How to Check Common Infant Skin Ailments

Your infant's skin is delicate, and susceptible to a number of skin conditions. Luckily, most of these are completely painless and will disappear after a short time. By paying close attention to your baby's skin, you can spot the symptoms of skin ailments early and make sure you look after it in the most appropriate way.

Things You'll Need

  • Petroleum jelly or mineral oil
  • Mild infant shampoo
  • Soap-free cleanser
  • Emollient

Instructions

    • 1

      Look out for small pimples on your infant's skin, which may be baby acne. According to BabyCenter.com, it typically appears on the cheeks, forehead, chin and back a couple of weeks after birth and may be caused by the mother's hormones remaining in the baby's bloodstream. Fortunately, this skin condition is harmless and won't cause your baby any pain or discomfort. Resist the temptation to squeeze the spots or put cream on them and simply use a little water to keep the skin clean.

    • 2

      Check your baby's scalp and diaper area for crusty patches, scales and flakes resembling dandruff. Cradle cap is a common skin condition caused by pregnancy hormones, which make baby's sebaceous glands go into overdrive. Cradle cap tends to disappear on its own without any need for treatment, says author Heidi Murkoff in the article "16 Common Infant Skin Disorders" at whattoexpect.com. In serious cases, the dead skin can be loosened with petroleum jelly or mineral oil. If your baby has cradle cap on his scalp, wash his hair regularly with mild infant shampoo to keep oil to a minimum.

    • 3

      Watch for rashes on your baby's skin that seem to be causing her discomfort, particularly on her face and scalp. Infant eczema, also known as atopic eczema, often spreads from one part of the body to another. Common symptoms are itching, patches of dry, scaly skin and tiny red bumps, which may be filled with pus. According to BabyCenter.com, around 20 percent of babies and young children suffer from eczema. Take care of your infant's skin with daily lukewarm baths, a soap-free cleanser and plenty of emollient to seal moisture into her skin.

    • 4

      Inspect your baby's bottom during changing time for diaper rash, which appears as red bumps on the skin around the diaper area. According to Murkoff, diaper rash is caused by too much moisture, too little air and irritants like urine, diapers and baby wipes. Change your infant's diaper frequently to keep moisture away from his skin. Give him as much diaper-free time as possible to get plenty of air to the skin. Use warm water to wash the area instead of wipes, and switch to a soap-free cleanser at bath time.

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