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Keeping Baby Beautiful

By June Tester, M.D., M.P.H.
2009-03-26 11:45:08

You might be surprised or even upset to see blemishes, bumps and rough patches on your baby’s skin, but in most cases, you don’t need to be concerned. Here is what you might find, and what, if anything, you should do about it.

Baby Acne
In the first few days of life, newborns commonly get a rash called erythema toxicum, which looks like red splotches with a yellowish “head” in the middle. These marks will disappear in about a week. Then, at about three or four weeks of age, many babies develop pimply red bumps and rough skin on their faces, which resembles teenage acne. This is actually caused when the maternal hormones (which can cause infant breast enlargement) decline. There is no need for any special washing technique beyond gentle cleansing with water. (Avoid rubbing the skin or using harsh soaps, which could make the acne worse.) You should expect the acne to improve over a few months. And if your baby has acne now, it doesn’t mean that the condition will exist when your child becomes a teenager.

Milia
In their first week of life, about half of all infants develop small, pearly or yellowish bumps on their skin called milia. Th ese bumps are usually on the face (especially around the nose), and are about one to two millimeters in size (roughly the size of the head of a pin). They are pockets of trapped skin material (keratin) that build up in your baby’s pores. You should leave these bumps alone, as they will typically slough off in a few weeks.

Cradle Cap
Cradle cap is a harmless condition that makes some babies look like they have yellow, flaky dandruff . This condition occurs when the scalp produces too much oil, and is not at all caused by insufficient washing. Most cradle cap needs no treatment, and will go away on its own by the time your infant is a year old. But, to reduce the amount of scale, you can rub the scalp with a towel or a soft brush. Alternatively, you can rub baby oil or olive oil into your baby’s scalp, use a soft brush to massage and loosen the scale, and comb out the flakes.

Diaper Rash
Red, irritated skin in the diaper area isn’t fun for anyone, especially your baby. Most diaper rashes are caused when your baby’s skin has been in contact with a wet or soiled diaper for too long. Some babies have particularly sensitive skin, and do better when their bottom is wiped with a cloth and plain water and then allowed to air-dry before a new diaper is put on. Don’t use powder. Instead, at the first sign of irritation, use a thick barrier cream (look for zinc oxide in the ingredient list). Think of the thick coating of cream as if it were a raincoat for your baby’s skin!

Peeling Skin
Some parents are very shocked to find that their healthy newborn is peeling from head to toe, like a snake shedding its skin. Th is is not cause for alarm, and is completely normal. It is most common among babies who are “post date,” or born after their due date.

June Tester, M.D., M.P.H., is a pediatrician and researcher in Oakland, CA.

 

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