Dry skin in a newborn: causes, treatment, prevention

Does it often happen that a baby's skin peels?

Let's put it this way: if you find a baby whose skin has never peeled off in the first year of life, you will surprise not only us, but, perhaps, all pediatricians in the world. In most cases, peeling is a completely natural process that is associated with a sharp change in environmental conditions. Sometimes the baby’s skin even peels off; especially problem areas for a newborn are the feet, hands, and head.

Just think about it: over the previous nine months, the child has never encountered a situation where the temperature around him differs from his own. His skin was constantly moisturized and never came into contact with air. Finally, she did not know sunlight and was not exposed to ultraviolet radiation for a second. Now you can imagine the mess your beloved baby got into when he decided to be born

Typically, a baby's skin will peel because it needs time to adapt to life outside the womb. But there are other factors that lead to this problem.

Besides this reason, why else does a newborn’s skin peel?

The skin of a baby is very delicate and thin. With the help of peeling, it can indicate a variety of problems - from uncomfortable external conditions that are easy to eliminate, to serious diseases that require competent treatment. We will tell you about the most common problems, but if you have any doubts, we recommend that you consult a doctor.

• Diapers

  If ordinary clothing should simply not cause skin problems, diapers must also ensure that these problems do not arise from contact with secretions. Buy only high-quality diapers for newborns and change them at least every 3-4 hours.

  Do not forget that even the best diaper will not be able to ensure the absence of flaking and redness if hygiene rules are not followed. When changing a diaper, thoroughly dry the baby's skin, lubricate the folds and let the baby's body breathe for a few minutes.

• Dry air

  It is not easy for a baby’s skin to get used to the air, so it is necessary to maintain high humidity in the children’s room - about 50–70%. Buy a hygrometer (a device that measures air humidity) or a weather station with this function. If the device readings are constantly below the recommended level, install a humidifier in the child's room. You can also use traditional methods - wet towels on the radiator, basins of water near the crib, frequent wet cleaning. But with a special device, of course, it is much more convenient: you only need to periodically add water to it, the humidifier will do the rest itself.

  Dry air also dries out the mucous membranes of the nose, which can cause breathing and sleep disturbances.

  Our expert Polina Vasilyeva dermatologist

  Children's skin contains a large amount of moisture, many times more than that of an adult, but due to a number of physiological characteristics it loses water very easily. Drying out is fraught with the development of various dermatological problems. The baby's skin begins to peel off and becomes very sensitive to various external factors - high and low temperatures, dust, mechanical damage, sunlight and others.

• Hygiene products

  Some parents take their baby's hygiene very seriously. They buy various gels, shampoos, children's bubble baths and many other bathing products. All later, when the child grows up! At a tender age, these products do not help hygiene, but on the contrary, they can destroy the already fragile natural protection of the skin.

  The baby should be bathed in regular tap water. Use shampoo and baby soap no more than once a week, and avoid all other products altogether. Do not add potassium permanganate to the bath - it dries it out and only aggravates the peeling problem.

  Our expert Polina Vasilyeva dermatologist

  The child needs to select products specially designed for children’s skin with a good composition (without parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate, fragrances, etc.).

• Improper care

  The main task of caring for a child's skin is to ensure its hydration. For this, only two products are used - baby cream and baby oil; nothing else should be used. Don’t forget to thoroughly lubricate all the folds on the baby’s body, paying special attention to areas of peeling. And, of course, buy products only from reliable manufacturers and only in reputable stores.

  It’s not common, but there are situations when some children’s cosmetics are not suitable for the child. When treating the baby’s skin, parents notice that the problems do not go away or even get worse. In such cases, it is recommended to change the product; in particular, you can try natural “edible” oils - olive, coconut, sesame and others.

