A newborn baby's skin is very fragile that it is not advisable to apply conventional soaps and lotions that may irritate the skin. Newborn skin care is a necessity. If possible, parents need to avoid chemical-based products that can harm the baby's skin. A newborn baby's skin is sensitive and if ever it gets irritated, rashes, crusting, and bumps can appear out of nowhere. Find out how to take care of your baby's skin below.
Newborn Skin Care
Image via Flickr
The basic rules of neonatal skincare, Püttgen says, are “less is more” and “bland and simple.”
• Less is more. Babies don’t need an elaborate skin care regimen and barely any products. Keep bathing to a minimum to avoid stripping the skin of its protective natural oils. A bath twice or three times a week is sufficient.
• Bland and simple. Baby skin is highly absorbent so it’s critical to use fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic products. Avoid perfumes and dyes, which can seriously irritate newborn skin.
Extra-fragile preemie skin warrants special attention. Premature skin does not hold moisture well, which makes it thinner, drier and breakage-prone, Püttgen says. She recommends applying petroleum jelly daily to lock in moisture and strengthen the skin’s barrier function.
Sun protection is another topic that causes a lot of confusion, Püttgen says. “Parents know that sun protection is critical, yet many are hesitant to use sunscreens,” she says.
Avoiding sun exposure is the best protection, Püttgen says. Use physical barriers like clothing, hats and stroller covers anytime you take baby outside. Sunscreens, though generally harmless, should be avoided when possible because the Food and Drug Administration has not studied their safety in infants under 6 months of age. If sun exposure cannot be avoided, opt for fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic sunscreens that list zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide as active ingredients. Known as physical sunscreens, these two ingredients block UV rays. By contrast, chemical sunscreens with active ingredients like octylcrylene, avobenzone, octinoxate, mexoryl and octisalate, tend to absorb and “disarm” UV rays before they can damage the skin.
Image via Flickr
With the following simple and easy-to-do tips on taking care of your baby's skin, you can make sure that your little tyke will always have soft and blemish-free skin. Lastly, to ensure newborn skin care is met, make sure the skin products you buy for your newborn is safe and hypo-allergenic.
No comments:
Post a Comment