Newborn dry skin is a possible phenomenon in babies, just like adults. Moreover, newborn skin is still sensitive and very thin, so it is vulnerable to exposure to air or other factors.
In addition to using a moisturiser or baby lotion, how do you deal with dry skin in babies? What are the causes of this condition? Check out the complete information here.
Symptoms of dry skin in newborns
In most cases, dry baby skin is harmless and goes away on its own. Here are some signs or symptoms of dry skin in a developing baby, namely:
- Skin looks scaly.
- There are rough patches on the skin.
- Dull skin.
- Leaves small white flakes.
- Appears on the face, arms and legs.
Dry skin is generally not very itchy. However, you need to be careful if the condition is very dry because it can appear like cracks, pain, or until it bleeds.
If your baby’s dry, scaly skin becomes itchy and inflamed, it may develop into eczema. Consult a doctor immediately.
Causes of newborn dry skin
Quoting Raising Children, dry skin in babies is a common condition. It can quickly disappear and also come back.
At the time, the newborn will also appear dry, scaly and peeling skin, namely vernix caseosa. It is a natural exfoliant and does not require special care.
Here are some causes of dry skin in your little one that parents need to know.
1. Whether environmental conditions
The most common cause of dry baby skin is a dry environment. For example, the weather is cold, hot, or too humid. Likewise, when the air conditioner in the baby’s room is too cold, it can also cause the loss of natural moisture in the skin.
2. Taking too long a bath
Excessive exposure to water can also cause newborn skin to become dry and scaly. Avoid long baths, especially if showers in warm water.
The above can cause dry skin due to the loss of natural oils in the skin.
Try limiting your baby’s bath time to 10-15 minutes, using warm water.
3. Inappropriate skincare products
Parents need to choose special baby skincare products in caring for babies. If confused, you can consult directly with a doctor.
For example, using bath soap with a fairly harsh content can cause the baby’s skin to become drier than usual.
Likewise, when drying the baby’s wet skin. Just pat gently with a baby towel.
Avoid scrubbing too hard to reduce friction and the risk of peeling skin.
4. Dehydration
Dehydration can also be a cause of dry skin in babies. In newborns, make sure he is breastfeeding enough because it is the best solution to prevent dehydration.
5. Other skin conditions
Did you know that babies are also prone to certain skin problems or diseases?
One of them is atopic dermatitis or eczema, making the baby’s facial or body skin dry and scaly. Parents need to be careful because dry skin because eczema can cause rashes and itching.
There is also another skin condition, namely ichthyosis. This genetic skin condition makes the baby’s skin dry, scaly, and flaky quite badly.
How to deal with dry baby skin
Generally, there is no specific treatment for dry skin problems in babies.
However, you can do the following ways to treat the skin, such as:
1. Take a quick shower
Fill the tub with warm water, or mix hot water with plain water to neutralise the water temperature.
The doctor’s recommendation is to use 37° or lukewarm water. It doesn’t need to be too long. Bathe your little one in 10-15 minutes.
2. Use special skincare products
Instead, use special baby skincare. For example, bath soap does not contain detergent, fragrance, or alcohol because it can cause a baby’s skin to become dry.
Use soap with a neutral skin pH of 5.5. After bathing, you can apply a special baby moisturiser to deal with irritation problems or dry, scaly skin.
3. Maintain room temperature
Adjust the room temperature, neither too cold nor too hot. Both can trigger dry baby skin.
If necessary, you can also use a humidifier to balance the humidity in the room.
4. Maintain fluid intake
Insufficient breast milk intake makes the baby hungry and triggers dehydration, and the baby’s skin becomes dry. If your little one has entered the solids phase, make sure the intake of food, boiled water, and breast milk is balanced.
5. Apply moisturiser regularly
Another way to deal with dry skin in newborns is to regularly apply a special baby moisturiser. You can use a moisturiser with ingredients that maintain moisture and hydration of the skin.
How to prevent dry skin in newborns
You can prevent dry and peeling newborn skin. Several things you can do include:
- Avoid using hot or too cold water.
- Avoid soaps with antiseptic properties such as phenol and cresol, deodorants (triclosan, hexachlorophene) and soaps containing detergents such as SLS and SLES.
- Do not rub the baby’s skin too hard.
- Use a detergent that is friendly to the baby’s skin.
- Use clothes made of cotton. Avoid clothes made of rough and scratchy like wool.
- After swimming, make sure the baby showers and uses a moisturiser to prevent dry skin due to the chlorine content in swimming pool water.
