There's  nothing  quite   like   the   so1,  delicate   skin  of  a  baby.  And   nothing   like   a   cranky   infant   irritated   by   diaper   rash,  cradle   cap,   or   another   skin   condi<on.   While   your   baby   is  perfect,   your   baby's   skin   may   not   be.   Many   babies   are  prone   to   skin   irrita<on   in   the  first   few  months   a1er   birth.  Here's  how  to  spot  and  treat  common  baby  skin  problems.  

 

The  good  news  about  your  newborn's  rashes:  Most  cause  no  harm  and  go  away  on  their  own.  While  caring   for  baby's   skin  may  seem  complex,  all   you   really  need   to  know  are   three  simple  things:  Which  condi<ons  can  you  treat  at  home?  Which  need  medical  treatment?  And  how  can  you  prevent  baby  from  experiencing  skin  problems  to  begin  with?  

The  good  news  about  your  newborn's  rashes:  Most  cause  no  harm  and  go  away  on  their  own.  While  caring   for  baby's   skin  may  seem  complex,  all   you   really  need   to  know  are   three  simple  things:  Which  condi<ons  can  you  treat  at  home?  Which  need  medical  treatment?  And  how  can  you  prevent  baby  from  experiencing  skin  problems  to  begin  with?  

Baby   acne   gets   its   start   in   the   womb,   where   baby   is   exposed   to   mom's   hormones.   Those  hormones  boost  oil  produc<on,  clogging  baby's  oil  glands.  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  lo<on.  

Lots  of  babies  have  birthmarks  —  more  than  one  in  ten  as  a  maLer  of  fact.  Birthmarks,  areas  of  skin  discolora<on,  are  not  inherited.  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  birthmark  worries  you,  talk  to  your  pediatrician.  

Eczema  is  an  itchy,  red  rash  that  occurs  in  response  to  a  trigger.  It   is  common  in  children  who  have  a  family  history  of  asthma,  allergies,  or  atopic  derma<<s.  Eczema  may  occur  on  baby's  face  as  a  weepy  rash.  Over  <me   it  becomes  thick,  dry,  and  scaly.  You  may  also  see  eczema  on  the  elbow,  chest,  arms,  or  behind  the  knees.  To  treat  it,  iden<fy  and  avoid  any  triggers.  Use  gentle  soaps  and  detergents  and  apply  moderate  amounts  of  moisturizers.  

You  probably  shouldn't  worry   if  your  newborn  has  peeling,  dry  skin  –   it  o1en  happens   if  your  baby  is  born  a  liLle  late.  The  underlying  skin  is  perfectly  healthy,  so1,  and  moist.  If  your  infant's  dry  skin  persists,  talk  to  your  baby's  pediatrician.  

Cradle  cap  can  show  up  during  baby's  first  or   second  month,  and  usually  clears  up  within   the  first  year.  Also  called  seborrheic  derma<<s,  cradle  cap  is  caused  by  excess  oil  and  shows  up  as  a  scaly,  waxy,  red  rash  on  the  scalp,  eyebrows,  eyelids,  the  sides  of  the  nose,  or  behind  the  ears.  Your  pediatrician  will  recommend  the  best  treatment  for  cradle  cap,  which  may  include  a  special  shampoo,  baby  oil,  or  certain  creams  and  lo<ons.  

Showing  up  as  small  pinkish-­‐red  bumps,  prickly  heat  usually  appears  on  the  parts  of  your  baby's  body  that  are  prone  to  swea<ng,  like  the  neck,  diaper  area,  armpits,  and  skin  folds.  A  cool,  dry  environment  and   loose-­‐fiWng  clothes  are  all   you  need   to   treat  prickly  heat   rash  —  which  can  even  be  brought  on  in  winter  when  baby  is  over-­‐bundled.  Try  dressing  baby  in  layers  that  you  can  remove  when  things  heat  up.  

Babies  can  inhale  the  very  fine  grains  of  talcum  powder,  which  could  cause  lung  problems.  So  it's  best  to  avoid  using  talcum  powder  on  your  infant.  A  corn  starch-­‐based  powder  is  considered  safer.  But  yeast,  which  can  cause  diaper  rash,  feeds  on  corn  starch.  So  to  protect  baby  skin,  you're  beLer  off  skipping  the  powder.  

