Natural baby skin care

Thursday, August 20, 2009

There is nothing quite like the soft, delicate skin of a baby and nothing more distressing than an irritated infant, who is uncomfortable by nappy rash or any other skin condition. Many babies suffer from skin irritation during the first few months after birth, yet the good news is: Most cause no harm and go away on their own or they can be treated with very simple solutions and/or 100% natural skin care products such as Raw Gaia’s. In this guide, you will find our suggestions on how to spot and treat common baby skin problems.

While caring for babies’ skin may seem complex, all you really need to consider are three things: Which conditions can you treat at home? Which need medical treatment? How can you prevent your baby from experiencing skin problems to begin with?

Avoiding Nappy Rash

If your baby has red skin around the nappy area, you're dealing with nappy rash. Most nappy rashes occur because the skin gets irritated due to nappies that are too tight, wet nappies left on for too long or sensitivity to chemicals in the nappies, baby wipes or the detergent you use to wash them.

You can avoid nappy rash by keeping the nappy area open to the air as long as possible. Needless to say, change your baby’s nappy as soon as it is wet and wash the area with a warm cloth. For Her Babies Living Cream is particularly effective and will help to calm the rash almost immediately.

Pimples & Whiteheads

Baby acne starts in the womb, when the baby is exposed to the mother’s hormones. Those hormones boost oil production, clogging the babies oil glands. Most pimples on a baby’s nose and cheeks usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks. So you don't usually need to treat baby acne or use a lotion.

Dry skin

You probably shouldn't worry if your newborn has peeling, dry skin – it often happens if your baby is born a little late. The underlying skin is perfectly healthy, soft, and moist. If your infant's dry skin persists, it is a good idea to talk to your baby’s pediatrician. Again our For Her Babies Living Cream is extremely gentle and pure and particularly effective against dry skin.

Baby Birthmarks

Lots of babies have birthmarks (more than one in ten as a matter of fact!). Birthmarks are areas of skin discoloration and are not inherited. They may be there when your baby is born or they might show up a few months later. Generally birthmarks are nothing to worry about and need no treatment. But if your baby’s birthmark worries you, talk to your pediatrician.

Atopic Dermatitis or Eczema

Eczema is an itchy, red rash that occurs in response to a trigger. Most of the times, it is a reaction to a particular type of food or to chemicals found in the things that touch the baby’s skin, such as synthetic clothing, non-organic cotton, detergent, creams, lotion, etc.

Eczema may occur on your babies face as a weepy rash. Over time it becomes thick, dry, and scaly. You may also see eczema on the elbow, chest, arms, or behind the knees. To treat it, you need to identify and avoid what is triggering the reaction, especially in the diet. Use gentle soaps, avoid detergents, shampoos, and other products containing chemicals and apply moderate amounts of For Her Babies Living Cream.

Prickly Heat Causes Irritated Skin

Showing up as small pinkish-red bumps, prickly heat usually appears on the parts of your baby’s body that are prone to sweating, like the neck, nappy area, armpits and skin folds. A cool, dry environment and loose-fitting clothes are all you need to treat prickly heat rash, which can even be brought on in winter when your baby is over-bundled. Try dressing your baby in layers that you can remove when things heat up. We would also recommend spraying your baby’s skin with Floral Water Spray For Her Babies as it helps to soothe and cool the skin and helps in the treatment against rashes.

White Bumps (Milia)

As many as one in two newborns get little white bumps known as milia. Appearing usually on the nose and face, they are caused by skin flakes blocking oil glands. Milia are sometimes called "baby acne," but baby acne is related to hormonal changes. In this case, baby skin care is easy: As your babies glands open up over the course of a few days or weeks, the bumps usually disappear and need no treatment.

In our next article, we will talk about how to massage a baby with moisturizing oil. Besides its skin benefits, gently stroking and massaging your baby’s skin may also help to boost relaxation, lead to better sleep and reduce or stop crying.

