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Updated on September 18, 2024
Created on July 17, 2019
Babies and children generally have sensitive skin which can react to many triggers such as dryness, germs, and irritants. Although a newborn's skin may be flawless, it is also sensitive and prone to skin disorders like eczema, dermatitis, rashes, and baby acne. According to Dr. Koh, the skin is the largest organ in the body, and its functions are highly crucial to the health of other organ systems. The skin is a protective barrier that prevents excessive body fluid and mineral loss, protects against infections, and stops the absorption of harmful chemicals. It also helps in controlling body heat. A variety of things, including heat, cold, fungus, germs, drooling, allergies, or continuous contact with wet nappies, can lead to skin issues in babies. Fortunately, the majority of skin disorders in infants are transient and resolve on their own over time.
Heat rash, often known as prickly heat or miliaria, affects babies because their underdeveloped sweat glands are prone to obstruction. In hot, humid regions like Singapore, it is extremely common. Sweat retained beneath the skin causes inflammation and rashes instead of dissipating. Symptoms include small, red to clear, pinpointed bumps, usually over covered sites such as the back and bottom. Causes include excessive perspiration due to hot weather, dressing your baby too warmly, using fabrics that don’t allow sweat to evaporate, a high fever, and heavy creams that block sweat ducts. Management involves dressing your baby in light clothing, giving cool baths, avoiding swaddling, and keeping the room cool with air-conditioning and fans.
Nappy rash affects 35% of infants during the first year of life, peaking between 9 and 12 months. Symptoms include a red, scaly rash over areas of the skin in contact with nappies. Causes include prolonged contact with urine and stools, excessive moisture, friction from fabric or adhesive tapes, and secondary infection from bacteria or fungus. Management involves changing nappies frequently, cleansing the bottom area, applying barrier cream, and using medicated creams or oral medications in severe cases.
Cradle cap, or seborrheic dermatitis, typically appears in the first few weeks of birth and can recur for up to 4-6 months. It is caused by an overproduction of oil in the glands and hair follicles, possibly due to maternal hormones. Symptoms include scaly, pink to red patches on the scalp, sometimes spreading to the neck, armpits, and groin. Management involves shampooing your baby daily with a tear-free and fragrance-free foam shampoo, using micellar water between baths, protecting your baby from harsh weather, applying baby oil, and using cradle cap cream. In severe cases, a mild topical steroid cream can be applied.
Atopic eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is the most common skin condition affecting babies. Symptoms include patches of red, itchy, rough, and dry skin, usually on the cheeks and joints of the arms and legs but can appear anywhere on the body. Causes are often genetic and include environmental factors like high temperatures and allergens such as soaps and detergents. Management involves bathing your baby daily with cool or slightly warm water, patting the skin dry, applying moisturiser daily, trying wet-wrapping therapy, and using antibiotics in case of infection. There is no cure for eczema, but it can be controlled by minimising triggers, frequent use of moisturisers, and intermittent use of topical steroids or calcineurin inhibitors.
If adults usually like to enjoy a warm, relaxing bath after a long day, it is not the best thing for the skin – especially for children with eczema-prone skin. Indeed, a warm bath will contribute to reducing the oily layer essential for the defence of the skin barrier. Is this a reason to completely avoid baths? Not necessarily, especially if your child loves playing in the bath. You could let him have two or three baths per week. The only precaution required is to let him have fun and play for only 10 minutes in water between 35° and 37°C. Two or three capfuls of oil are sufficient, and there are a lot of benefits: in addition to compensating for the drying effects of cleansing, the oil will help replenish the body and soothe itchy sensations instantly. It is also practical, with no need to rinse!
The rest of the time, it’s better to pamper your baby with five-minute showers at a maximum temperature of 35°C. To avoid harmful factors on his skin, choose a soap-free product or a cleansing gel with the same physiological pH as the skin. Even better, try a baby cleansing cream for eczema-prone skin to give him great comfort. Perfectly suited to the body or face, it will completely clean your baby while protecting him.
Consider a baby-child cleansing cream for eczema-prone skin:
Dry by dabbing with a towel, not rubbing.
Cut your nails and remove jewellery before washing your baby to avoid scratching.
Dress your baby in light clothing in the summer and avoid thick swaddling. Use gentle cleansers or gel or oil without fragrance. Bathe your baby in water between 36 and 37 degrees Celsius for only 5 to 10 minutes. Apply a body cream after a bath to protect and help in the maturation of the skin barrier. With the right treatment, minor skin disorders like heat rash and nappy rash often go away on their own. In severe cases, topical steroid creams and prescription drugs may be necessary.
The barrier function of your baby’s skin is immature and more porous than that of adults, requiring more protection from external influences to preserve its cell capital. This unique cell capital allows the skin to regenerate throughout life and is particularly vulnerable during the first 2 years of life.
