There’s nothing like the pure, beautiful, soft skin of a baby! But your baby’s skin is still developing and that makes it very sensitive and prone to some skin conditions.

Jade Elliott spoke with Dylan Alston, a dermatologist with Intermountain Healthcare to help us learn about some common baby skin conditions, and know which of these are normal, and how to treat them and when you should see a dermatologist.

“Baby Acne”

The medical term for “baby acne” or erythema toxicorum neonatalis is a benign acne-like eruption on the central part of the face. It typically starts 1-2 days after delivery. It is thought to be related to the immaturity of the oil glands of the newborn. No treatment is necessary, and the condition improves over the next 7-10 days of life.

There is another condition, neonatal cephalic pustulosis that looks similar to “baby acne.” Eruption occurs a little later, at 2-3 weeks after birth. The baby’s face and scalp can be affected. Neonatal cephalic pustulosis is thought to be related to skin colonization of a common yeast known as malassezia. Again, no treatment is necessary and the condition resolves without intervention.

Cradle cap

Cradle cap for all intents and purposes is baby dandruff. It again is thought to be related to the baby’s immune system reacting towards a common yeast on the skin. If the baby is over three months, using a safe dandruff shampoo would be helpful but not necessary. Under three months of age, just use a regular baby shampoo. Leave it on the head a about 2-3 minutes for best results. This is good advice for adults who have dandruff too.

Eczema

Because the newborn baby’s skin barrier is still developing, they are particularly susceptible to eczema. In infants, eczema often starts on the face, especially the cheeks and over time, moves to more common locations like the arms and legs. It has a red, rashy look. Introducing new foods to the child can make the eczema flare, so introducing one new food at a time and watching for skin rashes afterward can help provide clues to a potential food allergy. Steroid creams can help. Vaseline is a good moisturizer can reduce the risk of eczema later in life.

Diaper rash

The diaper area of a baby is particularly prone to developing rashes and irritation. The key is to change the diaper often enough to keep the baby’s skin from being injured by the alkaline nature of urine by keeping the area clean and dry. Skin protectants such as zinc oxide are great for creating a barrier between the delicate skin and the diaper contents.

Yeast can cause diaper rash. The chubby creases are susceptible to yeast. If the rash is in the crease, it may be caused by yeast. If the rash is not in the crease, then an irritant may be causing it.

Contact dermatitis from wet wipes

Unfortunately, dermatologists are seeing a significant increase in contact dermatitis in babies, or a rash that occurs when the skin is in contact with something irritating. A common ingredient that can cause contact dermatitis in babies is methylchloroisothiazolinone or MCI/MI, an ingredient in many manufactured wet wipes. Wipes should be hypoallergenic and preservative free. Parents with sensitive skin are more likely to have babies with sensitive skin.

Sunscreen sensitivity

Babies under six months have skin that is still developing and is very sensitive. Avoid using sunscreen on your baby until after six months of age. Instead, use hats and clothing. UV protective fabrics are best and should have a UPF (ultra-violet protection factor) rating of 50+. These fabrics have a higher thread count that can better block the sun’s rays than regular clothing. To learn more about these clothes, click here.

After six months of age, you can use sunscreen on your baby, but a mineral-based sunscreen with zinc or titanium oxide is least likely to cause a skin reaction in your baby. Avoid using chemical-based sunscreens on babies.

If your baby has a skin condition that persists and you have questions or are concerned about, see a board-certified dermatologist, as they are specially trained to diagnose skin conditions.

For more information: https://intermountainhealthcare.org/services/dermatology/

Additional links mentioned during the podcast:

https://www.aap.org/en-us/Pages/Default.aspx

https://www.aad.org/

https://www.instagram.com/igskindoc/

The Baby Your Baby program provides many resources for all pregnant women and new moms in Utah. There is also expert advice from the Utah Department of Health and Intermountain Healthcare that air each week on KUTV 2News.