  Read also:  Line for bathing newborns. The healing and beneficial properties of the string for the body and contraindications

  Our expert Polina Vasilyeva dermatologist

  To moisturize the skin, it is important to ensure that the baby consumes a sufficient amount of fluid, especially if the body is actively losing it. For example, if a child experiences an intestinal disorder accompanied by vomiting, or has excessive sweating.

• Wind, cold, sunlight

  Does it ever happen that your face becomes chapped? Have you ever been sunburned? How does your skin feel after a long walk in the cold? Now imagine how all this affects the baby’s skin, which is several times thinner!

  To prevent peeling in a newborn, protect exposed parts of his body from wind and direct sunlight. Try not to walk with him in open, windy spaces, choose a shady side of the street, use the stroller hood to protect the baby's skin. Before you start getting your baby ready for a walk in winter, lubricate his face with oil or a special cream. On sunny days, it is recommended to use sunscreen. Make sure the product is absorbed before going outside.

• Food allergies

  If a baby's skin is peeling, this may be a manifestation of internal problems in the body, the most common of which is food allergies. At the complementary feeding stage, it is very important to follow the rule of sequential introduction of foods. After you have introduced the baby to a new taste, you need to wait a few days until the next menu expansion and observe possible negative reactions of the body. If you notice that your baby's skin is flaking more than before, it's most likely a new product.

  If your baby is currently eating only mother's milk, carefully monitor your diet. Some allergens are able to pass through all the barriers of a woman’s digestive system and enter the milk, and from there into the baby’s body. Is your baby's skin peeling and the situation has suddenly gotten worse? Think about whether you've been on a diet lately.

  Our expert Polina Vasilyeva dermatologist

  If the skin dries out due to an allergic reaction, the use of antihistamines is necessary (the specific drug is determined by the doctor). Parents need to ensure that the child does not have contact with the most common allergens - animal hair, dust, pollen, various chemicals, and also temporarily exclude allergenic foods from the diet.

• Poor quality clothes

  The baby's body is in contact with clothing almost all the time, and this can also be a source of the problem. Artificial fabrics, additives that give the material elasticity, durability and other properties, dyes - all this may not be liked by the skin of a newborn and may result in peeling.

  It is advisable that all clothing that directly touches the baby’s body be natural. Buy it only in trusted stores - this guarantees the availability of the necessary hygiene certificates. And learn to confidently refuse an offer from your handicraft grandmother to sew a wonderful overall for your child from your old skirt.

• Detergents

  Sometimes there are no harmful substances in the clothes themselves, but they come into them from washing powder, rinse aid, and stain remover. In this case, the baby's skin peels off all of his clothes at once.

  If you notice that your problems have gotten worse and you've just recently switched to a new laundry detergent, don't use it anymore. And when buying in a store, choose products that say they are hypoallergenic and suitable for washing children's clothes.

  Our expert Polina Vasilyeva dermatologist

  If peeling has already occurred, it is recommended, first of all, to recognize the real cause of its occurrence. If you suspect that peeling could have been caused by household chemicals or personal hygiene products, you need to replace them or eliminate them altogether.

• Diapers

  If ordinary clothing should simply not cause skin problems, diapers must also ensure that these problems do not arise from contact with secretions. Buy only high-quality diapers for newborns and change them at least every 3-4 hours.

  Read also:  Diapers for newborns: which ones are better, which ones are available

  Do not forget that even the best diaper will not be able to ensure the absence of flaking and redness if hygiene rules are not followed. When changing a diaper, thoroughly dry the baby's skin, lubricate the folds and let the baby's body breathe for a few minutes.

• Dry air

  It is not easy for a baby’s skin to get used to the air, so it is necessary to maintain high humidity in the children’s room - about 50–70%. Buy a hygrometer (a device that measures air humidity) or a weather station with this function. If the device readings are constantly below the recommended level, install a humidifier in the child's room. You can also use traditional methods - wet towels on the radiator, basins of water near the crib, frequent wet cleaning. But with a special device, of course, it is much more convenient: you only need to periodically add water to it, the humidifier will do the rest itself.

