Possible Triggers to a Dry Skin Condition in an Infant

One of the things I was scared of my baby picking up from me was my dry skin, my family has this strong history of dry skin, that has a scaly appearance and it usually has to take extreme care for the skin to have a better appearance.

Recently, I noticed his skin was looking dry on some parts and alas, it seemed my fear was becoming a reality (I was so unhappy), so I immediately started to read up on the things I could do to make it better, and certainly I will be sharing them with you.

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Some research done made me believe that, when the skin of your baby has an appearance of roughness, ashiness, fine lines, cracks, and flakiness, there are signs that your baby's skin is dry. Dry spots can come up anywhere, but it is more common on the face, feet, hands, and lips.

Although dry skin situations are often nothing to worry about as they can be handled with certain remedies, they could be a more serious skin issue and that is the more reason why parents need to check with a doctor to ascertain what is going on before a firm decision is made.

Right before going into those other conditions, let's talk about how to handle the issue of dryness first. The skin of a baby is very fragile and prone to dryness, that is the reason why parents have to be very careful about the things applied to their baby's skin.

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The outermost layer of the skin of a baby is 30% thinner than that of an adult, and that is the reason why the skin of a baby is more prone to moisture loss. We are aware that when a baby is born, the skin of that baby is not completely functional or structurally complete when compared to that of an adult. It would take about 2-4 years for the skin to develop fully, and for the first five years of their existence, their level of hydration is lower than that of an adult.

In a baby, the PH level is higher than that of an adult, and this makes it more susceptible, but appropriate skin care products that are formulated with the right PH level for a baby's skin will help to protect it. Your baby picking up dry skin may be that he or she is reacting to a certain product that you have to stop using instantly.

The skin of your newborn would naturally peel for a week or two after birth, the reason is that, while in the womb, amniotic fluid surrounds the fetus, and the skin does not exfoliate as it does outside of the womb, during the early days it may appear as though the skin of the baby is peeling.

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Getting your child overexposed to water especially with the water being hot, tends to wash away some naturally present oils on the skin. With this, the risk of dryness is increased as well as peeling skin. It is advisable to limit the baby's bath time to 15 minutes with lukewarm water, then dry and not rub the baby's skin gently with a towel.

When shopping for your baby care products, avoid products that have alcohol on their label, this dehydrates the outer surface of the skin.

Now, let's go to the possible health skin conditions of this skin dryness in a child, these may be things to get worried about, and maybe hopefully not so.

Ichthyosis is a group of genetic skin condition that creates dryness and peeling of the skin, it is often a very serious situation. The name of this skin condition comes from the Greek word 'ichthys' which means fish, the name was coined since the people who have this condition have scaly-like-looking skin.

Doctors can easily diagnose ichthyosis if it is present at birth based on a family's previous medical history and physical examination. A blood or skin sample will help confirm the condition.

While the condition has no cure, several creams can help to relieve dryness and also control other symptoms, but only products recommended by a dermatologist should be used.

Eczema is another skin condition that can cause dryness on the baby's face. Sometimes, the cause of eczema is not known but through research, it has been found that nearly half of the people who have moderate to severe eczema also have asthma, seasonal allergies, food allergies, or allergic rhinitis, although this does not often start in infancy.

The symptoms of eczema usually come with dry or peeling skin, itchy skin, thick skin, and rash on the face, wrist, neck, elbows, ankles, and knees. A baby who has eczema will have increased itch and rashes.

Cradle cap is an infant skin condition that has the appearance of yellow scaly patches usually surrounded by a red rash on your baby's scalp.

Parents have to learn to keep their babies away from cold, and highly scented creams or perfumes. Minimize bath time to 15 minutes and gently pat baby dry. For my baby, I am certain it's a genetic condition, but I will still be going to the hospital this coming week to confirm the state of things from certified experts.

For Further Studies

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325036#takeaway

https://www.cerave.com/skin-smarts/skincare-for-baby/3-reasons-why-your-babys-skin-may-be-dry-and-how-to-care-for-it

https://www.whattoexpect.com/first-year/baby-care/baby-skin-care/dry-skin.aspx

https://www.aveeno.co.uk/baby/baby-dry-skin

https://www.healthline.com/health/parenting/newborn-skin-peeling

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/6951-skin-conditions-in-children

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Hi, I am Tobi, a writer, speaker, relationship blogger, and lover of good music. I love making friends and learning from people. If you want to hear me speak on relationships and general life issues, you can find my YouTube channel where you can watch any episode for free, please do not forget to subscribe, friends. I sincerely appreciate every love I get from here, Kindly do well to keep them coming.