Being born with dry skin and developing skin needs extreme care and protection. The skin of a baby is around one third as thick as adult skin so newborn baby skin care requires a great deal of attention and knowledge.

The main reason for the necessity of extra special care is due to the pH of their skin. While adult skin has a pH of around 4.5-5.5, which is slightly acidic, babies have a pH of 6.6-7.5 which is neutral. The problems that arise from this are that babies' skins are unable to deter the growth of bacteria and this leads to a range of dermatological problems. Another problem is the atmospheric acidity, which can't be neutralised by the baby's skin either. Thus, babies are genuinely defenceless against these, which make extra care an absolute necessity.

 

• Baby Soaps- One of the most important tips for the care of your baby's skin is to choose a baby soap that is pH neutral. The reason for this is that it is extremely important to keep the pH balance right. Since a baby's skin is dry by nature, using a non-neutral soap will make it even drier. Most soaps are basic due to the presence of potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide which are quite strong alkalis. When this is applied to a baby's skin, the pH level is disrupted and can cause rashes. Most doctors recommend a mild soap or even a simple water bath for new born babies instead of a traditional soap and water wash. The use of skin care soaps must be minimised but a simple bath in plain water or sponge baths are crucial to keeping him clean and remove bacterial formation. Soap free liquid cleansers that are also dye and fragrance free can help to clean the baby's skin easily though they don't foam much. Bubble baths and bar soaps are to be strictly avoided while washing a baby's skin.

 

• Newborn baby care- Avoid contact with direct sunlight as much as possible. The baby's skin, being much thinner than that of adults is much more susceptible to the effects of UV rays. Using fully covered clothing and sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15 and sunglasses are essential for protecting the baby's skin against UV rays. Babies should not be taken out between 10am-4pm to reduce the exposure to strong sunlight.

 

• Diaper rashes- Diaper rashes can occur due to the friction caused by the diaper and faeces. Changing diapers often and using simple cloth and water or alcohol and fragrance free wet wipes to wipe the area clean combined with proper aeration can help to prevent diaper rashes.

 

• Washing baby clothes- Detergents are generally extremely harsh and using detergents to wash a baby's clothes can cause rashes. It is advisable to use detergents free of perfumes and dyes. Fabric softener is a complete no-no.

 

• Moisturise- Since the skin of your baby is so thin, it loses moisture extremely fast. Moisturise the skin with dermatologic ally tested products whenever the skin feels rough to keep his skin soft and supple.

These are a few baby care tips that can help you effectively care for your little bundle of joy and prevent anything that can harm his formative skin.