Newborn Skin

Home » Newborn Skin » Overview, FAQs

Overview

The skin of a newborn usually is smooth and velvety, with a greasy coating for the first week or so. In caucasians, the skin is a reddish-purple color at birth and changes rapidly to pink. The hands and feet may remain purple a little longer, and this coloring may recur later when the child cries, holds its breath, or becomes chilled.

There are a variety of disorders that can develop in newborn skin during the first few weeks of life. Most of these resolve on their own. Knowing and understanding these disorders is essential if one is to distinguish them from more significant, potentially critical, problems.

FAQs

Q: My 3-month-old baby has acne. It does not seem to be going away. I am concerned that it will cause scars. Is any treatment available?
A: Most infant acne develops around the second month of life and resolves on its own without treatment. Sometimes, when acne is severe, topical lotions or gels can be prescribed to hasten the healing process. Your dermatologist can discuss the treatment options.

Q: My newborn has developed blotchy, red bumps on the skin. Is this a reaction to my laundry detergent?
A: Your child probably has erythema toxicum, a common, benign, self-limiting eruption that occurs in the first few days of birth. Few or many lesions may be present, which look like small, white or yellow bumps on a red blotch of skin. While its cause is unknown, it is not thought to be caused by any particular brand of laundry soap.

Q: What can I do for cradle cap?
A: Cradle cap begins in the first few months of life and presents with a waxy, greasy scaling on top of reddened skin. It usually resolves by 1 year of age and it does not indicate that the child will have problems with dandruff or seborrhea later in life. The infant's scalp should be shampooed frequently and combed or brushed once or twice daily. Warm olive or mineral oil can be gently rubbed into the scalp to help loosen the scales. When the condition is severe, prescription medications can be used.

Q: I keep my baby's diaper area very clean, yet she still gets diaper rash. What can I do?
A: Diaper dermatitis can be caused by many different things but most often develops because of wet diapers. The moist skin is particularly susceptible to chafing and friction, and thus irritation. Powders and cornstarch can help keep the diaper area dry, and if possible, allow the baby to go without a diaper. Moisture barrier creams and antiyeast creams, when appropriate, help alleviate the irritation.

Newborn Skin Resources

	Join Our Newborn Skin Forum Do you have a question, want to share medical advice, or just need to discuss your situation with someone else having a similar experience? The healthchannels forum is a resource for everyone to share and discuss their health and medical needs with others.	Advertising Disclaimer
	Living with...Share your story Do you have a personal health story that you would like to share with others? As a source of free patient education, our goal is to provide our users with trustworthy information and support from others. That's why we've started our "Living with..." sections.
	Our "Living With..." support pages are a place to share experiences about living with a certain condition, disease, disorder, or illness and for loved ones of those dealing with health-related issues. Many people, especially when newly diagnosed, find comfort in knowing that others are having a similar experience. Help others by sharing your story. View stories already submitted. June 1st is National Cancer Survivors Day Share your survival story and help others in the fight against cancer. Read cancer survivor stories already submitted.
	Stay Updated Sign up for our newsletter and receive important updates on the medical conditions that are most important to you.
Are you interested in becoming a nurse? Take this test. Advertising Disclaimer To quickly access health information from your website's browser, download Healthcommunities.com's healthchannels toolbar. Advertising Disclaimer