The document discusses common skin conditions that babies may experience such as diaper rash, cradle cap, acne, and eczema. It provides information on identifying the conditions and how to treat issues that can be addressed at home versus those that require medical care. Home treatments include using gentle soaps and moisturizers while avoiding triggers. Most baby skin conditions are harmless and clear up on their own without intervention needed.
1. There's
nothing
quite
like
the
so1,
delicate
skin
of
a
baby.
And
nothing
like
a
cranky
infant
irritated
by
diaper
rash,
cradle
cap,
or
another
skin
condi<on.
While
your
baby
is
perfect,
your
baby's
skin
may
not
be.
Many
babies
are
prone
to
skin
irrita<on
in
the
first
few
months
a1er
birth.
Here's
how
to
spot
and
treat
common
baby
skin
problems.
2. The
good
news
about
your
newborn's
rashes:
Most
cause
no
harm
and
go
away
on
their
own.
While
caring
for
baby's
skin
may
seem
complex,
all
you
really
need
to
know
are
three
simple
things:
Which
condi<ons
can
you
treat
at
home?
Which
need
medical
treatment?
And
how
can
you
prevent
baby
from
experiencing
skin
problems
to
begin
with?
3. The
good
news
about
your
newborn's
rashes:
Most
cause
no
harm
and
go
away
on
their
own.
While
caring
for
baby's
skin
may
seem
complex,
all
you
really
need
to
know
are
three
simple
things:
Which
condi<ons
can
you
treat
at
home?
Which
need
medical
treatment?
And
how
can
you
prevent
baby
from
experiencing
skin
problems
to
begin
with?
4. Baby
acne
gets
its
start
in
the
womb,
where
baby
is
exposed
to
mom's
hormones.
Those
hormones
boost
oil
produc<on,
clogging
baby's
oil
glands.
Pimples
on
baby's
nose
and
cheeks
usually
clear
up
by
themselves
in
a
few
weeks.
So
you
don't
need
to
treat
baby
acne
or
use
lo<on.
5. Lots
of
babies
have
birthmarks
—
more
than
one
in
ten
as
a
maLer
of
fact.
Birthmarks,
areas
of
skin
discolora<on,
are
not
inherited.
They
may
be
there
when
your
baby
is
born,
or
they
might
show
up
a
few
months
later.
Generally
birthmarks
are
nothing
to
worry
about
and
need
no
treatment.
But
if
your
baby's
birthmark
worries
you,
talk
to
your
pediatrician.
6. Eczema
is
an
itchy,
red
rash
that
occurs
in
response
to
a
trigger.
It
is
common
in
children
who
have
a
family
history
of
asthma,
allergies,
or
atopic
derma<<s.
Eczema
may
occur
on
baby's
face
as
a
weepy
rash.
Over
<me
it
becomes
thick,
dry,
and
scaly.
You
may
also
see
eczema
on
the
elbow,
chest,
arms,
or
behind
the
knees.
To
treat
it,
iden<fy
and
avoid
any
triggers.
Use
gentle
soaps
and
detergents
and
apply
moderate
amounts
of
moisturizers.
7. You
probably
shouldn't
worry
if
your
newborn
has
peeling,
dry
skin
–
it
o1en
happens
if
your
baby
is
born
a
liLle
late.
The
underlying
skin
is
perfectly
healthy,
so1,
and
moist.
If
your
infant's
dry
skin
persists,
talk
to
your
baby's
pediatrician.
8. Cradle
cap
can
show
up
during
baby's
first
or
second
month,
and
usually
clears
up
within
the
first
year.
Also
called
seborrheic
derma<<s,
cradle
cap
is
caused
by
excess
oil
and
shows
up
as
a
scaly,
waxy,
red
rash
on
the
scalp,
eyebrows,
eyelids,
the
sides
of
the
nose,
or
behind
the
ears.
Your
pediatrician
will
recommend
the
best
treatment
for
cradle
cap,
which
may
include
a
special
shampoo,
baby
oil,
or
certain
creams
and
lo<ons.
9. Showing
up
as
small
pinkish-‐red
bumps,
prickly
heat
usually
appears
on
the
parts
of
your
baby's
body
that
are
prone
to
swea<ng,
like
the
neck,
diaper
area,
armpits,
and
skin
folds.
A
cool,
dry
environment
and
loose-‐fiWng
clothes
are
all
you
need
to
treat
prickly
heat
rash
—
which
can
even
be
brought
on
in
winter
when
baby
is
over-‐bundled.
Try
dressing
baby
in
layers
that
you
can
remove
when
things
heat
up.
10. Babies
can
inhale
the
very
fine
grains
of
talcum
powder,
which
could
cause
lung
problems.
So
it's
best
to
avoid
using
talcum
powder
on
your
infant.
