Newborn Skin Care 101

How to love and protect your baby’s skin

By Candace Campbell, MSNc, RN

Even experienced parents flinch at the idea of skin care for a new baby and the many products with their associated promises on the market. What’s a parent to do to keep baby smiling? It’s enough to make a grown person cry! Here are three ways to fight the Skin Care Blues.

#1 The best defense is a good offense

Skin, our largest organ, contains and protects everything we have on the inside. All baby skin is delicate, but even more so for preemies, who lack the deep skin layers that babies born at full term have. To protect baby’s skin, don’t bathe your baby daily or you’ll deplete his skin’s natural moisture barrier. Once or twice a week should be sufficient, until he’s old enough to start making mud pies!

Avoid applying lotions and creams to baby’s skin after bathing. Skin is semi-permeable, so clogged pores may result, which can trigger infection. If you chose to use baby lotions or creams, do so sparingly, go organic when possible and make sure your baby’s skin stays clean and dry.

The second-best thing you can do for his skin is protect it from damaging ultraviolet rays. Always try to keep him in:

• indirect sunlight
• breathable hats and clothing fabrics
• sunscreen (avoid sunscreen on his face and look for organic products specifically for babies)

Be wary of harsh detergents. Wash clothes with mild, unscented soap, and use your machine’s second or double rinse option if you have one. Avoid soaps and detergents with dyes and fragrances. There are several detergents on the market specifically for babies without harsh chemicals or fragrances; and there are now many organic choices as well.

#3 Go to the mattress with diaper rash

The dirt on diaper dermatitis isn’t pretty. All babies experience a rash down under at one time or another, and girls statistically more so, since they have higher estrogen levels (the hormone that makes our skin so soft). Dueling diaper rash is simple but takes dedication. Try these tips to keep baby rash-free:

• Frequent diapering is a must. Despite the claims of disposable diaper companies, no diaper keeps moisture away from the skin for long. Check the diaper at least every two hours or whenever you suspect a soiling. If you use cloth diapers, avoid plastic underpants placed over the diaper as these just trap and hold moisture in.
• Cleanse your baby’s diaper area after every diaper change, even for wet diapers only. Good ol’ H2O, the universal solvent, water, squeezed over the area is the cheapest solution. (A small squirt bottle works quite well for this task.) Disposable wipes with aloe also protect delicate areas. Stay away from wipes with fragrance or any other chemicals.
• Gently pat dry and, when possible, allow your baby some diaper-free time.
• If applying a barrier cream, ointment or paste, chose one that has the fewest ingredients so that your baby’s bottom is exposed to the fewest possible irritants. Some of the best barrier creams include zinc oxide, petroleum, dimethicone, lanolin, and mineral or olive oil.
• If, despite treatment, a diaper rash continues more than 3 days, call your healthcare provider.

Rashes that refuse to clear up or go away may need prescription medication. The most common rash is a yeast infection. If Candida albicans is diagnosed, then both mom and baby will need treatment. And any items that face cross-contamination between you and your baby will need cleaning as well, including pacifiers, teething toys, breast pumps, bras, etc.

Most important, to prevent diaper rash, wash hands before and after every diaper change! This small step goes a long way in preventing an infection or rash on your baby’s bottom.

About the Author: Candace Campbell, MSNc, RN, has practiced as an NICU nurse and educator for 20 years. Her documentary film, Micropremature Babies: How Low Can You Go? plus her delightful children’s books, My Mom Is A Nurse, and Good Things Come In Small Packages (I Was A Preemie), are available on Amazon.com or: http://www.candycampbell.com. A percentage of the profits of each sale goes to the March of Dimes.

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