The best way to keep your baby’s skin smooth and clear is to use specially formulated baby soap and gentle detergents. Even so, it’s quite likely that your baby will develop one or two skin problems along the way.
Here are the most common complaints.
Diaper Rash
Whether baby is clothed in disposable or cloth diapers, it’s possible she will suffer a bout of diaper rash from time to time. Use a zinc-based barrier cream to protect her gentle bottom from the moisture that causes this rash, and let baby have plenty of time with no diaper on at all. Diaper rash is caused by moisture being trapped against the skin (the whole point of diapers, unfortunately), so change your baby often, let her bottom breathe freely for a short while each day, and make sure to dry her well after baths (especially in those adorable little creases). It might be thrush if the rash is bright red and scaly. This requires medication and can be extremely uncomfortable for baby, so contact your pediatrician right away.
Rashes
Baby rashes can sometimes appear and disappear with no real rhyme or reason. Baby skin is so very delicate that it’s easily disrupted. If your baby develops a rash, think about whether you’ve changed your laundry detergent, soap, shampoo, or lotion recently. If you suspect your baby has eczema, your pediatrician will be able to prescribe an appropriate cream. Some rashes can be caused by food allergies, so if your baby has recently been introduced to a new food, that may be the cause. These can be quite serious, so be sure to discuss any food-related rashes with your baby’s doctor.
Cradle Cap
Cradle cap is dry, flaky skin on your baby’s scalp, not dissimilar to dandruff. It is usually yellowish in color and in most cases will clear up on its own. There is no need for you to treat it in any way, so try to avoid picking it off as this could cause infection. Some parents have found it helpful to massage a small amount of olive or almond oil into their baby’s scalp and wash it off with baby shampoo after a few minutes. It’s unknown what causes cradle cap, but we do know it’s not caused by poor hygiene. If it changes color or spreads from the scalp, contact your pediatrician.
Spots
About 40% of newborns have tiny white spots on their face, called milia. They’re harmless and will go away on their own within a few weeks. It’s also possible for babies to develop baby acne, which looks similar to adult acne. Bear in mind that newborn baby skin has to make a huge adjustment from being submerged in warm amniotic fluid to dealing with the outside world and all of its irritants. Give it time to settle down, and you’ll soon see that baby-soft skin everyone raves about.