  Dry air also dries out the mucous membranes of the nose, which can cause breathing and sleep disturbances.

  Our expert Polina Vasilyeva dermatologist

  Children's skin contains a large amount of moisture, many times more than that of an adult, but due to a number of physiological characteristics it loses water very easily. Drying out is fraught with the development of various dermatological problems. The baby's skin begins to peel off and becomes very sensitive to various external factors - high and low temperatures, dust, mechanical damage, sunlight and others.

Causes of peeling skin on fingers

A child’s immunity does not have the same resistance to adverse environmental factors that is characteristic of an adult, because it is in the process of formation. Sometimes a child’s body can react in the most unexpected way to various negative phenomena and processes.

Vitamin deficiency

Very often, the skin of a child’s hands peels off because the body lacks nutrients. Vitamin complexes are not always absorbed the way parents expect when buying expensive multi-colored boxes.

The most important thing is to provide your baby with a nutritious, varied diet. Only active components of natural origin can be maximally absorbed in the body

In this case, the necessary balance of vitamins will be achieved, because there is often a deficiency of one or more groups.

If, despite following such a diet, the problem remains, then parents are advised to obtain a referral from a doctor for a laboratory blood test to clarify the question of which vitamins the baby is lacking, or to conduct this study in a private laboratory.

Particular attention should be paid to those children who have suffered illnesses and respiratory infections. A weakened body can actively signal that it needs support, including in such an extraordinary way as dry skin on the hands, etc.

Fungal diseases

If the skin of a child’s hands peels off or peels, then it cannot be ruled out that he has become infected with a fungal disease. It is very difficult to protect children from this during the period when they themselves learn to pick up various things and independently get to them by crawling or in any other accessible way. Active knowledge of the world is impossible without tactile sensations. You need to touch a shaggy dog, a colored candy wrapper on the ground and many “interesting” things.

As a result, the skin of the hands—palms and between the fingers—suffers. The child is worried and tries to scratch the sore areas.

If your child’s skin is peeling and then itching is added to this, you should immediately seek medical help. Fungus is an insidious disease that very quickly becomes chronic in the absence of timely and adequate treatment.

Diaper rash on the hands

The most likely cause of peeling fingers on children in winter is wearing mittens. Due to temperature changes and wetness of the skin, the skin's protective reaction is activated and it begins to peel off. To avoid this, you can use regular baby powder or talc, as well as special ointments and gels (for example, Flucinar ointment).

Mittens should always be removed indoors to prevent skin from getting diaper rash.

Allergy

Allergies are one of the most common problems that cause peeling skin on and between a child's fingers. Very often this is accompanied by itching.

If such symptoms occur, parents should:

1. exclude potential allergens from the child’s diet;
2. Limit the use of cosmetics while swimming.

If the baby is very bothered by itching and dry skin, then you can give him an antihistamine taking into account his age (for example, Loratodin, Tavegil).

If you have skin manifestations of allergies, you should consult a dermatologist or allergist. Timely treatment will avoid complications in the form of chronic dermatitis.

Peeling of the skin on the hands of a child: may be a symptom of allergies, parasite infection, stress, dysbacteriosis, lack of vitamins, fungal disease or diaper rash

Dysbacteriosis

Sometimes a disruption of the normal intestinal microflora, which occurs very often due to the use of antibiotics, leads to the skin on the fingers beginning to peel off. In this case, you need to consult with your pediatrician about the need to use special probiotics that can improve digestion and eliminate the problem of skin peeling (for example, Linex).

Worm infestations

Sometimes peeling skin on the fingers is a sign of worm infection. This is very easy to establish; you need to take tests as prescribed by your pediatrician.

The risk of this disease is very high during the period when children put objects that interest them into their mouths or have close contact with pets that have not undergone appropriate treatment.

