10 Common Baby Skin Care Questions Answered

Your newborn baby’s skin needs delicate and tender-loving care. But with so many conflicting tips on the internet, how do you know which advice to follow?

In collaboration with skin care experts from BIODERMA and dermatologist Dr Ker Khor Jia, OETEO aims to answers your burning questions, debunk common myths, and provide the top tips for caring for infant skin.

Common Questions About Baby Skin Care:

1. Are breast milk baths good for babies?

Breast milk baths have not been scientifically proven to help with rashes. However, it does contain proteins and fatty acids that help moisturize your baby’s skin to a certain extent. Breast milk baths are recommended only when your baby does not have a rash outbreak. For babies with rashes, you will need to use product such as bath oils that contain more fatty acids to replenish the skin’s barrier.

2. How do you care for inflamed and broken skin on infants?

Take your infant to see a certified dermatologist to get the appropriate antiseptic washes and topical medicines required to tame the rashes.

3. What is the reason for my baby’s rash outbreak and how can I prevent it?

There are many factors that cause outbreaks of rashes and red spots on babies. Common causes include:

– Heat

– Environmental factors (e.g. humidity)

– Sweat accumulated in baby’s joints and folds (on their arms and back of knees) irritating the skin

– Saliva around the mouth area

– Stress (in school-going children, especially during exam periods)

– Diet or food allergies

Apparels that are made with cotton will help with your child’s rash outbreak as cotton is breathable and absorbs moisture more efficiently, leaving the body cool and dry. You can also try wiping away saliva and sweat as soon as possible to reduce the chances of skin irritation.

OETEO’s range of baby jammies and rompers are made with 100% cotton, providing breathable comfort for your little one with sensitive skin.

4. Should I apply steroids on my child’s rashes or eczema?

If you have a history of sensitive skin, there is a high chance that your baby will develop sensitive skin as well. It is recommended for you to start applying moisturizer on your child from a young age to help minimise the risk of getting eczema.

If the itch goes out of control, you will need to use topical creams obtained from a certified dermatologist. There are steroids and non-steroids options, as well as baby-grade steroids available. The non-steroids option can only be given to children who are 6 months old and above.

5. How many times a day should I bathe my baby?

Bathing your baby 1-2 times a day is sufficient. More importantly, baths must be combined with regular good hygiene practices to maintain your baby’s skin health.

6. Are essential oils and balms safe for infants?

Avoid using essential oil in neat form on babies as these have high concentration content. When using moisturisers that contain essential oils, if there is no irritation upon application on your infant’s skin, you may continue using those products. However, do cease application if a rash or itch appears.

7. What causes Cradle Cap and how can I get rid of it?

Cradle Cap is a very common baby skin condition that’s also known as scalp eczema. Avoid using olive oil to treat Cradle Cap as the condition is partly caused by the presence of yeast on the baby’s scalp. Combined with heat and humidity, yeast will feed on olive oil, causing the symptoms to worsen.

You can apply mineral oil or baby oil by on your baby’s scalp every night. Leave it on overnight and shampoo it off the next morning. Use this daily for 2 weeks and the oil will help soften the crust. When baby’s scalp is better, this routine can be used once a week as a maintenance for scalp health.

8. Does saliva help ease itches on newborn skin?

Saliva may actually irritate the newborn’s skin due to enzymes present in saliva.

9. Is coconut oil good for infant eczema?

Coconut oil helps alleviate infant eczema to a certain degree as it acts as a protective layer on the surface of the baby’s skin, preventing moisture loss.

Highly recommended for treating infant eczema (i.e. very dry skin conditions) are moisturizers with an ingredient called Ceramide. This ingredient infiltrates into the deeper layers of the skin, stimulating the skin’s own healing and repair response. Coconut oil does not contain Ceramide.

Moisturizers that contain Ceramide have no side effects and do not contain steroids. It is safe for use during pregnancy and on young children.

10. Does apparel material affect the condition of my baby’s eczema?

Yes, the type of material in contact with your baby’s skin affects the severity of their eczema reaction.

100% Cotton is a good option when selecting baby apparel material as it is soft and able to absorb moisture and sweat . Try avoiding synthetic materials which may be abrasive on sensitive skin.

For functional and adorable baby apparel that’s made of 100% cotton, check out OETEO’s latest baby clothes collection. Made to support the little ones in their everyday play while being gentle on skin.

This article was adapted from an Instagram Live session in with Dr Ker Khor Jia and Bioderma. Follow OETEO on Instagram for more informative tips on baby care and to get the latest updates on our function baby apparels.

 

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