The reason baby skin glows more than even the most beautiful adult is that it’s thin and fragile, accustomed to life in the womb.
Not only do infants have dryer skin than adults, their sweat glands are underdeveloped, making them less able to control their body temperature. Similarly, babies have lower melanin levels in their dermis so they sunburn more easily than adults. These are both environmental issues or dangers that usually go away when tended to. Other conditions, though, such as eczema, are genetic and often are a lifelong problem. There are a large assortment of rashes that babies get, some are conditions in their own right while others are signs of a bigger issue.
One of the most typical causes of skin problems amongst little ones is diaper rash. Characterized by itching and redness, it happens in diaper-wearing youngsters of all ages. Keep your eye out for a bright red, scaly rash in the region covered by a diaper, especially around your child’s genitals. More serious cases cause pimples, sores and blisters in the area, but at first diaper rash appears as small red patches of rash.
The best way to treat and prevent diaper rash and other chafing rashes is to keep the diaper area washed and dry and choose loose clothing when possible. Use unscented baby wipes to truly leave your baby’s skin clean and, if the problem doesn’t clear up, ask your doctor about finding a lotion to treat the rash.
Other skin problems infants are prone to are prickly heat, caused by inadequate temperature regulation from underdeveloped sweat glands; acne from mother’s hormones remaining after birth; and eczema, a genetic skin condition that can start showing up as early as infancy. With all these conditions, keeping your baby’s skin healthy requires monitoring the rash and talking to your doctor about appropriate treatment options. Keeping your child’s skin clean and healthy will insure it stays as soft as, well, a baby’s bottom.
Author Logan D. Trevanio is a childcare and cloth diaper professional. He understands many issues of baby care, child well-being, and weighs in from time to time on plastic versus cloth diapers.