Stress

Not only adults, but also children are susceptible to stressful situations. Often they may not show their feelings, but the body tries to defend itself and chooses very diverse methods for this.

As a rule, this reason is considered after none of the above diagnoses have been confirmed.

Should I see a doctor if my newborn's skin is peeling?

In this situation, you need to act the same way as in all others related to the baby’s health: it’s better to play it safe and go to the doctor one more time than to ignore your doubts and start a problem. In addition, there are several alarming symptoms that clearly indicate the need to consult a specialist:

• The baby is growing, but the peeling is not getting smaller.
• The skin began to peel unevenly, and one or more spots appeared on the baby’s body, where the problem manifested itself more acutely.
• The peeling increased sharply, especially if you did not introduce new foods into complementary foods, did not put new clothes on the baby, or changed anything in his life.
• Not only does the baby's skin peel, but there are also other symptoms of skin diseases - red spots or dots, itching, pimples, blisters and others.

How is seborrheic dermatitis treated in children?

If seborrheic dermatitis appears in newborns, treatment should be prescribed by a doctor. If seborrheic dermatitis is detected in an infant, treatment is carried out with external means. To loosen the crusts on the head and remove them painlessly, use products based on salicylic acid and oil compresses, which are applied about half an hour before water procedures. To treat seborrheic dermatitis in newborns , you can use drugs with a keratolytic effect. This will help remove excess gland secretion and cleanse the scalp. After softening and removing the crusts, anti-inflammatory agents may be prescribed.

For treatment to be more effective, it is necessary to ensure that the skin is well hydrated and supplied with nutrients in the right quantities. This helps restore and strengthen the water-lipid barrier and restore the proper functioning of the sebaceous glands. Suitable for care are dermatological creams created for children, which contain vegetable oils, sebum-regulating and wound-healing components. If treatment for seborrheic dermatitis in newborns turns out to be ineffective, the following may be included in the therapeutic regimen:

• topical corticosteroids;
• antibiotics and antiseptics;
• antihistamines for severe itching.

What to do if your baby's skin peels?

First of all, do not forget that this is usually a natural developmental stage that the baby will outgrow over time. And take a number of measures to prevent peeling:

• Bathe your child no more than once a day. You can even less often - every other day.
• Use shampoo and baby soap no more than once a week.
• Do not dry your baby's skin after bathing, just pat dry with a towel and then let it air dry.
• After bathing and changing clothes, lubricate the folds on your body with oil.
• Change diapers as needed, but at least every 3-4 hours. After drying your baby's skin, let her breathe for a few minutes.
• Before walking in winter, apply oil to exposed skin; in summer, use sunscreen for children. Allow the product to absorb before going outside.
• Humidify the air in your baby's room.
• Use products designed for washing children's clothing.
• Choose diapers that are gentle on your baby's skin.

Authors: Huggies experts, dermatologist Polina Vasilyeva

How to eliminate peeling

The skin of a newborn is extremely thin, delicate, and of course, it is very prone to irritation, especially from aggressive secretions. Therefore, you need to take proper care of her: change diapers on time, wash the baby with warm water and specialized cleansing products, wipe the face and folds on the neck after each burping and feeding, bathe the baby daily and give air baths. After cleansing, lubricate all potentially problematic areas with special children's cosmetics.

It is important when caring not to use regular, “adult” soap - it dries out the skin of babies too much. There is a special product for this - hypoallergenic Cream-gel for washing babies with panthenol My Sun®. It contains dexpanthenol, which moisturizes the skin well, as well as lactic acid, which neutralizes the harmful effects of an alkaline environment upon contact with a wet diaper.

In some cases, parents are deprived of the opportunity to wash their child. In such cases, we recommend using Wet baby wipes with panthenol My Sun®. They are soft, hypoallergenic, contain moisturizing and softening components, and silver ions. Thanks to this special impregnation composition, the wipes gently cleanse, preventing dryness and irritation of even very delicate, sensitive skin.