Infant dry skin may not be a major problem but still you should get rid of the problem with needful measures and provide the necessary comfort to your little one. This article helps you to tackle the problem of dryness of the skin in infants. Read on to know more…
We as adults love to believe that small babies have soft and smooth skin and do not expect it to be dry and rough. Though the fact remains that infant dry skin is as common as it is in adults. Rather, their skin dries up more easily because it is far more delicate than the skin of adults or even older children. Some babies are born with dry skin.
Others develop dry skin because of a number of external factors. Exposure to cold and dry weather conditions, hot summer, indoor heating, air conditioning, saline water and chlorinated pool water are few such common causes that can give dry skin to small babies. These kinds of environmental factors can affect their skin mainly because their immune system is not strong enough that can withstand all these irritants. Dry skin on the face, hands and feet are the most common.
Infant Dry Skin Care
You can get rid of dry, rough skin in infants with the help of a proper skin care regime. Here are a few helpful tips that can help you in this regard:
Tip #1: The duration of your baby’s bath time should be short. If they are soaked in water for a long time, then the natural skin oil and moisture which keeps the skin soft is stripped off and your baby’s skin dries up. Just a 10 minute bath is enough for the baby.
Tip #2: There is no need to bathe your baby every day. That does not mean that you stop giving a bath to your baby. Bathing is important as it cleans up dirt from the skin’s surface. However, you should bathe them only 3-4 times in a week and not more than that.
Tip #3: Many new parents make the mistake of bathing their baby in hot water to give them extra comfort. Let me tell you that hot water is bad for the baby’s skin and contributes toward dry skin. So, make sure you use warm water to bathe the baby.
Tip #4: You have to be extra careful while selecting the right kind of soap. Make sure it is a mild, unscented soap with a high moisturizing content which is formulated specifically for infant skin. In the meantime you can use a soap-free, fragrance-free cleanser for dry skin on the face.
Tip #5: Moisturizing is an integral part of dry skin treatment. A thick, fragrance free moisturizer should be used for this purpose. You should apply moisturizer soon after bathing your baby when the skin is still moist. This will seal up the moisture droplets into the skin pores. In the later part of the day, whenever you notice the skin to be dry, apply a moisturizer generously. Some parents prefer using natural oils like olive oil or grape seed oil as they are excellent moisturizers but does not contain any chemicals.
Tip #6: Keep your baby hydrated from within which in turn will hydrate their skin. Feed them breast milk or formula after frequent intervals of time as it is the only source of water for them to quench their thirst. Those infants who are slightly older and can drink water should be given water to drink from time to time.
Tip #7: Do not expose your baby to chlorinated water of swimming pools or sea water. This is because the chlorine or the sea salts can badly dry up their skin. If infant skin comes in contact with sea water or pool water, then do not allow it to settle on the skin for long. Rinse off the skin thoroughly with plain water as soon as possible to prevent any further damage.
Tip #8: Provide protection to the baby skin from harsh weather conditions. In winter, cover up your baby’s hands and feet with socks and mittens as these areas dry up faster. In summer, do not take your baby out in the sun as it can cause sunburns.
Tip #9: Using a humidifier inside the baby’s room is an excellent solution for dry skin problem in infants. It will keep the indoor air moist and thus the baby’s skin will remain hydrated.
You can successfully control dry skin if you follow the guidelines provided in this article. However, if you notice red, dry skin patches on the face or any other part of their body, then you must talk to your pediatrician once. It could be a sign of baby eczema or any other skin disorder that needs medical intervention.
