Dealing with Common Baby Skin Conditions

There's nothing quite like the soft, delicate skin of a baby. And nothing like a cranky infant irritated by diaper rash, cradle cap, or another skin condition. Your baby is perfect, but your baby's skin may not be. Many babies are prone to skin irritation in the first few months after birth. Here's how to spot and manage common baby skin conditions.

Nappy Rash

If your baby has red skin around the nappy area, you're dealing with nappy rash. Most such rashes occur because of skin irritation ue to diapers that are too tight; wet diapers left on for too long; or a particular brand of detergent, diapers, or baby wipes. Avoid it by keeping the diaper area uncovered as long as possible, changing your baby's diaper as soon as it's wet, wiping the area with a warm cloth, and applying zinc oxide cream.

Pimples and Whiteheads

Baby ‘acne’ is not really acne, like the ones teenagers get. Pimples on baby's nose and cheeks usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks. So you don't need to treat baby acne or use lotion.

Birthmarks

More than one in ten babies have birthmarks, which are small areas of skin that are discoloured. They may be there when your baby is born, or they might show up a few months later. Generally, birthmarks are nothing to worry about and need no treatment. But if your baby's birthmarks worry you, consult your paediatrician.

Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema

Eczema is an itchy, red, dry rash thatis commonly seen in children who have a family history of asthma, allergies or atopic dermatitis. Eczema may occur on the baby's face as an oozy rash. Over time, it becomes thick, dry and scaly. You may also see eczema on the elbow, chest, arms, or behind the knees. To treat it, identify and avoid any triggering factors. Give your baby lukewarm baths twice a day (for less than 15 minutes), use gentle fragrance-free soaps and detergents, and apply adequate amounts of moisturizer. More severe eczema may require prescription medicine.

Dry Skin

You probably shouldn't worry if your new-born has peeling, dry skin — it often happens if your baby is born a little late. The underlying skin is perfectly healthy, soft and moist. If your infant's dry skin persists, talk to your baby's paediatrician.

Cradle Cap

Excess oil causes cradle cap that is seen during baby's first or second month, and usually clears up within the first year. Also called seborrhoeic dermatitis, cradle cap shows up as a scaly, waxy, red rash on the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, the sides of the nose, or behind the ears. Your paediatrician will recommend a special shampoo, baby oil, or certain creams and lotions as treatment.

Prickly Heat

Prickly heat usually appears as small pinkish-red bumps on the parts of your baby's body that are prone to sweating, such as the neck, diaper area, armpits and skin folds, thus causing irritated skin. A cool, dry environment and loose-fitting clothes are enough to treat prickly heat rash. These rashescan occur even in winter when your baby is over-bundled and not necessarily only during summers. Try dressing your baby in layers that you can remove when things heat up.

White Bumps (Milia)

About one in two new-borns get the little white bumps known as milia. They usually appear on the nose and face, and are caused by skin flakes blocking the oil glands. Milia are sometimes called ‘baby acne’, but baby acne is related to hormonal changes. These bumps usually disappear, and need no treatment, as the baby's glands open up over the course of a few days or weeks.

Yeast Infections

Yeast infections often appear after your baby has had a round of antibiotics, and show up differently, depending on where they are on your baby's skin. Yeast can cause thrush on the tongue and mouth that looks like dried milk. The baby can also get a yeast nappy rash that is bright red, and often with small red pimples at the rash edges. Thrush is generally treated with an anti-yeast liquid medicine, while an anti-fungal cream is used for a yeast nappy rash.

Jaundice

Jaundice, commonly seen in premature infants, is a yellow colouration that affects the baby's skin and eyes and usually occurs two or three days after birth. The condition is due to excessive bilirubin (a breakdown product of red blood cells) and usually disappears by the time the baby is one or two weeks old. Treatment for jaundice may include more frequent feedings or, in more severe cases, light therapy (phototherapy). If your baby looks yellow, speak to the paediatrician.

When to Call the Paediatrician

Most baby skin rashes and problems aren't serious, but a few may be signs of an infection — and need close attention. If the baby's skin has small, red-purplish dots, if there are yellow fluid-filled bumps (pustules), or if the baby has a fever or tiredness, consult your paediatrician for medical treatment right away.