“Soft as a baby’s bottom!”
It’s an expression we love to use when describing something soft, supple, and smooth, much like the unblemished skin of a cute baby’s tushie.
But not everybody is aware that babies also experience skin problems as early as the first week of life. One day you’re holding a cuddly, soft, and sweet-smelling cherub in your arms, the next day you’re dealing with a seemingly alarming baby rash. What happened to your pristine little angel?
If you’re about to push that panic button, don’t! Most infant rashes, such as neonatal acne, cradle cap, and milia (small white bumps on the nose and face), are harmless. They normally won’t need treatment and will go away on their own.
However, babies may also experience skin conditions that will require treatment and extra care to prevent from happening again. A common infant skin condition is dryness and peeling due to lack of moisture. Compared to adult skin, baby's skin is more sensitive, thinner, and loses moisture faster. The lack of moisture can cause flaky rough patches that, in extreme cases, may crack and lead to infection or bleeding.
That’s why it is very important to keep your baby’s skin moisturized and hydrated. By doing this, you keep dry skin in babies at bay and help the skin keep its softness longer.
Here are simple ways to help keep moisture on baby’s skin:
1. Don’t Bathe Your Baby More Often than Necessary
Since we live in a tropical country, it’s important to bathe your baby every day to keep him fresh, cool, and clean. But do not overdo it. His skin loses moisture when you bathe him, so it’s important to use baby bath products to remedy the lost moisture.
While daily baths are advisable, avoid giving your baby baths that are too long. Keeping him in water for long periods of time makes the skin lose its moisture, making it prone to dryness.
2. Use What's Best for Baby's Sensitive Skin
“Can’t I use hypoallergenic products that I use on my baby?” The answer is a big No! Although the products you use are tagged as “hypoallergenic,” they are not formulated for baby’s skin. These may still be too harsh for baby’s skin, which hasn’t fully developed its protective barrier.
3. Reduce Exposure to Cold Air
While the summer months do get too hot, you should limit your baby’s exposure to airconditioned rooms and cold places. Baby’s skin loses moisture because of the cool air.
4. Use a Humidifier
Along with using moisture-rich products, you can also keep skin from drying by using humidifiers, which keeps moisture in the air.
5. Don’t Bathe Baby in Hot Water
Always check the bath water’s temperature before bathing baby. If water is too hot, it may dry baby’s skin, losing its natural oils and moisture.
Prevent dry skin in babies with these easy tips. And of course, it also helps if you use baby products that promote moisture.
There are plenty of brands that are tagged as gentle and baby-friendly. But are “gentle” and “baby-friendly” the only qualities that we need to look for in choosing what we use on baby?
Baby Dove goes beyond gentle to help moisturize baby’s delicate skin. The pH skin neutral formula helps replenish essential nutrients, which help skin retain its natural moisture.
Remember, baby’s skin won’t always stay soft and smooth. As they say, prevention is better than cure. Go beyond gentle, and #ChooseMoisture with Baby Dove.
Sources: Medical News Today, Medical News Today, WebMD, Dove, Raising Children