Skin Care Tips for Newborns

Skin care is particularly important for babies, especially newborns, because they have yet to establish their primary defense system in almost every aspect of their bodies. Since the dermis is the first barrier that we have against many diseases and conditions, it is important that we keep it healthy. Cleaning baby's skin is necessary even in the first few days. Many doctors recommend a sponge bath for the first few weeks or until the belly button scab falls off. This is because the belly button may still be open and immersion into water may cause it to be infected. A sponge bath entails a short but thorough wiping of the body using a washcloth or a sponge.

Tips for Infant Dermis Care

Newborns are delicate overall and they can erupt into rashes at any given time because of any little thing. This is primarily because they may react to exposure to everything for the very first time but will eventually get used to it. Parents should not worry too much when rashes appear because some of these are natural reactions. Skin care for them means being vigilant when it comes to rashes. There are some rashes that are natural reactions to environmental elements while there are others that may be a sign of a more serious condition. A light dusting of small rough pimples can be a reaction to the roughness of a father's beard or mustache when he kisses the infant. Parents should beware of pimples that have pus and are painful to touch. These may need to be brought to the attention of the pediatric physician to avoid any complications. Some pimples are a manifestation of the mother's hormones and may have been passed to the baby in the womb. Common places that these occur are the nose and the cheeks. These are not dangerous and will eventually disappear as the effects of the hormones disappear from the baby's system. Eczema is a rash that is usually connected to asthma, atopic dermatitis and allergies. Specific medication or creams are used for this condition. A dermatologist will need to check on the rash if it is indeed eczema.

Cradle cap is also a common occurrence in the scalps of babies and will disappear after a few weeks or months. Skin care advice for cradle cap is just to use a gentle shampoo and to rinse it thoroughly from the scalp. The condition goes away with or without any remedy, although some parents swear by the application of baby oil in the affected areas. Some dermatologists do not recommend the use of baby oil because it might drip on the baby's eyes or spread lower to the face. If one wants to try it out, make sure to use the oil sparingly, with little or no excess.

These are just a few of the viable tips for infant skin care. If the caregiver is in doubt regarding the appearance of the rash or the blemish, it is best to bring it to the attention of a doctor.