Your baby’s skin is still developing its protective barrier so it is very prone to having skin conditions. It is important to be able to recognise exactly what skin condition your baby is suffering from so you can treat your little one and soothe his skin.
Skin Rashes
What?
There are many different forms of skin rashes your baby can develop. A common skin rash can appear as tiny, red, itchy pimples. Intertrigo is a red, rash found in baby’s skin folds.
Where?
A common skin rash is found all over the body, particularly the arms, chest and legs. Intertrigo is a red rash only found in your baby’s skin folds, (elbows, knees, neck).
Why?
An Intertrigo rash can be caused by excess moisture collecting in your baby’s skin folds. The reduced air and increased friction in these areas cause the skin to become inflamed. A rash all over the body could be caused by your baby’s sensitive skin having a reaction. The soap or detergent you are using could be too harsh for your baby’s delicate skin causing a rash.
How?
To help treat skin rashes, wash the inside of your baby’s skin creases with water. Pat dry and apply a zinc oxide cream or petroleum jelly to protect and soothe the skin. Our Calamine Lotion contains zinc oxide cream to help soothe the symptoms of a skin rash and our different ranges of petroleum Jelly products hydrate and calm redness and irritation.
To learn more about this condition, try our article on ‘Skin Rashes’.
Prickly Heat Rash
What?
A prickly heat rash appears as small pinkish-red pimples on your baby’s skin.
Where?
It can occur mainly on your baby’s bottom due to diapers prolonged diaper use or it being too tight. Prickly heat can also occur on the neck, face or back.
Why?
Baby’s skin can get hot very easily causing them to sweat, which encourages this rash to appear. Also, lots of layers and tight clothes can make your baby hot, flaring up prickly heat on theskin.
How?
Put your baby into a cooler environment and if they have multiple layers of clothing on, take some off. Our Prickly Heat Powder is formulated to relax the redness of this rash and soothe itchiness.
Cradle Cap
What?
Cradle cap is a rash that appears on the scalp. Baby’s under 6 months old are most prone to cradle cap.
Where?
It can look a lot like dandruff or thick, yellow, crusty scales on the scalp. It looks worse than it is, your baby shouldn’t be bothered by cradle cap.
Why?
It is a mystery why cradle cap occurs but some doctors believe it is due to excess oil on your baby’s scalp which then dries out leaving behind the scaly flakes.
How?
To get rid of the cradle cap on your baby’s scalp, apply baby oil to loosen the scales and then gently brush out. Our range of mild baby oils help remove cradle cap flakes and leave the skin underneath feeling soft and moisturised.
Eczema
What?
Eczema is an itchy rash that appears anywhere on your baby’s body. It can usually flare up when your baby is 3 or 4 months.
Where?
It appears as dry, patchy areas of skin that are extremely itchy and in some cases sore. The skin becomes red and crusts over becoming dry.
Why?
There are many things that can cause eczema to flare up. Sometimes rough clothing that’s been washed with a harsh detergent can cause eczema. You have to look out for what specific trigger causes eczema on your baby’s skin.
How?
Wash the skin with a gentle soap cleanser, pat dry to retain moisture and applya baby lotion or cream onto the affected areas. Our Soft and Smooth range is designed with Almond Oils to deeply moisturise and treat dry skin conditions like eczema.
Baby Acne
What?
It looks exactly like teenage acne, it appears as white or red pimples on your baby’s skin.
Where?
Baby acne is prone to the cheeks, forehead and chin. In more severe cases it can be found on your baby’s back.
Why?
There is no clear answer as to what causes baby acne. Some scientists believe it is because of the hormones released from the mother during birth but this is not proven. The pimples can flare up and look worse when your baby is hot.
How?
Wash your baby’s face with a mild soap every day, but don’t scrub as this can make it worse. It should clear up in a few weeks, if your baby still has acne after 3 months contact your doctor. Our Baby Milk Bath products are a mild cleansing formula to relieve your baby’s skin of the symptoms of baby acne, and they’re mild on eyes!
