Subscribe to RSS5 Common Skin Problems Your Baby May Have
I had no idea what a problem skin could create for a baby and how terrible it can look. My son’s skin looked more like a teen than a new born. He had terrible cradle cap, baby acne, skin allergies and his fuzzy blonde hair was falling out in patches on the back of his head. I had to remind myself that most babies go through this and this bothered me more than it bothered him.
Baby acne – nothing you can really do except wash baby in hypoallergenic soap. Keep baby clean and dry.
Cradle cap – massage baby oil on head a few minutes before bath and then wash out using soft baby brush and hypoallergenic soap during bath
Dry skin – coat baby in Vaseline or eucerine (or generic version) after bath. Also, make sure you are using the dye free, perfume free soaps and lotions.
Heat rash - my fair skin baby got this during the summer. Any time heat and moisture mixed there would be a red bumpy rash on his skin. I mostly noticed this on the diaper area but it would show up on any crack or cranny.
Diaper rash – keep baby clean and dry. You may have to try different diapers and perhaps different diaper rash cream. *Please see the “Diapering” topic.
*Hypoallergenic detergent – wash everything in hypoallergenic detergent including your cloths and blankets.
One Person has left comments on this post
Apr 25, 2008 - 10:04:56My son has experienced all of the above fun skin problems.
For cradle cap, I found that olive oil works great too. Apply to dry hair, comb through (gently) and rinse with water. In addition to oil, you can also try dandruff shampoo. However, these shampoos are not “tear-free” so be careful when rinsing not to get in baby’s eyes.
My son also gets red, and sometimes dry, rashes on either side of his neck, arm pits, the crease of his elbows, and behind his knees. For this, I apply a thin layer of 1% Hydrocortisone twice a day.
I agree, fragrance free, hypoallergenic products are best for little ones with sensitive skin. This extends to baby wipes (alcohol free), detergents, soaps, and lotions.