Skin Deep – Common Skin Conditions in Children and Babies

A newborn baby’s skin is soft and also very delicate. It would be difficult to find a baby with “completely flawless” in the first weeks to months of life.

For a few weeks after birth, mums hormones will continue to circulate through a babies system. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands. Conditions caused by this over stimulation of maternal hormones can cause symptoms such as infantile acne and cradle cap.

A child’s skin defence system has not fully matured which makes their skin vulnerable to effects such as – irritation, nappy (diaper) rash, infection, temperature and other conditions such as miliaria. Most of these conditions are not harmful and will usually clear as baby grows.

Typical skin conditions found in young babies include:

Infantile Acne

Some baby’s will develop lesions on the face. These are thought to occur as a result of mother’s hormones which, as mentioned above, are still present in a babies blood system. The acne will usually clear up on it’s own. If the acne shows signs of being infected you may need treatment or advice from a doctor.

Cradle Cap

Babies will sometimes develop a build up of greasy white or brown scales on the scalp or forehead. It is not likely to occur after 12 – 18 months of age. It usually appears within days of birth. The condition is not serious and will usually clear up itself. For a natural approach to treatment try massaging the baby’s scalp with an organic marigold (calendula) ointment. This will help with healing and will ease any itching that may occur.

Nappy Rash

As we have learned above, a child’s skin is delicate and as such most babies will develop some degree of nappy rash from birth up to around 2 years of age. Nappy rash, which develops around the butt and genital area is usually caused by a reaction of faeces and urine. It can appear as red blotches in the early stages but can spread into generalised redness.

Miliaria

This condition which is more commonly known as “Sweat rash” or “prickly heat”, is caused due to a hot, humid environment causing a blockage of the sweat glands. The rash will develop around areas prone to sweating such as the folds at the elbows and knees and between the buttocks. It can occur at any age, however babies are more susceptible to miliaria. The rash should disappear in time. Keep your child cool and avoid over dressing during warmer weather. Frequent cool baths will help with itching and irritation while the rash heals.

If your child’s spots or rashes seem inflamed or infected you should take your child to the doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics or antiseptic cream such as lignocaine to be applied directly to the spots or rash. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for assistance and advice on managing your child’s skin irritations.

Common Skin Conditions in Children and Babies

A newborn baby’s skin is soft and also very delicate. It would be difficult to find a baby with “completely flawless” in the first weeks to months of life.

For a few weeks after birth, mums hormones will continue to circulate through a babies system. These hormones stimulate the sebaceous glands. Conditions caused by this over stimulation of maternal hormones can cause symptoms such as infantile acne and cradle cap.

A child’s skin defence system has not fully matured which makes their skin vulnerable to effects such as – irritation, nappy (diaper) rash, infection, temperature and other conditions such as miliaria. Most of these conditions are not harmful and will usually clear as baby grows.

Typical skin conditions found in young babies include:

Infantile Acne

Some baby’s will develop lesions on the face. These are thought to occur as a result of mother’s hormones which, as mentioned above, are still present in a babies blood system. The acne will usually clear up on it’s own. If the acne shows signs of being infected you may need treatment or advice from a doctor.

Cradle Cap

Babies will sometimes develop a build up of greasy white or brown scales on the scalp or forehead. It is not likely to occur after 12 – 18 months of age. It usually appears within days of birth. The condition is not serious and will usually clear up itself. For a natural approach to treatment try massaging the baby’s scalp with an organic marigold (calendula) ointment. This will help with healing and will ease any itching that may occur.

Nappy Rash

As we have learned above, a child’s skin is delicate and as such most babies will develop some degree of nappy rash from birth up to around 2 years of age. Nappy rash, which develops around the butt and genital area is usually caused by a reaction of faeces and urine. It can appear as red blotches in the early stages but can spread into generalised redness.

Miliaria

This condition which is more commonly known as “Sweat rash” or “prickly heat”, is caused due to a hot, humid environment causing a blockage of the sweat glands. The rash will develop around areas prone to sweating such as the folds at the elbows and knees and between the buttocks. It can occur at any age, however babies are more susceptible to miliaria. The rash should disappear in time. Keep your child cool and avoid over dressing during warmer weather. Frequent cool baths will help with itching and irritation while the rash heals.

If your child’s spots or rashes seem inflamed or infected you should take your child to the doctor. Your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics or antiseptic cream such as lignocaine to be applied directly to the spots or rash. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for assistance and advice on managing your child’s skin irritations.

Baby Skin Care – Identifying Baby Skin Conditions

There are a variety of baby skin conditions and rashes out there and the best baby skin care prevention and treatment is to know what they are and what you can do about them.

Baby acne, is acne that happens on babies instead of adults. It is caused by the mother’s hormones coursing through the child’s blood stream. It generally occurs when your baby is two to three months old, and can last up to 4 to 6 weeks or more. Baby acne is normally noticed as red bumps on your child’s skin or face. Treating baby acne is fairly easy; the first baby skin care treatment is to keep the baby’s skin clean, and cool but not cold. Babies need warmth and if it’s too cold or too hot, it can hurt her, also avoid acne medicines and use only a mild soap to wash her with.

Another common problem is birthmarks; they can appear and are generally found around the head. If they are bigger than 1 and a half centimeters and closer to the spine, the bigger the problem they can cause. You need to have your pediatrician check her over thoroughly and if the doctor feels it is necessary, run a few tests. The birthmarks can be removed; however, caution is always advisable.

There are a few varieties of birthmarks and your doctor can help you to determine what type it is and what treatments are necessary.

The most common varieties are Stork bites, angel kisses, salmon patches, vascular stains; then the Café au lait spots, moles, Port-wine stains, or nevus flammeus, and Hemangioma. Knowing what type is half the battle on what needs to be and can be done.

Another very common and very frustrating condition is Cradle Cap; it is basically baby dandruff. Baby dandruff normally comes around when she is about three months old and can last several weeks. The severity of cradle cap can vary from one baby to the next as well as the treatments for it. The milder cases can generally be taken care of with No Tears baby shampoo. With the more extreme cases, many parents turn to olive oil and a soft comb designed just for her.

The most common and absolutely frustrating is diaper rash; it is more of a pain to your little girl than it is to you. Diaper rashes can be caused by a variety of things, especially the diapers themselves. Diaper rashes appear in different ways but if your little girl’s bottom is red and she is extremely irritable, then chances are she has it. There are a variety of natural cures and creams available for you to try. Your doctor can help you to determine the treatment and cure.

Just as there are numerous boys and girls, there are many rashes and skin conditions that can plague them. Your best bet with baby skin care is to be patient, ask plenty of questions and show your baby nothing but love and attention.