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Baby skin rashes

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

What will you do if you found skin rashes on your baby skin?Panic?Do not panic mommy. Skin rashes in baby is one of the common baby skin symptoms on many babies. If you do not know skin rashes or diaper rashes look like, you must read my previous article which talk about What does diaper rash look like?.To help you more with infant skin rashes symptoms, I will provide you the complete summary of skin rashes in baby from Cecilia Koh, she is a registered nurse/midwife with over 30 years working experience in England and Malaysia. Read carefully below to know more on infant skin rashes and how to dealing with this kind of baby skin problem.

A Summary Of Some Common Skin Rashes In Babies (By Cecilia Koh)

• Cradle cap is a condition whereby patches of greasy yellow flakes and small pimple-like bumps appear on the scalps of healthy babies. Sometimes it may appear on the eyebrows, ears and other areas where sebaceous glands are located. It can occur in any baby, and appear during the early weeks of life and will clear by the sixth month. Some dermatologists think that high levels of maternal hormones are transmitted to the baby during the final weeks of pregnancy. This makes the sebaceous (oil) glands in the baby's skin hyperactive which trigger overproduction of sebum which not only overstimulates the growth of new skin cells but also binds the old skin cells into flakes and crusts. It often has a mild unpleasant smell and does not cause any discomfort to the baby.
  

Some doctors recommend leaving it alone but I prefer to treat it early because I have seen many cases whereby the crust becomes so thick that whenever it is rubbed, large chunks of hair comes off leaving a very red and raw looking area. Treatment is to apply a liberal amount of baby oil to the affected area about 20 minutes before the baby's bath. This will allow the crust to become soft and easy to remove. During the bath, apply a little baby shampoo to the head and using a soft hair brush or face cloth, gently brush or rub the crust off. Do this once a day until the crust has been completely removed. Sometimes it may recur after a few days so continue to wash baby's hair in the same way. Once the baby's sebaceous (oil) glands settle down the condition will disappear. N.B. The oil application must be shampooed out to prevent an oily buildup which may make the condition worse. Do not try and remove the crusts and scales with the tip of a fingernail.

• Heat rash consists of tiny blisters filled with sweat. It forms when the pores become blocked and prevent the sweat glands from releasing the sweat or when heat and humidity exceed the ability of the sweat glands to cool the body. Babies are especially vulnerable because their ability to sweat is not fully developed and they often wear or lie on waterproof materials. It normally develops around the neck, face, armpits and sometimes on the chest and back. Western medication includes applying calamine lotion and antihistamines for severe itching. Sometimes applying a light dusting of corn starch powder may help to relieve the itchiness. Chinese traditional remedy is to bath the baby with boiled dried bitter gourd vine daily for 3 days. It is best to prevent the condition from developing by dressing the baby in light cotton clothes especially in warm or hot weather. Avoid laying the baby on a plastic covered mattress or pad. Do not apply moisturizing cream or lotions or use bath oils for babies under 3 months as these products may clog the pores. Do not over wrap the baby in layers of clothes and swaddling blanket.
  

• Nappy rash is often due to infrequent nappy change causing irritation from ammonia which is released when bacteria starts breaking down the contents of a dirty nappy. It could be due to an allergy to your washing powder or fabric conditioner if your baby wears cloth diapers or a food/drug allergy especially antibiotics. The genital area, buttocks, groins and sometimes the upper thighs will look red and inflamed. It can be dry or moist and sometimes look pimply. Babies with nappy rash may be very fussy and cries frequently or does not seem bothered at all.

"Prevention is better than treatment" so the best defence against nappy rash is a dry bottom.

• Infantile eczema is an itchy dry scaly rash usually seen on the cheeks or chin, but may show up on the head, trunk, back of arms, or front of legs and is not contagious. It is first noticed at 2 to 5 months of age and is most common in families with history of allergies or asthma. In most cases it will settle down by the time the child reaches school age but for some it may continue to be a life long problem. The frequency and severity of flare ups can be dramatically reduced with careful daily washing using a hypoallergenic soap and applying moisturisers, topical steroids when needed. Avoid trigger factors such as excessive sweating, woollen clothing, soaps and bubble bath. Sometimes it may be necessary to give baby antihistamine if the itch is very intense and is making the baby very irritable.