A
corn
starch-‐based
powder
is
considered
safer.
But
yeast,
which
can
cause
diaper
rash,
feeds
on
corn
starch.
So
to
protect
baby
skin,
you're
beLer
off
skipping
the
powder.
11. As
many
as
one
in
two
newborns
get
the
liLle
white
bumps
known
as
milia.
Appearing
usually
on
the
nose
and
face,
they're
caused
by
skin
flakes
blocking
oil
glands.
Milia
are
some<mes
called
"baby
acne,"
but
baby
acne
is
related
to
hormonal
changes.
In
this
case,
baby
skin
care
is
easy:
As
baby's
glands
open
up
over
the
course
of
a
few
days
or
weeks,
the
bumps
usually
disappear,
and
need
no
treatment.
12. Yeast
infec<ons
o1en
appear
a1er
your
baby
has
had
a
round
of
an<bio<cs,
and
show
up
differently
depending
on
where
they
are
on
your
baby's
skin.
Thrush
appears
on
the
tongue
and
mouth,
and
looks
like
dried
milk,
while
a
yeast
diaper
rash
is
bright
red,
o1en
with
small
red
pimples
at
the
rash
edges.
Talk
to
your
pediatrician:
Thrush
is
treated
with
an
an<-‐yeast
liquid
medicine,
while
an
an<-‐fungal
cream
is
used
for
a
yeast
diaper
rash.
13. Avoiding
skin
rashes
will
keep
your
baby
smiling
and
happy:
Use
a
gentle
detergent
to
wash
everything
that
touches
your
infant's
skin,
from
bedding
and
blankets,
to
towels
and
even
your
own
clothes.
You'll
cut
down
on
the
likelihood
of
baby
developing
irritated
or
itchy
skin.
14. Usually
occurring
two
or
three
days
a1er
birth,
jaundice
is
a
yellow
colora<on
that
affects
baby's
skin
and
eyes.
It’s
common
in
premature
infants.
Caused
by
too
much
bilirubin
(a
breakdown
product
of
red
blood
cells),
the
condi<on
usually
disappears
by
the
<me
baby
is
1
or
2
weeks
old.
Treatment
for
jaundice
may
include
more
frequent
feedings
or,
for
more
severe
cases,
light
therapy
(phototherapy).
15. The
sun
may
feel
great,
but
it
could
be
exposing
your
baby's
skin
to
the
risk
of
damaging
sunburn.
Avoid
baby
skin
problems
by
protec<ng
from
sunburn:
keep
your
infant
out
of
direct
sunlight
during
the
first
six
months
of
life.
Later,
use
a
strong
baby
sunscreen,
hats,
and
umbrellas.
For
mild
infant
sunburn
apply
a
cool
cloth
to
baby's
skin
for
10-‐15
minutes
a
few
<mes
daily.
For
more
severe
sunburn,
call
your
child's
pediatrician.
16. Apply
sunscreen
to
the
areas
of
baby's
skin
that
can't
be
covered
by
clothes.
You
can
also
use
zinc
oxide
on
baby's
nose,
ears,
and
lips.
Cover
the
rest
of
your
baby's
skin
in
clothes
and
a
wide-‐
brimmed
hat.
Sunglasses
protect
children's
eyes
from
harmful
rays.
17. Shopping
for
baby
skin
care
products?
Less
is
more.
Look
for
items
without
dyes,
fragrance,
phthalates
and
parabens
-‐-‐
all
of
which
could
cause
skin
irrita<on.
When
in
doubt,
talk
to
your
pediatrician
to
see
if
a
product
is
appropriate
for
newborn
skin.
18. Remember,
newborn
skin
is
so1
and
sensi<ve.
Keep
baby's
skin
hydrated
by
bathing
in
warm
water
for
only
three
to
five
minutes.
Apply
a
baby
lo<on
or
moisturizer
immediately
a1er
bath
while
skin
is
s<ll
wet,
and
then
pat
dry
instead
of
rubbing.
19. If
rashes
or
other
skin
condi<ons
are
making
your
baby
irritable,
try
baby
massage.
Gently
stroking
and
massaging
baby's
skin
can
not
only
help
boost
relaxa<on,
but
it
may
also
lead
to
beLer
sleep
and
reduce
or
stop
crying,
according
to
a
recent
study.
20. Most
baby
skin
rashes
and
problems
aren't
serious,
but
a
few
may
be
signs
of
infec<on
—
and
need
close
aLen<on.
If
baby's
skin
has
small,
red-‐purplish
dots,
if
there
are
yellow
fluid-‐filled
bumps
(pustules),
or
if
baby
has
a
fever
or
lethargy,
call
your
pediatrician
for
medical
treatment
right
away.