By now most parents are aware that their little one’s skin is more sensitive than their skin. Red rashes, over secretion of oil to extreme dryness with a slight change in temperature, most new parents have experienced it all.
Many a times finding a solution to skin related issues seems like a tasking job. However, there is a simple scientific logic that helps to understand the changes in texture of your newborn’s skin.
Baby’s skin is 20% thinner and it’s in the developing stages for the first few months after birth. Since all the skin and protective layers haven’t formed completely, it is generally more sensitive to allergens.
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So what exactly is the normal pH of my baby’s skin?
As for many of us who took science in school, we know that the pH scale ranges from 0 – 14, where; anything above 7 is considered alkaline, anything below 7 is considered acidic and 7 is considered neutral. For our skin to sustain a normal balance, a pH of around 5.5, should ideally be maintained.
Our little bundles of joy, are born with a skin pH of around 7. With time and development of oil glands, the pH slowly starts to shift to its acidic normal.
The main idea to be drawn from all these technicalities is that a slight shift in the pH balance is what ultimately leads to irritation of your baby’s skin.
So what is the benefit of maintaining a pH of 5.5?
In essence, it is important to remember that your baby’s skin is the protective layer, covering your baby’s tiny little body. Anything that causes an imbalance in the skin’s pH can lead to redness, dryness or irritation. This, in turn, can cause harmful organisms to invade the skin and lead to infections and flare up of skin conditions like eczema.
And as concerned parents this is probably your worst nightmare, as babies have an endless list of reasons to cry all night, we don’t want to provide them with anymore.
So what are the essentials I should consider when caring for my baby’s skin?
Choosing the right products that come in contact with your tiny tot’s skin is the first thing to consider. When purchasing baby care products, read labels carefully. Any products that are slightly alkaline are inclined to dry out your baby’s skin. Go for products that have a slightly acidic pH or ones with a pH close to the required 5.5. Ensure the products do not contain irritants like parabens, paraffins, propylene glycol and sulphates.
Soaps (Bars), lotions, creams and even shampoo needs to be selected with great care. Anything that will eventually touch your baby’s skin should be selected keeping all the above in mind.
Being a parent is definitely an interesting and fulfilling journey. While there are many things to consider and research upon, we have covered the essentials when it comes to taking care of your little one’s tender skin. Keeping these in mind will help to keep your baby’s skin soft and supple longer.
It has been clinically proven that the use of skin care products with pH 5.5 from day 1, helps in faster development of the protective outer layer of the skin.
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