Why your baby might be having dry skin

Skin peeling in newborns is absolutely normal as baby’s have naturally delicate skin which is very susceptible to dryness and irritation. According to experts, the skin of newborns requires no additional treatment or moisturization, especially in the first month of their life.

At birth, the skin of newborns has fewer sweat glands she is considerably thinner because it is covered with fluids like amniotic fluid and vernix. These substances serve as protective covering for their skin when they are in the womb and are wiped off at birth, exposing their skin to the environment for the first time. This makes their skin very susceptible to peeling in their first month.

How do you know if your baby has dry skin?

When a baby has dry skin, you may observe:
– Dry patches on different parts of the skin
– Cracking of the skin. The cracking may be fine or deep
– Flakiness
– White, rough scales peeling at the edges
– General tight or stretched appearance of skin.

What are the things that cause dry skin in babies?

Now that you know the signs to look out for, you also need to know the things that cause dry skin. Some of them are:
I. Dehydration: Seeing as the skin of newborns is still very delicate, cold and dry living conditions dry out their skin faster.
II. Certain moisturizers: As much as possible, try to avoid moisturizers containing products like nuts as these could lead to allergies.
III. Harsh soaps: Some soaps are too harsh for a baby’s skin as they contain chemicals that may upset and disrupt the natural balance of the skin.
IV. Excessively long baths: Bathing the baby for too long can wash away the natural protective skin oils secreted by the sebaceous glands. A bath in chemically-treated or chlorinated water can also damage and dry skin.
V. Weather and surrounding temperature: If the weather is excessively cold or hot, your baby’s skin may lose moisture and dry out faster.

How can you prevent and treat dry skin?

1. Limit an infant’s bath time: Try not to let your baby spend too much time in water so you can preserve the natural protective skin oils.
2. Discontinue use of harsh soaps
3. Use baby friendly moisturizing lotions after bathing the bath
4. Select clothes made of natural fabrics, preferably cotton as cotton is gentler as friendlier to a baby’s skin.
5. Use baby friendly laundry detergent to wash your baby’s clothes as regular detergents contain elements that are too harsh for a baby’s skin.

If your baby presents the following symptoms, then you should see a doctor immediately:
– Bleeding from the cracked skin
– Intense itching that makes the baby uncomfortable
– Pus or yellowness on the dry skin patch
– Swelling of the skin
– Dry skin accompanied by fever
– Dry skin causing colic outbreaks

It helps to remain vigilant and watchful for any of the aforementioned symptoms so you can notice in advance it your baby has any serious skin diseases.