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The skin condition of each newborn can look yellowish, scaly, or may be streaked due to small spots. These conditions are actually normal. However, because newborn babies' skin is still sensitive and prone to irritation, you should take care of it in an appropriate manner.
Once born, babies need time to adapt to their new environment outside the womb. In this adaptation process, you may find unique things about your baby's physical condition, for example the shape of the head that is not symmetrical or the texture and color of the skin that can change.
Newborn Skin Conditions
The condition of the newborn's skin is determined by the length of the gestation period. Not all the uniqueness of newborn skin is something to worry about. Some of them are normal and will change as the baby gets older.
The following is the explanation:
Newborn skin spots and color
When a new baby is born, the skin can be dark red or purplish. When he starts to breathe, his skin color will turn reddish or bright red.
Within the first few hours or days, the baby's hands, feet, and lips may also turn blue. This happens because the circulation of blood is still not developed and is generally harmless if it is not accompanied by complaints, such as shortness of breath or looking weak.
Babies can also be born with blue patches on several parts of their body. These patches are called Mongol spots or congenital dermal melanocytosis. In addition, there can be a reddish rash on the chest, back, face, arms and legs. This condition is called erythema toxicum and will go away on its own within 1 week.
Some babies are also born with yellow skin or they are called yellow babies. This occurs because the liver is not mature enough to process and dispose of bilirubin into the digestive tract properly. This yellow color will usually disappear on its own within 2−3 weeks.
Newborn skin texture
Newborn baby's skin is still thin and sensitive, so it's prone to irritation. Many newborns also experience prickly heat or milia on the nose, cheeks, under the eyes or chin.
Some newborns can even have acne on their face called acne neonatorum. However, these conditions generally go away on their own over time.
Newborn baby's skin will peel off in the early weeks. This peeling occurs to shed the vernix, which is the thick layer that covers the baby's skin while in the womb. The amount and length of time that a newborn exfoliates can vary, depending on whether the baby is born prematurely, term, or overdue.
Tips for Caring for Newborn Skin
The baby's skin condition is not something to worry about and doesn't need special handling. However, considering the newborn's skin is still sensitive and prone to irritation, you have to care for and care for her skin in the right way.
Here are tips for caring for newborn skin to avoid various skin problems:
- Don't bathe the baby too often. Frequent showers can dry out their skin and make it easier to irritate and catch infections.
- Clean the surface of the baby's skin with a soft washcloth. Rub the skin gently.
- Use a special baby soap or shampoo.
- Apply lotion to the baby's skin after bathing to keep the skin moist.
- Avoid sprinkling powder on newborns and keep them out of direct sunlight.
Apart from applying the methods above, another thing that is no less important in caring for newborn skin is choosing skin care products, such as soap, shampoo, or lotion, that are suitable for the baby's skin condition. If the skin care products are used inappropriately, the baby will be more at risk of skin irritation and basic rashes.
Choose a care product that is specially formulated for baby's skin and reads hypoallergenic . This means that the product has a lower risk of causing an allergic reaction.
You should also choose products that are labeled dermatologically tested. This means that the product has been tested on the skin.
Baby's skin has a slightly lower acidity (pH), which is around 5.5. Therefore, it is recommended that you use a product with a pH that is close to this number. However, if your baby's skin isn't having any problems and isn't dry, it's okay to choose a product with a neutral pH.
You can also choose newborn skin care products that contain natural ingredients. Shea butter , sunflower seed oil, and almond oil are natural ingredients that can keep baby's skin moisturized and healthy.
Besides that, products that contain calendula are also good for baby's skin. Many studies have shown that calendula can increase skin moisture and is effective in treating basic rashes and skin inflammation.
If your baby's skin is still having problems even though you have used care products that are suitable for your newborn's skin condition and have applied the methods above, you should check with a doctor so that the cause can be found and given proper treatment.
Label : Family
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