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Baby skin issues can be alarming. Learn about the most common skin conditions so you can know how to treat them. Newborn rashes are one of the most common reasons for visits to the doctor—and they’re especially distressing when they show up on your baby’s beautiful face. But don’t worry, they are usually treatable. Learn what’s chapping those cheeks, so you can cut down on face time with your pediatrician.

Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)

Symptoms and Appearance

Rosy cheeks can be cute, but they also are a sign of eczema or atopic dermatitis, one of the most common skin conditions in babies. Babies with eczema have trouble keeping moisture locked in, so the skin becomes dry, itchy, and cracked—a perfect setup for outside irritants to cause trouble. Baby faces are one of the first areas where eczema shows up. This usually starts in infancy, with 65 percent of patients developing symptoms in the first year of life and 90 percent developing symptoms before age 5.

Common Triggers

Common triggers include wool, heat, or the chemicals in soaps, fragrances, lotions, and detergents. Be on the lookout for signs of seasonal allergies, asthma, or flares with certain food groups.

Treatment Options

Doctors usually treat this with a strict regimen of moisturization (try Aveeno Baby Eczema Therapy Nighttime Balm with Colloidal Oatmeal) and may prescribe steroid creams for serious cases.

Baby Acne

Causes of Baby Acne

It looks like you can thank maternal hormones that cross the placenta for those little reddish facial pimples and pustules on your newborn’s face. You’re not alone in dealing with baby acne—it happens to about 20 percent of babies. Heat, crying, or harsh detergents can actually make things worse.

Signs and Symptoms

Baby acne generally resolves itself within three months. In the interim, soothe the skin with mild, non-soap, pH-neutral cleansers, like Babyganics Infant No-Rinse Micellar Cleanser Fragrance-Free, and use fragrance-free, non-comedogenic lotions to moisturize baby’s skin, like Mustela Baby Soothing Moisturizing Body Lotion.

Home Care Tips

For stubborn situations, a health care provider may use a prescription to clear things up.

Milia

Description and Causes

These tiny, white pearl-like cysts can occur on your baby’s forehead, nose, cheeks, or chin. They are often noticed at birth and happen in up to 40 percent of newborns.

How to Handle Milia

As tempting as it may be, try not to poke, prod, or pop. These are not pimples, and messing with them will lead to unnecessary irritation.

Expected Duration

Although there is no known cause, and no way to avoid them, most milia are history in just a couple of weeks, so just hang tight and all will be right.

Irritant Contact Dermatitis

Identifying Symptoms

As the name suggests, this rash appears when your baby’s skin gets inflamed by an irritant. Red patches and pink bumps, mainly around the mouth, make this easy to identify.

Common Irritants

Common culprits in the newborn age group include drool and messy meals. Don’t confuse this with eczema—irritant contact dermatitis won’t itch.

Preventive Measures

The cheeks, chin, and neck of newborns are susceptible, particularly once they are older and taking solid food. Applying a protective barrier such as Vaseline (Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Baby) on the skin before mealtime can reduce redness.

Impetigo

What is Impetigo?

Impetigo is a highly contagious infection that happens when staph or strep bacteria enter the skin through eczema patches, cuts, or scrapes, or even when your baby scrapes her face with her little nails.

Symptoms and Indicators

Pus-filled blisters and honey-colored, crusted patches, particularly around the nose and mouth, are hallmark signs of this infection.

Treatment Methods

Your doctor will treat impetigo with a topical or oral antibiotic. After 24 hours of treatment, your child will no longer be contagious.

Cradle Cap (Seborrheic Dermatitis)

Recognizing Cradle Cap

Cradle cap appears as crusty, greasy, or scaly patches on your baby’s scalp. It’s a common condition and usually not a cause for concern.

Causes and Triggers

While the exact cause isn’t known, it’s believed to be related to hormones that pass from mother to baby before birth, leading to overproduction of oil in the skin’s oil glands and hair follicles.

Management and Treatment

Gently washing your baby’s scalp with a mild shampoo and softly brushing the scalp can help loosen and remove the scales. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend a medicated shampoo or lotion.

Also read: 10 Important Insights Pediatricians Want Every New Parent To Grasp

Diaper Rash

Symptoms and Causes

Diaper rash appears as red, inflamed skin in your baby’s diaper area. It can be caused by prolonged exposure to a wet or dirty diaper, chafing, and sensitivity to diaper materials.

Preventive Strategies

Change diapers frequently, ensure the diaper area is clean and dry, and apply a barrier cream or ointment with each change. Consider using superabsorbent diapers and avoiding wipes with alcohol or fragrance.

Effective Treatments

If a rash appears, using a zinc oxide cream can help protect the skin and promote healing. If the rash persists or worsens, consult your pediatrician for further advice.

Heat Rash

Signs of Heat Rash

Heat rash, also known as prickly heat, presents as tiny red bumps on your baby’s skin, often in areas that tend to sweat, like the neck, armpits, and diaper area.

Causes and Contributing Factors

Heat rash occurs when sweat ducts become blocked and sweat gets trapped under the skin. Hot, humid weather and overdressing can contribute to this condition.

Cooling and Soothing Techniques

Keep your baby cool by dressing them in lightweight, breathable clothing, and keeping their environment cool. A lukewarm bath can also help soothe the skin.

Dry Skin

Identifying Dry Skin in Babies

Dry skin in babies appears as rough, scaly patches that can be itchy and uncomfortable. It’s common in winter or dry climates.

Causes and Common Areas

Dry air, frequent baths, and harsh soaps can contribute to dry skin. Common areas include the face, arms, and legs.

Hydration and Moisturization Tips

Limit bath time to 10 minutes and use lukewarm water. Apply a fragrance-free, hypoallergenic moisturizer immediately after bathing to lock in moisture.

Birthmarks

Types of Birthmarks

Birthmarks can be vascular (formed by blood vessels) or pigmented (formed by an overgrowth of pigment cells). Common types include stork bites, port-wine stains, and café-au-lait spots.

Causes and Persistence

While most birthmarks are harmless, some may require monitoring. The exact cause is unknown, but they usually form during fetal development.

When to Consult a Doctor

Consult your doctor if a birthmark changes in size, shape, or color, or if it causes any symptoms like bleeding or pain.

Hives

Recognizing Hives

Hives appear as raised, red, itchy welts on the skin.

Also read: Understanding Weird Baby Symptoms: What’s Normal And What’s Not