You tend to think that a baby’s skin is always smooth and flawless; however, babies do get rashes and skin allergies which make the skin red, itchy, angry and blotchy. Here’s a list of the commonly seen skin allergies / rashes in babies and how to manage them effectively.
Common skin allergies in babies are:
- Diaper rash: The baby’s bottom and the surrounding area turns bright red.The baby becomes very cranky and grumpy without an apparent reason. This occurs due to a reaction because of prolonged contact with feces or urine.
- Milia: A host of babies are born with milia which appear as very small white bumps usually on the cheeks, nose, and chin of your baby’s face.
- Baby acne: Baby acne is seen occasionally too; this develops during the first month of life. It appears on the cheeks and forehead and occurs due to maternal hormones during pregnancy.
- Eczema: The baby’s skin becomes dry, scaly and itchy. It may ooze and crust as well.
- Cradle cap: Is characterized by thick, yellow, greasy patches on the scalp.The condition is frequently seen in newborns and may clear up in about 6 months.
- Heat rash: Is seen as tiny red dots all over the skin. It is common in hot and humid weather and as a consequence to over dressing.
A host of reasons could trigger a skin allergy in babies – infections, poor nutrition, heat, friction and genetics.
Home Remedies For Skin Allergies In Babies
- Diaper rash: Avoid synthetic diapers for your baby unless absolutely necessary; use cloth diapers instead. Change his diapers frequently and let him be without diapers for long intervals of time. Apply a diaper rash cream and avoid rubbing the bottom.
- Milia: Most cases of milia are known to fade away on their own in about 2 to 3 weeks. In the meantime, you can wash your baby’s face once a day with water and a very gentle soap.
- Baby acne: Is also known to disappear by itself in a couple of week or months; given that it develops due to exposure to maternal hormones. In the intervening period wash your baby’s face once or twice a day with a very mild soap. In case it does not reduce in 2 months, you may need to start an aggressive treatment regimen.
- Eczema: Eczema may disappear in a couple of months or may progress in to a skin disorder. Confer with your health care provider / pediatrician about how best you can manage the skin ailment. Make sure that you avoid all things that irritate the bay’s skin. After a bath, dry the skin with very gentle pats and moisturize the skin immediately. Lubrication is a must to prevent exacerbations.
- Cradle cap: Wash the scalp very gently with a mild shampoo. Loosen the scales with a soft bristled brush. For stubborn scales use olive oil or avocado oil.
- Heat rash: By and large, heat rash vanishes on its own. Do not over dress the baby and keep him cool and comfortable. Make him wear cool and lightweight clothes; avoid synthetic fabrics. Give him cool baths.