Sometimes the eczema can become infected by bacteria and this causes extensive redness, swelling and weeping of the affected area. In this case it may be necessary for the doctor to prescribe an antibiotic cream together with a steroid cream. Children with severe eczema usually also have hay fever and asthma.

• Urticaria or hives are red or pink raised areas on the skin that are very itchy and warm to the touch. It may appear on any part of the body and usually last from a few hours to a few days, but can stay for weeks or even months in some cases. Hives are usually caused by food allergies with the most frequent culprits being eggs, shellfish, chocolate, food additives, colouring or preservatives. It can also be due to allergy to certain drugs or in response to contact with animals especially cats or from insect bites.
  

It may come on after exposure to extreme temperature especially heat or chemicals. Most often hives will disappear on its own after the allergic reaction is over. If it causes itching and discomfort, the doctor may prescribe an oral antihistamine and calamine lotion to apply on the rashes. Avoid giving your child allergy causing food until the hives have subsided. Later try to find the offending culprit by reintroducing the food item one at a time and once you know the offending food it is important to let your child's caretakers or school teachers know so that the food is avoided. This is because very rarely, hives can develop in the mouth and throat which can obstruct the child's airways. You can put this information on sticker labels on your child's feeding utensils especially in preschools when your child is too young to tell the caretakers.

Traditional Chinese therapy recommends not bathing the child as it will cause more rashes to appear and make the rash itch more. Treatment is to heat up some rice wine and apply it on the rashes 3 times a day. Most often the rashes will disappear after 2 days.

• Hand foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a skin rash with flat or raised red spots on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet and sometimes on the buttocks. Often the rash will form tiny blisters which look like the chickenpox rash but it does not itch. A day or two later the child may develop sores or blisters on the tongue, gums and inside of the cheeks. They begin as small red spots on the tongue, gums or mucous membranes which then develop into blisters or sores.

It is caused by Coxsackie virus A16 which belongs to a group of viruses called enterovirus and is normally not serious. Infection is spread by direct contact with saliva, nose and throat discharges, fluid from the blisters or the stool of an infected person who is most contagious during the first week of the illness. All infected cases recover without medical treatment by 7 to 10 days. It is most common between ages 6 months and 4 years. Very rarely, it may be caused by another strain of Coxsackie virus EV71 whereby the child develops aseptic meningitis or encephalitis (Inflammation of the brain). This strain may be fatal as in the case in Sarawak in 1997.

Treatment is to provide relief from fever or pain from the mouth ulcers and give plenty of fluids. There is no immunization for HFMD.

• Thrush or candidiasis is a fungal infection from Candida albicans. It appears as a red bumpy rash in the diaper area and the bumps are sometimes pus-filled. It may be worse in the skin folds and does not respond to diaper cream. Often the primary source of infection is in the mouth which then spreads to the nappy area from the contaminated stools. It normally starts as a couple of white patches on the sides of the mouth and if not treated quickly can spread until the tongue is coated as well. This makes it painful for baby to suckle. The creamy patches look like milk curds and therefore is easily missed. Use a cotton bud to wipe the white patches. If the patches cannot be removed it confirms that the baby has thrush therefore should be taken to the doctor who may prescribe Daktarin gel for the oral thrush and cream for the nappy area. If the infection is severe it may be necessary for the doctor to prescribe Daktacort which has a small amount of steroid in it to speed up the healing process. All feeding equipment must be boiled thoroughly for 10 minutes to prevent recurrence.

Roseola infantum or false measles is a viral illness in young children between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. The rash is pink and may have small flat spots or raised bumps. These spots may have a lighter "halo" around them and may turn white if you press on them.

Roseola usually starts out with a sudden high fever often over 103° Fahrenheit or 39.5° Celsius. During this time, the child may appear fussy or irritable and may have decreased appetite, mild diarrhoea and swollen lymph glands in the neck. The fever typically lasts three to five days and end abruptly followed by the telltale rash which is usually seen on the trunk and neck, but it can extend to the limbs and face. The rash may last for several hours or days.

