Pamper the skin of those you love the most

How is the baby's skin?

Newborn skin is very different from adult skin: it is up to ten times thinner, dries easily, and is more prone to allergies and irritations. In addition, it goes through many changes in its appearance and texture.

How does baby skin differ from adult skin?

Baby skin has its own characteristics:

· The epidermis or outer layer of the baby's skin is between 20% and 30% thinner than that of an adult. This thinness on the surface makes it more vulnerable to infections, irritations, or blows.

· It has not yet fully developed the defenses that help protect it from certain bacteria.

· Its thermoregulatory function does not work 100%.

· Loses and absorbs water more quickly.

· It presents a greater vascular reactivity (it turns red or pales more easily).

· Your sweat glands are more active.

· It has a lower ability to synthesize melanin.

· In general, it is less resistant and tolerant of external aggressions.

How does the skin of a newborn evolve?

At birth, the vast majority of children are covered by a very thin, grayish-white layer of fat called vernix caseosa. This sebaceous mantle is made up of 80% water, 10% fat, and another 10% protein.

The vernix is formed around the 20th week of gestation, to isolate the baby's delicate skin from the irritating effects and moisture of the amniotic fluid and dehydration, thus preventing it from cracking, and protecting it from possible infections within the uterus. maternal womb.

Once the baby is born, it is not convenient to remove this layer of fat, since in addition to the fact that after two or three days it is reabsorbed on its own, without the need to wash it, it also performs various functions:

· It helps the baby to maintain its body temperature since its thin skin favors the loss of heat and water.

· Protects the newborn from dehydration and some external aggressions.

· Nourishes the skin, preventing it from drying out or flaking excessively.

· According to recent studies, vernix caseosa contains a high concentration of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant that protects children's skin from the damaging effects of oxygen and solar radiation.

In addition, as part of the vernix, some babies may also present lanugo, which is a very fine, velvety body hair that appears in fetuses during their development during pregnancy, as a kind of protective layer.

It normally forms first on the head and by the 20th week of gestation, it covers the entire body of the fetus. It is shed, approximately at week 40, but many babies are born with part of this hair on their body, although a few weeks after delivery it disappears on its own.

The full development of the baby's skin will take place over several years; in fact, up to 3 years of life, its "skin barrier", the one in charge of defending the baby from environmental aggressions (cold, wind, sun, dry air...), will not have finished developing. For this reason, the baby's skin, so fragile and delicate, requires special care.

What are the most common alterations?

The sensitivity and immature nature of the baby's skin makes it prone to various disorders, although most of them are benign and do not require treatment, as they usually disappear over time.

· Cradle cap: it is one of the most frequent disorders and manifests itself after the first days or weeks of life. It causes reddening of the skin and the appearance of large scales in areas of the scalp, which can extend to the eyebrows, and even to the folds of the arms and legs. Although the causes of this alteration are not exactly known, the cradle cap is not serious or painful for the baby, and it usually heals spontaneously within a month.

· Epstein pearls: These are whitish-yellowish cysts that form on the gums and roof of a newborn, usually one to two weeks after birth. If the cysts appear on the skin of the face and are more whitish in color, they are called milia. In any case, this condition is asymptomatic, harmless, and does not require treatment. Almost 80% of babies usually suffer from it.

· Flat angiomas: they are pink spots and correspond to vascular lesions. They are seen in the center of the forehead, the upper lip, the eyelids, or the nape of the neck. They may persist for a few months but go away completely as the child gets older.

· Neonatal acne: it is so called because it appears in the first month of the child's life and is similar in appearance to adolescent acne, although much less aggressive. It is identified by the appearance of reddish or pus-filled pimples on the cheeks, chin, and forehead. It resolves spontaneously and without leaving a scar after a month.

· Toxic erythema: it is another of the most common benign alterations, which usually occurs in 50% of babies between 3 days and 2 weeks of age. It is a rash of yellow spots with surrounding reddish skin, which can appear anywhere on the skin except the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands. Its origin is unknown, but over the weeks it disappears.

· Mongolian spot or Baltz spot: refers to one or more bluish spots that are located in the lower back. They are usually there from birth. They do not constitute any danger to the baby and disappear around the first two years of life.

· Sudamina or miliaria: it is a rash related to perspiration in times of heat or due to excessive clothing. The manifestation of this problem is red or whitish pimples that occur in the area of the skin where the sweat glands are most abundant: the forehead, neck, face, the upper part of the trunk, and diaper area.

· Diaper dermatitis: it is also common for children between 4 and 15 months of age to suffer irritation in the diaper area caused by moisture and heat from urine and feces in contact with their skin. Care must be taken so that it does not become superinfected and pamper the area with specific products that relieve irritation, redness, dryness, and itching that also accompany this problem.

Ten basic tips to take care of your baby's skin

The golden rule for optimal care of a baby's skin is daily hygiene, always carried out with care products specifically formulated for their skin, hypoallergenic, and tested under dermatological and pediatric supervision.

1. Preparation of the bath.

Before bathing, it is necessary to heat both the water in the bathtub, which should be at around 37ºC and the bathroom itself, so that the room temperature is between 20ºC and 22ºC. In addition, it helps to prepare in advance everything that is going to be needed: products, towels, sponges, etc.

2. Always pending.

Once your baby is in the bath, for the first few months you must hold him firmly. From 4 or 5 months you can use a bath hammock. Although it may seem obvious, you should not leave your child unattended at any time, neither in the bathtub nor on the changing table.

3. Specific treatments for babies.

You should use children's liquid soaps, hypoallergenic and with a neutral pH, that respect the skin's acid mantle. It is also important that you use a soft sponge, preferably natural.

4. Control the time.

It is not convenient for your baby to stay in the bathtub for more than five minutes. In addition, you should wash his hair just moments before taking him out of the water and tuck him in, since babies lose a lot of temperature through their heads.

5. Dry gently.

When you finish bathing the baby, you should dry it by gently patting it, without rubbing, so as not to irritate its skin. Special attention must be paid so that no moisture remains in the different folds of the skin.

6. Hydrate.

Once it is dry, you must apply moisturizing infant milk to your baby, giving it a gentle massage all over the body.

7. Cleaning at diaper change.

To make the change, you must place your baby on a clean towel. You should clean the genital area and the bottom with specific soft wipes that do not irritate the area, a washing gel, or a super-greasy soap. Cleaning must be done from the cleanest area to the dirtiest, so as not to drag dirt, and from front to back to avoid infections.

8. Prevents irritations in delicate areas.

Before putting on the new diaper, you should make sure that your baby's buttocks and groin folds are completely dry. Likewise, apply a good layer of protective cream on the bottom to create a barrier that prevents possible irritation in this area, due to direct contact with urine and feces.

9. Perfume without excesses.

To delicately perfume the baby, you can use a few drops of non-alcoholic cologne to spray on their scalp or on their clothes. You should not use colognes for adults, since the alcohol and perfumes they contain can be very strong for children's skin and cause irritation.

10. Care also outside the home.

When going for a walk with the baby, you must protect her skin. In autumn and winter, covering your most delicate areas protects you from both colds and the drying action of the cold. And in summer, to protect you from the sun. The application of a moisturizing facial cream with sun protection is always essential, even if there are clouds and the sun does not rise.