What should be the skin care of babies? What should be taken into consideration when taking care of the skin of newborn babies? Dermatology Specialist Dr. Dilek Eryılmaz wrote about skin care and common skin problems in babies!..
Do you think all babies have perfect skin? I say think again. We imagine that babies' skin is very nice, soft and that they smell wonderful. However, in reality, this may sometimes not be the case. Babies' skin may also experience dryness, sensitivity, flaking, and even strange discoloration, especially in the newborn period.
Dear mothers, in this article you can find information about the care of babies' sensitive skin and management of skin problems. p>
1. The bathing thing should not be exaggerated
Yes, you may be taking a shower every day, but your baby may not need to be bathed every day. Especially in the autumn and winter months, my wife, Dr., who is also a pediatrician, Ahmet Eryılmaz states that bathing two or three times a week is quite sufficient for babies. Frequent bathing can dry out the skin and, while we try to keep our baby clean, it can cause the structures that form the natural protective layer of the skin to be removed from the skin. However, of course, the diaper area should be cleaned as often as necessary.
2. Our best friend is moisturizing creams
Your baby's skin is prone to dryness, so you should moisturize it as much as possible. When you take your baby out of the bath, you should immediately apply moisturizing cream to his skin after drying him gently. You should also use moisturizer multiple times between each bath session. While moisturizers provide moisture support to the skin, they also prevent the moisture in the skin from evaporating and being lost. Additionally, if the air in your baby's room is very dry, you can also use a humidifier to prevent your baby's skin from drying out.
3. Let's choose products suitable for sensitive skin
Until babies reach the age of one, the best approach is to use soaps and shampoos specially developed for this age group. In general, these products do not contain toxic substances, dyes, deodorants, alcohol and anything else that can harm your baby's skin. They do not contain any chemical agents. When you bathe your baby, you should know that some baby soaps will not foam as much as the soaps you use yourself. Less foaming does not mean that you need to use more product.
4. Forget baby powder
We prefer to avoid baby powders because of the possibility of breathing them into your baby's lungs. To protect from cooking; You should clean your baby's bottom with warm water and cotton and dry it well.
5. Let's be cautious about exposing ourselves to the sun
Sunscreen creams are not recommended for babies under 6 months. More precisely, the use of sunscreens in babies younger than six months is not approved, as there are no studies yet on babies of this age. Therefore, babies in this age group need to be protected from direct sunlight. In sunny weather, babies should be kept under the shade of a tree or umbrella. We also recommend the use of a hat and the sunscreen in the stroller, if available.
After your baby is six months old, sunscreens with physical protective ingredients (such as zinc oxide) should be preferred because these types of products will not irritate your baby's skin and eyes.
6. Let's clean the folds
While trying to moisturize with creams, you should make sure that your baby's skin does not remain wet. Moisture can remain in all skin folds, especially those that are prone to rash and are likely to be irritated, and subsequently cause redness and peeling. Therefore, skin folds should be cleaned with warm water, dried well and moisturized with creams. If the rash becomes swollen and red on the skin, this may indicate a fungal infection, in which case you should consult a dermatologist or pediatrician. In addition, you should wipe your baby's mouth area after each feeding, as food residues remaining around the mouth after feeding may cause irritation.
7. Redness and diaper rash problem in the diaper area
To date, I have never encountered a baby who did not have diaper rash, unfortunately, you will encounter this situation frequently. Redness in the diaper area usually does not cause a serious problem. and they regress with some precautions. To keep the diaper area dry, it is necessary to change the diaper frequently, ventilate this area occasionally, clean this area with warm water and cotton, and use diaper rash cream or moisturizing creams after each diaper change. The key here is to know the difference between a diaper rash only and a rash with fungus attached to it. If it is just redness, it usually disappears with creams and precautions. However, if there are inflamed blisters accompanied by redness, this may indicate a fungal infection, so you should consult a dermatologist or pediatrician.
8. Eczema problem
Another common skin problem in babies is atopic eczema. It occurs with environmental triggering factors in babies with a genetic predisposition. Especially after the 3rd month, it begins as dryness, redness, dandruff and itching on the cheeks and can also be seen in other parts of the body. Most cases of eczema can be treated with creams available without a prescription. However, in cases where such creams do not work, it may be necessary to use specific treatments prescribed by a pediatrician or a dermatologist. If you suspect that your baby has eczema, I recommend that you first have your baby examined by a dermatologist or pediatrician.
9. Birthmark problem
Birthmarks are quite common and It is usually a harmless condition. Some birthmarks are present from birth, while others become apparent after a few months. These spots can be brown, white, red and blue-purple. In order to understand whether these moles have changed or not, it is necessary to photograph them and follow them closely. If birthmarks become rough, raised or start to grow rapidly, I recommend that you consult a dermatologist or pediatrician. In this way, your doctor will decide whether everything is okay.
As a result, after babies are born, their skin tries to get used to new environmental conditions and we may encounter some problems during this period. With the right approach and precautions, we can easily overcome these skin problems.
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