Oh Baby: Part Two

Are you babying your skin this winter?  We’ll get back to YOUR skin in future posts, but for now, let’s get back to our discussion of baby skin.

Eczema:  Common locations for this thick, dry, scaly, and/or red, itchy rash include the elbows, chests, arms, and behind the knees.  The best treatment is to avoid any triggers such as soaps or detergents which are found to be irritants.  Aside from that, moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

Cradle Cap: This waxy and/or red rash is also called seborrheic dermatitis.  Cradle cap is generally caused by excess oil and clears up within the first year of life with or without treatment.  Mostly, it shows up on the scalp, eyebrows, and sides of the nose.  Baby oil can help with cradle cap, but for a severe case, consult your pediatrician because a special shampoo may be necessary.

Suncare:  Keep your infant out of direct sunlight for his/her first 6-8 months of life.  When you’re ready to expose baby to the sun a little bit, use baby sunscreen and a hat.  For a mild sunburn, you can apply a cool cloth.  For a more extreme sunburn, it’s time for a trip to the pediatrician. When choosing a baby sunscreen:  no dyes or fragrances, please!

You know your baby better than anyone— if it looks like a sunburn but you know it isn’t (s/he hasn’t been exposed to sun– it’s the middle of winter), your baby could have an underlying condition that changes the color of his/her skin— this happened to my daughter and it turns out she has a fairly severe case of vascular instability– not so much a skin problem as a circulation problem– but her skin turns funky colors!

When To Call the Pediatrician:  If the skin has small,purple dots, or yellow fluid-filled bumps (these are called pustules), or if s/he is lethargic or has a fever, it’s probably time to call the doctor.

I hope this was helpful!

Heather Price of Cleveland, OH, has been a skin care and beauty consultant since August of 2000. Have you ever wished you had a skin care program that was personalized for your needs by a personal consultant? That’s what Heather does- she sends you home with skin care and color products that meet your specific needs. The result is smoother, softer, younger looking skin. Clients feel better about their appearance which gives them the self confidence they need in their lives. You can join Heather’s email list at http://freeskincarehelp.com – she answers every email response personally.

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