In the skincare of infants, it is very important to check the ingredients of the products and make sure that they support the natural defense mechanisms of the child’s skin and allow the skin to breathe. For babies, be sure to use products specifically designed for infants to protect their delicate skin from damage.
What to do if your baby’s skin is dry, rough, and red?
A Baby’s skin is many times thinner and more sensitive than an adult’s, so proper skincare is irreplaceable. The natural protective layer of the baby’s skin develops during the first weeks of life, and older children also renew the protective layer more slowly than adults. However, the acid layer that protects the skin has a vital protective function against various bacteria and pathogens. Chemicals and fragrances can cause dryness, irritation, and rashes in babies’ skin, thereby damaging the baby’s natural skin barrier and making it more sensitive to various bacteria. But how to avoid baby skin worries and what to keep in mind with proper skincare?
The most common problems in skincare for babies and toddlers
In babies, the main skin concerns are flaking, diaper rash and atopic dermatitis. As the skin of infants is significantly thinner and more sensitive than that of an adult, it is also more susceptible to various irritants and skin problems are easier to come by.
Skin flaking
The sebum secretion of a baby’s skin is significantly lower, but the stratum corneum of the skin contains more moisture. This means that the skin of an infant and toddler is covered with a very thin layer of water-fat, which can easily dry out. A baby’s skin is significantly more sensitive to cold and injury than an adult’s. Therefore, it is important to ensure maximum hydration of the baby’s skin. If it is seen that the child’s skin is becoming dry and flaky, additional measures should be taken immediately. We recommend adding a few drops of the Nurme Cosmetics baby oil to the bathwater and massaging the skin with moisturizing body milk after bathing. The gentle body lotion cream promotes the restoration of the skin’s natural protective barrier and is also helpful for skin damage that has already occurred.
Diaper rash
Diaper rash, or skin irritation in the diaper area, is one of the most common skin problems in infants, usually occurring in the first year of life and resolves after stopping diaper use. The main cause is prolonged exposure to urine or feces. At certain times, however, infants tend to be particularly sensitive to diaper rash, for example during the transition from breast milk to artificial milk, in various diseases, and also after antibiotic treatment, which can lead to yeast overgrowth and exacerbate the rash. Diaper rash usually acts as redness in areas of skin that have been in close contact with the diaper.
How to cure?
In the treatment of diaper rash, it is very important to keep your baby’s skin dry and to protect it from irritants to prevent the rash from getting worse. The use of disposable diapers with very good absorbency also helps to improve the rash. In addition, the diaper should be changed as often as possible, with the rash occurring, the diaper should be changed at least every two hours during the day and once during the night. After each diaper change, it is important to wash the baby’s diaper area with warm water and a soap-free cleanser. In case of an acute rash, bath oil is also suitable. After washing, the skin should be gently patted dry and then allowed to air dry completely. It is recommended to apply a fragrance- and preservative-free protective cream or ointment to the skin before applying a new diaper. Shea butter, which is rich in vitamins A, B, C and E and antioxidants and has both moisturizing and healing effects, is also an effective helper for rashes. Shea butter is helpful in both preventing and healing a rash. The Nurme Cosmetics baby’s multi-functional body balm, which is odorless and gentle on the baby’s skin, is also a great diaper cream. This is an irreplaceable product during the winter because when sleeping outside in a stroller, walking or playing outdoors, the cold can often make a child’s facial skin red and rough. Baby balm takes care of the baby’s skin and provides excellent protection against frost damage.
What to avoid?
In the occurrence of diaper rash, antifungal or antibacterial agents should definitely not be used without consulting a doctor, and a dermatologist should be consulted if you are suspecting an infection. All products containing soap, alcohol, fragrances, and other chemicals, including wet wipes for skin cleansing, should be avoided as they may also contain skin-irritating chemicals. In addition, it is definitely necessary to make sure that the diapers are not too tight and suffocating the child and that the skin can breathe.
Atopic dermatitis
Unlike diaper rash, atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory itchy skin disease that causes red and rough itchy patches on the skin. The disease is characterized by occurring in waves and recurrence over time. Often, atopic dermatitis begins in a baby at the age of four months and can resolve over time. The main cause of atopic dermatitis is an immune response, and there are many triggers for dermatitis. External triggers include, for example, rough or otherwise skin-irritating clothing, skin abrasion, cold and humid climates, but also too dry and hot room air, excessive water treatments, sweating, soap-based detergents, and various chemicals in both skincare and laundry products. In addition, irritants include stress, illness, and food intolerances, and allergies.
How to cure?
There are three important points to keep in mind when treating atopic dermatitis:
- The most important thing is regular and proper care of dry, delicate, and damaged skin. In the case of mild forms, this may be sufficient;
- In addition to proper skincare, it is extremely important to identify allergens and avoid them whenever possible. Specialists can help you identify allergens;
- Topical hormone creams, that are prescribed by your doctor, are also used to treat and control the disease.
Why you should not use regular cosmetics for babies?
It is not a good idea to give any essential oil to babies under the age of six months. Not through skin, air, or mouth. Unfortunately, practically all baby cosmetics on the market tend to be scented, containing strong fragrances and chemical ingredients. But the baby doesn’t need that scent! Your baby’s skin is delicate and needs a soft, chemical-free approach.
That is why the entire Nurme Cosmetics baby series has been formulated following the strict Ecocert principles, using only eco-raw materials and excluding any fragrance components or chemical ingredients. We want the baby to come to this world as smoothly as possible and without unnecessary chemicals. All Nurme Cosmetics baby series products are suitable for use from the first day of the baby’s life.
What to look for in a toddler’s skincare especially during winter?
In winter, when the air is cold and humid, the skin needs even more care, and certainly for young children. Children’s skin is delicate and needs special care. At Nurme Cosmetics, we have developed odor- and chemical-free gentle products made of high-quality organic ingredients for the skincare of babies and young children, which moisturizes, cares for, and protects the baby’s delicate and sensitive skin. In winter, a deep moisturizing baby balm is a good helper in a toddler’s skincare, which is suitable for moisturizing the cheeks as well as, for example, hands and other dry places on the body. In order to keep the baby’s skin moist after the bath, a few drops of organic baby oil can be added to the evening bathwater, which moisturizes and cleanses the skin very gently. In the case of older children, a lip balm is also suitable for use, which is convenient for a child to put in a pocket or bag when going to kindergarten, and which is also easy for the child to apply.
But what are infant growing pains and how to relieve them?
Growing pains usually occur frequently in periods that come and go. They often occur late in the evening or at night, usually lasting 0.5-2 hours and causing waking up at night. The exact cause of the growing pain is unclear, but it is thought that genetic predisposition, as well as muscle fatigue, connective tissue laxity, poor posture, flat feet, and it may also be psychosomatic.
Growing pains can be relieved, for example, by keeping a warm bag in a sore spot, massaging the sore spot, or by giving your child a relaxing foot bath with magnesium flakes. Magnesium baths soothe, relieve pain and bring better sleep, thus helping to prevent waking up at night. Pour warm water into the bath and add about 80g (half a glass) of magnesium flakes. Let the child keep their feet in warm water for about 20 minutes. From then on you can do a foot bath 2-3 times a week. Overdose of magnesium through the skin is practically impossible, as the body regulates itself and assigns just the right amount of magnesium.
Check out all the products in the Nurme Cosmetics baby series, because with Nurme Cosmetics the mother please abd the baby is happy!
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