Dry skin and other skin problems in babies

The skin is the body's largest organ and acts as a barrier against external influences such as bacteria, chemicals, wear and tear and pressure. The skin of an infant is only one fifth as thick as that of an adult and can also react accordingly.

Rashes of various types are common in children, especially in the first year of life. Most of the time, the rashes go away on their own and it is rarely necessary to seek medical attention. However, there are a number of things you can do to take care of the little skin.

Dry skin, rashes and spots in babies

Dry skin in newborns
A small baby is easily affected by dry skin, even scaly, especially newborns. Therefore, it is good to drip some baby oil into the baby's bath water. The dryness usually disappears after 1-2 weeks, but if the skin is very dry (usually around the wrists and ankles), a fragrance-free emollient cream can be used. Avoid products that can irritate your baby's skin, such as ready-made wipes, perfumed products and fabric softeners.

Red rash
Red rashes that come and go are often heat rashes. These are often localized to where the child has become hot such as the neck, under the chin, etc. After the child cools down, the rash usually disappears.

Hormone patch/ Erythema toxicum
Most babies develop small red raised spots, often with a small yellow-white dot in the middle, sometime during the first month. These are usually called hormone spots. The most common locations are the face, neck and chest, but they can appear anywhere on the baby's body. The spots may come and go, are completely harmless and do not bother the child. They do not require any treatment and disappear by themselves after a few weeks.

Scabs, milia and marks on the skin

Scab
If your baby has dry skin on the scalp, it is most likely to be seborrheic dermatitis, commonly known as scabies or cradle cap. This appears in many babies a few months after birth. It appears as yellowish, slightly greasy scales on the baby's scalp, often also on the eyebrows. They do not bother the baby and are usually easy to treat yourself.

If the child has only a little scab, it usually helps to apply baby oil to the child's scalp before bed and leave it on until the next morning. Then rub the scalp gently with a towel before washing the baby's head with a mild baby shampoo. The treatment may need to be repeated a few nights in a row. If the baby's scabs are difficult to remove, talk to your child's health visitor.

militia
Many newborns have small, hard, white bumps, usually on their nose or cheeks. These bumps are called milia. They do not bother the baby, disappear on their own and do not require treatment.

Stork bed
A stork bite consists of small red vessels in the skin and is usually visible on the child's neck, nose, eyelids or forehead. The marks can be reddish-pink or purplish and tend to become more prominent if the child screams. It is completely harmless and fades on its own as the child's skin thickens.

Mongolian leaks
Mongol spots are seen as a darkening of the skin, often over the lower back or hips. They may be slightly bluish-gray and are more common in children with dark skin. They can sometimes be mistaken for bruises. They are completely harmless and usually fade during childhood.

Strawberry mark
Hemangiomas, or doughnut marks, are not usually present at birth but usually appear when the baby is a few weeks old. A hemangioma is a collection of blood vessels in or under the baby's skin. They can be located anywhere on the body and are completely harmless. The mark is usually raised with a bright red color. If it is deeper, the color is usually more bluish. A strawberry mark can grow during the first year of life. After a few years, the mark usually becomes lighter in the center, which is a sign that it is about to disappear. If your baby develops a donut mark after 6 weeks of age, or if your baby has more than 5 donut marks, contact your childcare center. Even a donut mark at the mouth, eyes, nose or genitalia should be assessed, talk to the BVC.

Diaper rash and flexural eczema

Diaper rash
It is common for the skin under the diaper to become irritated due to the heat and moisture from pee and poop. Usually the irritation is mild and not painful, but it is a good idea to change the diaper more often in this case. If the rash is more severe, the child may react to the diaper change by screaming or crying.

The best thing to do is to let the baby air out the skin of the buttocks. Leave the baby on a dry surface for as long as possible. When you need to wash the baby's bottom during diaper changes, avoid wet wipes and use your hand with lukewarm water instead. If it is difficult to get the skin clean, you can use a little baby oil with water. Let the baby air dry after washing or gently pat the skin dry. To help the skin heal, you can use an ointment containing zinc. If the rash doesn't get better soon, talk to your child's health center.

Atopic dematitis - flexural eczema
Atopy is an umbrella term for several different conditions such as pollen allergy, asthma and eczema. Symptoms can change during different stages of life. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis (when the condition manifests as eczema) are dry, sometimes scaly and often itchy rashes. In young children, the rash usually starts on the cheeks and then spreads to other parts of the body - often the neck, chest, abdomen and the outside of the arms and legs. The rash usually appears during the first year of life. The itching can be very distressing and can affect the baby's sleep at night. To relieve the itching, it is important to prevent the baby's skin from becoming dry. Therefore, it is important to apply emollient creams to the child's skin regularly, even during periods when the eczema is better, to prevent new eczema from developing. Keeping the skin soft and supple helps the skin maintain its natural protection. Often the child needs to be moisturized several times a day and always after bathing or showering. Use plenty of cream and massage it all over the body. It is also good to avoid drying out your child's skin by not bathing them too often, preferably no more than 1-2 times a week, and avoiding soap.

Source: 1177.se

Here you can read about why babies can have tummy aches.