A baby’s skin color can vary. Their skin tone when they are born may change as they get older. Some skin colors in babies are normal, while others are caused by medical issues.
When a baby is born, his or her skin color may be red, purple, yellow, or blue. Skin color differences in newborns are not usually a sign of a medical issue. However, various skin colors in babies can be caused by underlying diseases.
Do you ever wonder why your baby’s skin gets dark or changes color as it grows? Here are some probable explanations and reasons.
What can you read in this article?
- When does baby skin color stop changing?
- How to know what skin color your baby will have
- When your baby’s skin color indicates a medical condition
Image source: iStock
Typical skin colours of newborn
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Bluish skin
Blue hands and feet are also common in newborn babies. Because they have an undeveloped circulatory system, kids may have decreased blood flow to their hands and feet.
For a few days after delivery, it is normal for a newborn to exhibit bluish hands and feet. However, if a baby develops blue skin all over their body or around their lips, it could indicate an underlying issue.
If someone sees that a newborn has bluish skin and is having difficulties eating, breathing, or waking up, they should seek immediate medical attention.
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Yellowish skin
Jaundice may be the reason for a baby’s yellowish skin. Jaundice is quite common in newborn babies and normally resolves on its own.
Jaundice in newborns is caused by their liver breaking down old red blood cells. As old blood cells degrade, they release a yellow pigment known as bilirubin. The liver of a baby may need to develop for a few days before it can eliminate bilirubin on its own.
Although moderate jaundice is common in newborns, persistent yellow skin can suggest a more serious condition.
Physiologic jaundice is defined as jaundice that arises within the first few days of a baby’s birth. Jaundice can also be caused by the following medical conditions:
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- blood type mismatches between biological mother and baby
- an underactive thyroid
- a urinary tract infection
- a blockage in the gallbladder and bile ducts
If jaundice persists or worsens 72 hours after birth, or if the newborn appears unwilling to be fed, consult your child pediatrician right away.
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Pale skin
When a baby is born, his or her skin is thin. This indicates that the baby’s blood and vascular structure may be seen through their skin, resulting in a dark red color.
In newborns, very pale skin can be an indication of a variety of illnesses – Anemia, Albinism, and Phenylketonuria are all conditions that can produce remarkable paleness in newborns (PKU).
If a parent discovers a baby with unusually pale skin and is concerned, they should seek medical attention.
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Reddish skin
It is normal for a newborn baby’s skin color to be red. Newborns’ red skin should progressively fade. However, reddish skin on the face could be an indication of polycythemia vera, a rare blood illness.
A caregiver should take a baby to the doctor if they have redness that is followed by symptoms such as difficulty breathing or bleeding gums.
Image from Freepik
When do parents find out what their baby’s actual skin tone is?
According to a 2017 study, newborns’ skin changed substantially as they grew older.
Between the ages of 2 and 20 months, babies’ skin became lighter and less red, according to the researchers. Furthermore, until the age of 20 months, babies’ skin was shown to increase in yellow pigmentation.
However, this study had a limited sample size, and the racial and ethnic backgrounds of the babies in the study are unknown. Different ethnic skin tones may transition differently throughout time, becoming darker or lighter.
There is little study on when a parent will discover their baby’s genuine skin tone. If a parent has questions or concerns regarding their baby’s skin color, they should consult with their doctor.
How to know what skin color your baby will have?
Can a light-skinned mum have a dark-skinned baby and vice versa? Does parents’ skin color have a role in their children’s skin color?
According to Medical News Today, a baby’s skin color is a polygenic trait. It means that the skin color of a child depends on more than one gene. And when the baby inherits skin color genes from both of his biological parents, a mixture of different genes will determine his skin color.
So it is indeed possible that two light-skinned parents can get a dark-skinned baby if dark skin was in their genes.
Changes in baby skin color
First and foremost, we parents must recognize that the color of our baby’s skin cannot be influenced by the things we eat or our diet while pregnant or breastfeeding.
A baby’s skin color, according to science, is determined by the genetics of his or her father and mother at the moment he or she is fertilized or begins to conceive.
When a baby is born, he or she may have a variety of skin tones. When a baby is born, he or she will have dark red to purple skin. When a baby takes their first breath, their skin color usually turns crimson. The red color normally fades after the first day.
Newborns may have yellowish skin. However, yellow skin can be an indication of an underlying disease, especially if it progresses.
A baby’s hands and feet may be blue when he or she is delivered. This blue tinge should disappear during the next few days after birth. Blue skin on other portions of the baby’s body requires a doctor’s visit.
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What causes baby skin color to vary?
To help you better understand why babies’ skin tone changes, here are some of the possible causes.
- When a baby’s body temperature rises, his or her skin turns red.
- Due to the cold, the baby’s skin color may turn bluish pale. Particularly if his hands and feet are visible.
- If the baby cries excessively, he may turn dark or purple. However, if it does not go or returns the baby’s skin color after crying, it is preferable to consult a doctor. Because this could be a symptom of a circulatory or respiratory problem.
- Even if both parents are white, some kids seem darker a few days after birth. This is because they are losing weight or water in their bodies. Or because of a transient disorder affecting the baby’s skin color because of health and environmental concerns.
But there’s nothing to be concerned about. Because the baby’s skin color will shift or return to normal after his or her breastfeeding habit improves. Or when she gets enough milk and nourishment for her body.
Image from Freepik
When does baby skin color stop changing?
Another factor that can determine a baby’s skin color is his or her age at birth.
It’s the same as when a baby is born prematurely. Premature baby skin color is colorless and extremely thin. It can be protected with a layer of lanugo or varnish. It is an oily material that protects the skin of the newborn from amniotic fluid.
Babies born at the right age or who are overdue will only have a small quantity of varnish on their skin.
Their skin likewise has extremely few wrinkles or visible creases. This is in comparison to premature newborns.
However, their skin, like that of premature babies, is still very thin. This explains why the baby’s skin color varies as he or she grows.
Because the illusion of a baby’s white or red complexion is often created by his thin skin and the blood vessels beneath it.
So don’t be surprised if your baby’s reddish color changes or darkens with time. This is typical and is a sign that he is developing normally.
Over the next six months or so, the baby’s natural skin tone will emerge, which is entirely determined by genes and beyond our control. By 20 months of age, a baby skin color should have settled completely.
When should I go to the doctor?
In general, the changes in baby’s skin color should not be cause for concern. If your child gets persistent skin rashes or unusual birthmarks and dark areas on the skin, it’s a good idea to take her to the doctor straight soon to clear up any confusion.
Republished with permission from theAsianparent Singapore
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible to those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.