You’re not the only one that can have dry skin. Your baby can also have dry skin, even if their skin is the softest thing ever. No matter how soft a baby’s skin is, it can get dry at times, just like our skin. You probably were curious why baby skin is so incredibly soft in the first place?
Why does it feel like you’re holding a real life marshmallow, this is because of a component that is present in baby skin which is called vernix caseosa. Vernix acts as a coating on the baby’s skin, making it super soft. It’s that whitish material we see when the baby has just been born. Vernix acts as a shield to protect the baby’s skin and can also provide your baby with postnatal hydration accumulation throughout the baby’s body and keeps the moisture within the baby’s skin, and prevents dryness.
This incredible organic and natural skin moisturizer for your baby maintains the skin, keeping it healthy and moisturized. No matter how amazing this natural moisturizer is, it cannot protect your baby always. Your baby can still have dryness while your baby is growing. At this point, Vernix doesn’t do much. Your baby can also get a number of skin conditions like eczema, rashes or something else. No need to worry too much, though, as we’ll discuss all the possible inquiries you had related to baby skin. Keep in mind if your baby’s skin can get dry at some point in time, you shouldn’t worry as it does not mean it’s gonna be something serious, it can get fixed in no time, and it’s relatively easy.
Is it okay to put lotion on a baby?
Skincare for your baby is just as important as changing their diapers or feeding the right and healthy food. It’s also just as important as your own skincare. When your baby is small and little, their skin sometimes looks like it’s sort of peeling and starts to look very dry and hard. No, your baby is not a reptile in disguise, nor is it becoming a crispy chicken nugget. Your baby’s vernix is simply losing its touch in protecting your baby’s skin. You think about using lotion at this time, and it’s alright to do so but not really recommended.
However, according to various researches, when babies are newborns, they need a little bit of lotion to help their vernix. It’s not really necessary, though, as the vernix makes sure that your baby’s skin is in top notch condition. When the vernix starts to shed and lose its touch, it looks like your baby’s skin is shedding like a snake, at this time, it’s a natural process, so lotion isn’t really necessary, and from certain researches, it’s actually said to not use lotion when your baby’s skin is flaking, it could harm the process, and some unwanted chemicals could get in your baby’s system. A substance called phthalates are found in lotion that can lower the amount of testosterone in male babies when applied at this flaking period. This research is yet to be fully confirmed though. Still, it’s a good idea to not use lotion when your baby is shedding their skin.
When should you put lotion on your baby?
When a newborn baby’s umbilical cord area is still not healed, don’t apply lotion at this time. After the umbilical area has healed enough, it’s alright to apply lotion on your baby. According to various sources like Web MD, it is recommended that even at that point, you should apply only tiny amounts of lotion. The vernix in your baby’s skin takes care of it in the early days. When it starts to flake, then it’s an indication that you’d want to start applying lotion on your baby now after the flaking has stopped. The flaking occurs after some weeks of the baby’s birth. You can use moisturizer or lotion when your baby seems to be having very dry skin after flaking or even sometimes before flaking but not during when the skin is flaking. Olive oil, petroleum jelly or Vitamin cream with vitamin D or A can be used as a lotion and moisturizer. These can also be applied when the skin flaking has finished to help the look of the skin. Consult your baby’s doctor for lotion recommendations just to be sure and to be on the safe side. The lotion also needs to be free of any fragrances and should be mild in nature.
Are lotions important for babies?
According to several sources and researches, it is said that babies don’t really need lotion in the first several weeks. Their skin naturally is incredibly soft, silky and smooth due to the substance called vernix. The vernix takes care of their skin whenever it gets dry. After a baby is a couple of weeks old, the vernix flakes and goes away, this is the time you will have to apply lotion on your baby’s skin. Baby skin usually gets dry because of air exposure and after they’ve taken a bath. It’s best to apply lotion at these times.
Baths
Be careful to the number of times you take your baby to a bath. Only three times a day is alright for your baby to take a bath. You taking a bath daily is good for you definitely but not for your baby. A lot of baths can harm the essential natural oils and other necessary substances present in your baby’s skin that help your baby to keep his or her skin soft and smooth and protect it from a number of irritations and skin conditions. Your baby’s skin is very sensitive. Use lotions and moisturizers to help your baby’s skin from these irritations and eczema.
Avoid long baths as well, especially ones where hot water is used. These long baths not only harm your baby’s skin oils and other substances but also can make your baby’s skin very dry and vulnerable to rashes and itchy, dry skin. To help your baby absorb the lotion quicker and stop the skin from getting dry right after the bath, it’s recommended to apply lotion right after your baby’s bath. The skin will be wet, and the moisture can easily absorb. Tap the skin with a towel carefully instead of rubbing it.
Cold weather
When the weather gets chilly and very cold suddenly, the moisture in baby skins and as well in your skin, deplete significantly a lot too. Whenever you’re going out in the chilly weather with your baby or when your baby has had a bath in this cold weather, remember to apply a lotion that is fragrance free, not irritating and is good enough to protect your baby’s sensitive skin. The cold weather can be really harmful for your skin as well as your baby’s skin.
Dry environment
When the weather is dry, the humidity is also low, and when there’s no humidity in the air, the skin gets dry. When the humidity is low and keeps on significantly lower, the probability of your skin and your baby’s skin getting dry will be higher. A lotion will come in handy in this situation as well. Not only lotions or moisturizers, but you can also keep a humidifier which will maintain the humidity in the environment. This will keep your baby’s skin moisturized and will prevent it from getting dry, irritated, itchy. Keep changing the water in your humidifier and clean it in regularly after each use.
Lotion tips for babies
Following are several advices for using lotions for babies. Lotions like Eucerin or Aquaphor are great as they don’t have a lot of artificial dyes or perfumes, or fragrances in their lotions.
After bath
Baths, as mentioned earlier, are one of the reasons your baby’s skin gets really dry very quick. It is recommended to immediately apply lotions to baby right after the bath to keep the skin moisturized. The moisturizer or lotion should be free of all fragrances and should be smooth and gentle on the skin. Put it on your palm and gently apply it to your baby, then use a towel to tap on your baby’s skin.
Dry areas
Areas such as ankles, hands and elbows usually get drier quick and need to be moisturized to avoid any sort of irritation or rash. Apply lotions free of fragrances to drier areas like these.
Conclusion
In conclusion, only use one product on your baby always, each product will have varying chemicals and substances, and different products will have a negative effects on your baby’s sensitive, smooth skin. Stick to whatever your pediatrician suggests. A baby’s skin is sensitive and fragile and needs attention, just like how everything else of your baby’s needs attention. The product should be fragrance free, and you should start applying to your baby after a few weeks as, at first, vernix takes care of your baby’s skin. When it fades and flakes, it is now the time to apply lotions.
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