As  many  as  one  in  two  newborns  get  the  liLle  white  bumps  known  as  milia.  Appearing  usually  on   the   nose   and   face,   they're   caused   by   skin   flakes   blocking   oil   glands.  Milia   are   some<mes  called  "baby  acne,"  but  baby  acne  is  related  to  hormonal  changes.  In  this  case,  baby  skin  care  is  easy:   As   baby's   glands   open   up   over   the   course   of   a   few   days   or   weeks,   the   bumps   usually  disappear,  and  need  no  treatment.  

Yeast   infec<ons   o1en   appear   a1er   your   baby   has   had   a   round   of   an<bio<cs,   and   show   up  differently  depending  on  where  they  are  on  your  baby's  skin.  Thrush  appears  on  the  tongue  and  mouth,  and   looks   like  dried  milk,  while  a  yeast  diaper   rash   is  bright   red,  o1en  with   small   red  pimples  at  the  rash  edges.  Talk  to  your  pediatrician:  Thrush  is  treated  with  an  an<-­‐yeast  liquid  medicine,  while  an  an<-­‐fungal  cream  is  used  for  a  yeast  diaper  rash.  

Avoiding   skin   rashes  will   keep   your   baby   smiling   and   happy:  Use   a   gentle   detergent   to  wash  everything  that  touches  your  infant's  skin,  from  bedding  and  blankets,  to  towels  and  even  your  own  clothes.  You'll  cut  down  on  the  likelihood  of  baby  developing  irritated  or  itchy  skin.  

Usually  occurring  two  or  three  days  a1er  birth,  jaundice  is  a  yellow  colora<on  that  affects  baby's  skin  and  eyes.   It’s   common   in  premature   infants.  Caused  by   too  much  bilirubin   (a  breakdown  product  of   red  blood  cells),   the  condi<on  usually  disappears  by   the  <me  baby   is  1  or  2  weeks  old.  Treatment  for  jaundice  may  include  more  frequent  feedings  or,  for  more  severe  cases,  light  therapy  (phototherapy).  

The   sun   may   feel   great,   but   it   could   be   exposing   your   baby's   skin   to   the   risk   of   damaging  sunburn.  Avoid  baby  skin  problems  by  protec<ng  from  sunburn:  keep  your   infant  out  of  direct  sunlight   during   the   first   six   months   of   life.   Later,   use   a   strong   baby   sunscreen,   hats,   and  umbrellas.   For  mild   infant   sunburn   apply   a   cool   cloth   to   baby's   skin   for   10-­‐15  minutes   a   few  <mes  daily.  For  more  severe  sunburn,  call  your  child's  pediatrician.  

Apply  sunscreen  to  the  areas  of  baby's  skin  that  can't  be  covered  by  clothes.  You  can  also  use  zinc  oxide  on  baby's  nose,  ears,  and  lips.  Cover  the  rest  of  your  baby's  skin  in  clothes  and  a  wide-­‐brimmed  hat.  Sunglasses  protect  children's  eyes  from  harmful  rays.  

Shopping   for   baby   skin   care   products?   Less   is  more.   Look   for   items  without   dyes,   fragrance,  phthalates  and  parabens  -­‐-­‐  all  of  which  could  cause  skin  irrita<on.  When  in  doubt,  talk  to  your  pediatrician  to  see  if  a  product  is  appropriate  for  newborn  skin.  

Remember,  newborn  skin   is   so1  and  sensi<ve.  Keep  baby's   skin  hydrated  by  bathing   in  warm  water  for  only  three  to  five  minutes.  Apply  a  baby  lo<on  or  moisturizer  immediately  a1er  bath  while  skin  is  s<ll  wet,  and  then  pat  dry  instead  of  rubbing.  

If   rashes   or   other   skin   condi<ons   are   making   your   baby   irritable,   try   baby   massage.   Gently  stroking  and  massaging  baby's  skin  can  not  only  help  boost  relaxa<on,  but   it  may  also   lead  to  beLer  sleep  and  reduce  or  stop  crying,  according  to  a  recent  study.  

Most  baby  skin  rashes  and  problems  aren't  serious,  but  a  few  may  be  signs  of  infec<on  —  and  need  close  aLen<on.   If  baby's   skin  has   small,   red-­‐purplish  dots,   if   there  are  yellow  fluid-­‐filled  bumps  (pustules),  or  if  baby  has  a  fever  or  lethargy,  call  your  pediatrician  for  medical  treatment  right  away.