As a parent, you want to do everything in your power to protect your baby from any harmful substances. They can not tell us what they feel or show us so we have to always be aware of what is happening, especially when it comes to skin.  But what happens when you are a first time parent (or never experienced this with your previous baby?) and don’t read all the parenting books and something comes up that is alarming? Sometimes a new discovery may cause panic, but we do not want you to do that. It’s amazing what a little bit of knowledge will do for you, it prepares you and it will ease your mind when these things arise in your parenting journey. We want to provide you with a quick and to the point guide to better understand the types of rashes that may come up on your baby's skin. By understanding the signs that your baby is sensitive to certain things, you'll be able to prevent an unsafe situation from happening and catch these things before they escalate and cause your baby discomfort. We’ve got you covered for all things baby skin related, you’re doing great! 

One in 3 children has very sensitive skin. This skin condition causes reddening easily in response to daily stress. Your baby's skin is a protective layer that's built to keep the outside world from its harmful effects. It also contains feelings and actions that your baby can feel. This can be difficult to spot when they have certain sensitivities.

 

 

Recognizing very sensitive baby skin and what’s causing it. 

Sensitive skin of babies is different to that of an adult. It is prone to redden easily to various stresses and has a tendency to feel uncomfortable. A baby's skin can become sensitive for a variety of reasons. These include:  

•  the use of harsh soaps, 
•  chemicals, or alcohol on your child's skin; 
• discomfort caused by the skin rubbing in diapers and cloth.

As infants get older they are more likely to experience dryness and the use of soap on babies' skin is also a big factor to consider. Infants should be bathed with soap-free products that are mild and unscented.

 

Know the common rashes in newborn babies.

A newborn’s skin is prone to all sorts of skin rashes. Fortunately most of these are harmless and can go away unnoticed or if left alone, ah, great news!  According to WebMD these are the most common newborn rashes;

1. Pink pimples ('neon acne')

These pink pimples appear on the skin of babies' early stages. This is thought to be caused by exposure to maternal hormones. No treatment needed, just. They can last for weeks or even months on a baby's skin.

2. Erythema toxicum

Erythema toxicum is another newborn rash that looks like red blotches with ill-defined borders that are slightly raised, and a small yellow or white dot in its center. It’s cause is unknown and no treatment is needed, it will go away naturally within days or weeks. 

3. Dry, peeling skin

Dry & peeling skin can be seen in almost all normal babies, but is especially noticeable in babies born a little late. The underlying skin is perfectly normal, soft, and moist.

4. Congenital Melanocytosis

It is very common in any part of the body of dark-skinned babies. They are flat, gray-blue in color (almost looking like a bruise). They are harmless and usually fade away by school age.  

        Another common newborn baby rash is Newborn Diaper Rash.  Have you seen red inflamed patches or bumps on your baby's bottom and genital area? That could be a newborn diaper rash, commonly caused by fungal infections. Another common cause is skin inflammation caused by exposure to stool and urine. Sweat moisture, harsh soaps or use of harmful and tight diapers could also cause or worsen the rash.  To avoid newborn diaper rash from happening make sure to;

• use natural disposable diapers for your baby's sensitive skin, and change the diapers often.
• Always dry the baby's skin thoroughly.
• Avoid perfumed baby wipes or wipes that contain alcohol, and 
• Keep the diaper fitted, not too tight or too loose. 

 

What you should do if your baby’s skin is sensitive and how to avoid it.

According to Baby Centre UK you should bathe your baby in water between 98.6 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, which is around body temperature. Bath your baby quickly to avoid risk of irritation and reduction of skin's natural oil. 

To avoid irritating the skin, here are a few factors to consider to avoid baby skin irritation: 

Skin Hydration:

Newborns have the tendency to be dehydrated, therefore they lack moisture internally and to their skin. Look for signs of dehydration from pale, thin, dry skin to an underweight baby who isn't gaining weight well. In addition moisturizers help reduce dryness and irritation from eczema or newborn diaper rash.

Probiotics:

Probiotics may help the gut and also reduce eczema and newborn diaper rash.

Natural Diapers:

The common causes of newborn diaper rash are materials in the diapers. Using a natural diaper that is alcohol and chlorine content free will be an enormous help to prevent newborn diaper rash.

Natural Baby Wipes:

We don’t want any harmful content to touch our baby’s delicate skin.  Avoiding perfumed baby wipes or wipes that contain alcohol is a must. The use of hypoallergenic and unscented natural baby wipes will be a great choice in preventing baby rash.

When to call the pediatrician

You should contact your pediatrician if the any of the following occur;

• If the rash doesn’t get better within a few days, spreads further, or becomes oozy.
• If your baby has a rash and develops a fever. It could be an infection.
• The treatment no longer works.