Your little one’s skin can be prone to dryness, glean some tips to soothe baby’s delicate soft skin.
SKIN MOISTURE
Your newborn’s skin is a unique and essential shield that offers protection from the outside world. It plays an important role in maintaining health, and in defending against irritants, toxins and infections. Skin also regulates your infant’s internal temperature, and is a tool for exploring the world through touch.
For all that it does to protect, your infant’s skin needs its own protection. New learnings from fundamental research on infant skin show that infant skin absorbs and loses moisture at a faster rate than more mature skin. In a recent clinical study, 90 per cent of mothers thought their infant’s skin was not dry, when in fact 60 per cent of their infants had signs of dry skin! It’s a good idea wto protect your infant’s skin and keep it healthy, soft and supple by applying a moisturiser frequently, especially after a bath or nappy change.
A defective skin barrier function will then lead to entry of irritants and allergens, skin drying from increased water loss and cracking, fissuring of skin surface which will finally increase hypersensitivity to certain allergens. These combinations cause the skin to be easily irritated and inflamed. Proper skin care will also reduce the possibility of skin rashes and eczema.
CRADLE CAP
It is a form of yellowish greasy scalp scaling. These greasy adherent scales may accumulate, thicken, and affect the scalp if left untreated. Bacteria infection can complicate the condition and the scalp becomes red. Cradle cap is very common in newborns. However if it involves the flexural area with eruption, it is called infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BABY HAS CRADLE CAP:
- To remove the greasy part, you need a special shampoo and may require frequent shampooing.
- Use prescribed topical low strength steroid ointment or cream from a doctor or dermatologist.
- Unless infection sets in, an oral antibiotic will be required.
ECZEMA
Eczema is a common hereditary skin condition especially in infants. Symptoms include chronic itching and inflamed skin. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis. It is a not a contagious disease and uncommon before the baby is 24 months old. Most children who have eczema get it before they turn five years old. Most of them will grow out of it, unless they’ve underlying allergic diseases or asthma, the eczema remains or worsen.
SIGNS OF ECZEMA:
- Swelling, itchiness and red papules.
- Dry, thicken skin due to frequent scratching.
- Scaling.
- Changes in skin colour.
- Small bumps or blisters which ooze fluid.
WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BABY HAS ECZEMA:
- Bring your child to see a skin specialist to confirm the diagnosis.
- Try to reduce the itchiness with antihistamine, moisturising lotion, cream or ointment to control the dryness and itchiness.
- Your doctor will probably prescribe steroid creams for severe cases. Antibiotic may be prescribed if secondary bacterial infection?is suspected.
- Further reduce itchiness by keeping your baby in a cool room, avoid hot bath,?and overdressing.
- Do not use soap during bathing; instead use a special emollient with moisturiser and always slab on some moisturiser after bath.