborns face, chemicals, fragrances, and dyes in clothing, detergents, and baby products can cause newborn skin irritation, dryness, chafing, and rashes that new parents need to try and prevent.
Infant skin seems so beautiful and perfect but in fact it's extremely delicate. At birth, babies have an immature skin barrier. Your baby's skin is highly vulnerable to daily outside attacks, and does not reach the first stage of maturity until the age of two.
Whether a baby is 6 days, 6 weeks, or 6 months old, there's always one constant: their skin needs to be protected. Here are a few ways baby skin needs to be cared for:
Keep Away From the Sun
It’s important to keep your baby cool and protect them from the sun. Babies less than 6 months old should be kept out of direct sunlight. Their skin contains too little melanin, which is the pigment that gives skin, hair and eyes their colour, and provides some protection from the sun.
Studies found that a baby at six months of age which had exposure of as low as about 30 minutes per week with about 40% of it’s body exposed to sunlight achieved adequate vitamin D status. The researchers also found that the ideal time to have a sunbath is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Watch Out for Dry Skin
Babies often have particularly dry skin on their faces because their skin is more sensitive than adults. Their skin may be adjusting to the environment outside the womb, or it may be reacting to allergens in products or clothes. Look at your laundry detergent. Shop for one made specifically for baby's sensitive skin.
Dehydration and skin conditions can also cause dry skin. You can keep your baby's skin hydrated by bathing them in warm water for only 3 to 5 minutes. Avoid letting your baby sit or play or soak for long in soapy water. Apply a gentle, natural baby lotion or moisturiser immediately after the bath while their skin is still wet, and then pat dry instead of rubbing.
Prevent and Treat Heat Rash
Heat rashes appear when sweat gets trapped under the skin. Because babies have smaller sweat glands and are less able to regulate their body temperature, they are more vulnerable to heat rash than adults. Tight clothes, swaddles, and blankets can also cause heat rashes. To reduce the risk of heat rash, dress your baby in seasonally appropriate clothing. Choose loose-fitting, breathable clothing, such as cotton pants or a gown. During the hotter, summer months, use air conditioning and fans to keep cool. Ways to treat heat rash include:
- Cooling the skin with water
- Use calamine lotion
- Try anhydrous lanolin
- Make a paste with oatmeal
- Avoid oil-based products
Avoid Contact Dermatitis Triggers
Contact dermatitis is an itchy rash caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it (and it’s not contagious). Baby contact dermatitis is most likely to be caused by an allergic reaction as a result of using wet wipes, lotions, soaps or detergents, or friction (this is most common when the baby's skin is rubbed by the diaper).
The following are also common irritants and allergens that may cause contact dermatitis:
- saliva
- urine
- dyes
- perfumes
- cosmetics
- latex
- some metals
Treating it can be tricky because you do not want to introduce more harsh chemicals. Choosing the right products for your baby’s sensitive skin is a must. You should also wash your child's skin with soap and water as soon as possible after contact, using wet, cold cloths (compresses) on the skin and think of giving your child a form of antihistamine. But we’ve found the best, most effective way of treating baby contact dermatitis naturally: SkinSpring.
SkinSpring is the latest innovation in natural dermal care - effective and gentle enough to use on an infant's skin. This is because the active ingredient in SkinSpring is Hypochlorous - your body's very own immune molecule!
Hypochlorous (HOCl) is naturally produced in your white blood cells (immune cells) as a first line of defense against pathogens, inflammation, and promotes cellular repair to damaged tissue. It is well-known for its potent anti-microbial properties, but at the same time is gentle and safe, even on the most sensitive skin. It is ideal to use for inflammatory skin conditions like diaper rash, cradle cap, eczema and contact dermatitis as well as every day topical wounds like cuts, scratches, bites, burns, sunburn, stings, infections and more!
Shop the best in skin care for your baby here.
The skin is the largest organ on your baby’s body, so it’s important to look after its health. Remember to keep your baby’s skin clean, dry, and out of the sun. It’s also important to not overdo it with heavy moisturisers or other chemical-laden skin products, which can sometimes make skin problems worse. Opt for natural, restorative skin care.