Any signs of a newborn’s malaise can seriously puzzle and scare parents. The first weeks of life - this is a serious stress for the baby's body, adapting to new environmental conditions. What to do if a newborn has flaky skin? Is this normal?
Causes of skin irritation in infants
Many pediatricians advise not to worry about peeling. In the first months of a child’s life, this is normal. If the usual care does not help to cope with the problem and the irritation persists, it may be a skin allergy - a reaction to the actions of parents. Do not get involved in products that dry the skin. This is potassium permanganate, which is added to the water when bathing, some special solutions, ointments. Even for the treatment of diaper rash, use the products exclusively on the advice of a doctor and strictly observe their dosage. If your baby has any skin problems, try changing your bathing and washing products and your baby’s bedding.
How to treat skin peeling?
Bathe your baby in soft water, you can add a little decoction of herbs - chamomile or calendula. After the bath, wrap the baby in a long-toweling terry towel. Do not rub or stretch the skin, dry it with gentle soaking movements. If the newborn has flaky skin, regularly lubricate the problem areas with baby cream, ointment with panthenol. You can also use ordinary vegetable oil, but it must first be sterilized by boiling in a glass container in a water bath. Pay attention to the place where peeling appeared. If this is the fastener area for diapers or panties, carefully review the child’s wardrobe and at least temporarily discard clothes with hard elastic bands. The baby may be allergic to synthetic fabrics. In this case, it is worthwhile to carefully ensure that the newborn comes into contact only with natural tissues.
The newborn has flaky skin: what you need to know?
Skin irritation can be a symptom of a food allergy. When breastfeeding, it is important for mom to review the diet. If you are already introducing complementary foods, and peeling appeared after a new product, you should discard it for a while. As a preventive measure, you can use a moisturizer for newborns or a special caring milk.
Do not worry if the child's scalp is very flaky - up to a year this is a normal phenomenon associated with adaptation to the new conditions of the sebaceous glands. There is no need to use any special tools to fix the problem.
In addition, the causes of dry skin in children can be quite "adults" - for example, dry air. This problem is especially pronounced in winter. If the baby's skin is peeling due to dry air, get a humidifier or an ionizer. You can try to solve this problem in a budget way - place water containers in the apartment, hang wet towels on radiators. Do not forget to do wet cleaning at least once a day.