Characteristics
The skin of a newborn baby is five times as thin as an adult skin, making it much more delicate and sensitive. The baby skin does not yet have a protective acid mantle. The acid mantle is a "jacket" that protects against dehydration, irritation and infections. The horn layer, part of the epidermis, is not yet fully grown. It protects against bacteria and is not fully developed until the fourth year of age. Therefore, the baby's skin dries out faster and is more sensitive to UV radiation, because babies have less skin pigmentation than adults.
Care
- Bath your baby up to two or three times a week, not more often. Use lukewarm water for this.
- Use a mild soap to cleanse the skin.
- It is best to pat your baby dry after washing with a cotton diaper. It absorbs more moisture than a normal towel.
- Pay extra attention to drying the skin folds.
- Use one of our recommended rich body creams to hydrate your baby's skin after bathing. You can also treat dry, chapped cheeks with them.
Common skin problems
- Hormonal spots (baby acne): red spots with a blister on it. Hormonal spots are mainly found in the skin folds in the diaper area.
- Milk spots: look like blisters and are located in the face, on the head or in the neck. These spots usually occur three to five weeks after birth and disappear automatically.
- Dry skin: the skin is red and rough. Hydrate dry skin with one of our recommended rich bodycreams.
- Cradle Cap: loose, oily crusts on the head. You can rub the head with our massage oil to loosen the crusts.
- Diaper rash: The skin is chapped, red and sore and can open. Bacteria that are in the stool can aggravate the diaper rash. Diaper rash occurs because the skin comes into contact with urine. Try therefore to keep the legs as dry and clean as possible. Change the diaper regularly. Change your baby extra often with diarrhea. Wash the legs daily with lukewarm water and apply the Aloe Vera Gel. You can also sooth red and irritated skin with it. Occasionally leave your baby without diaper for a while.
- Winter cold: if it is cold and bleak outside, you can hydrate and protect your baby's skin with the Avocado Cream before going outside. This prevents dehydration.
- Summer sun: The baby skin is extra sensitive to the sun. Always use a sunscreen product for babies with a high protection factor. Avoid the full sun at all times and put a sun hat on your baby.