Rashes, spots, bumps and scratches are a completely normal feature of a baby’s skin. Yes, newborns might have a reputation for being smooth and spotless, but for most babies the reality is far less perfect. In fact, if your baby gets through the early months without more than a few skin blemishes, this is closer to an exception than the norm.
But which baby skin issues are serious and which are not? Here at My BabyManual our team of professional writers has teamed up with our clinicians to produce an exhaustive online resource of articles to help you answer this question. In fact, we detail the most common and most significant baby skin issues so you can learn more about recognising and managing all the important infant skin issues, including the following:
Acne: yes, you read right. Even baby’s get acne. In fact, as many as two in ten babies are born with neonatal acne, while others will develop it at any point over the first six months of life.
Cradle Cap: cradle cap is very common in the first 3 months of life and often lasts a year or longer. It is nothing to worry about (it is just dead skin cells) although there are products and techniques for reducing the appearance of cradle cap.
Baby eczema: unlike cradle cap or baby acne, infant eczema can be uncomfortable and make your baby seriously irritable. There are things you can do that may help to reduce baby eczema. In more severe cases, your GP may prescribe a hydrocortisone ointment or antihistamine.
Impetigo: this bacterial skin infection enters the body through broken skin and is highly infectious. In some cases, it may be necessary to treat impetigo with antibiotics.
Nappy rash: few things are as discomforting to a baby as a sore bottom covered with nappy-rash. Fortunately, there are some things you can do to lessen the severity and incidence of nappy rash.
Birthmarks: there are many different types of birthmarks, ranging from the temporary to the permanent. These include strawberry hemangioma, stork bites (Nevi simplex), port-wine stains (Nevus flammeus), café-au-lait spots, mongolian spots and, of course, the humble mole.
And of course, some rashes can be a sign of illness such as chickenpox, measles and meningitis, so it’s important to be able to recognise the differences.
Evidence-based information to help you with baby skin issues
My BabyManual’s team of clinicians and professional writers has produced a library of evidence-based information about all the important baby skin issues and skincare questions. Every article is carefully written to help you understand the important points and that any questions you may have are answered. Begin browsing our library today.