A diagnosis of roseola cannot be made until the fever drops and the rash appears, so the doctor may order tests to make sure that the fever is not caused by another infection.

Roseola is contagious and spreads through tiny drops of fluid from the nose and throat of infected people. There is no known way to prevent the spread of roseola. Repeat cases of roseola may occur, but they are not common.

Treatment is to keep your baby well hydrated with lots of fluids and to control the fever to prevent a febrile seizure as about 10 to 15 percent of children with roseola have a febrile seizure.

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How to baby ezema treat

Monday, August 17, 2009

Baby eczema is a form of dermatitis or inflammation of the skin. It can vary in severity and may be as mild as small patches of red irritated skin to crusting and weeping affecting large areas which may crack or bleed.

In babies is commonly found on the scalp, face and limbs but can develop anywhere. It isn't contagious, but if it gets infected the bacteria or fungus that can grow may be transmitted.

What Causes Baby Eczema?

For some babies that cause of the eczema may not be known as it may well be an immune response that is aggravated by their environment and as their body learns to adjust to living in the outside world.

For others however, the cause may be due to having contact with an irritant such as the enzymes in washing powder, or exposure to certain allergens.

Home Remedies

Keeping your baby's skin well hydrated may be key to how severe the eczema develops. Making sure that the skin is washed using a mild cleansing agent or simple warm water followed by drying thoroughly an application of a baby moisturiser may help keep the skin protected from drying out and flaking. It is useful to try and find a non-scented and non-coloured baby lotion as sometimes the chemicals and ingredients in these products can act as an irritant.

For some, this may not be sufficient and the eczema may grow more severe regardless. It is important to try and deduce what has caused the eczema. Try using a non-biological washing powder and specially formulated baby soaps or using no soap for a while to rule out whether these are causing the irritation. Likewise, the nature of the fabric may be irritable to baby's skin and soft cotton will be less aggravating than wool or nylon, so careful selection of underclothes is worth considering.

It can be helpful to make sure your baby's bath water is not too hot as this can cause drying of the skin and make flare-ups seem worse that they actually would be. If this is the case, make sure the room in which you are bathing your baby is warm enough to tolerate a cooler bath. There is also some evidence to suggest that your baby's diet may play a role in the development or severity of baby eczema. If you are introducing your baby to a normal diet, make sure you select only one new food type at a time making sure that it is natural and not full of colours and additives.

Alternative Treatments

Massage maybe the perfect way to help your baby relax if they are suffering with eczema. Use a specially formulated product that is safe for baby massage and attend a baby massage class so you can learn the safest ways of massaging your baby. Make sure that baby's skin doesn't become too dry when massaging and always use some form of lotion, oil or lubricant as the contact from your hands on their skin may remove valuable oils from their skin.

Some alternative therapists recommend the use of aloe vera products for baby eczema as it is known to reduce swelling and inflammation but please make sure it is suitable for use on infants and is not too strong for their delicate skin.

Prescription Medicines

Your doctor may be able to recommend certain over-the-counter products for baby eczema which can work very well. These may come as creams, lotions, oils or even products to add to the bath. If however, the eczema is quite severe and beginning to distress your baby, a small amount of steroid cream may be recommended as this will help reduce the irritation and amount of flare-ups your baby experiences.

Baby eczema is quite common and there is every chance that making a few changes in the home will help resolve the problem, or that it will simply disappear over time. When choosing a product for baby eczema, please make sure it is suitable for use on babies.

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Basic Baby Skin Care

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Bath time

Babies have sensitive skin that dries out easily. While some parents like to give the baby a bath every day, most babies, especially younger infants, only need one every few days. In between baths, parents should take care to keep baby's face and bottom very clean. Babies can have tub baths only after the exposed umbilical cord has fallen off, which can take up to a month after birth.Before then, a sponge bath will do.

When to bathe?

Ideally, a bath should be given in the morning or at the end of the day before a feeding so afterward the baby can then eat and fall asleep. However, a very hungry baby will be miserable in the tub. If you feed your baby first, wait 15 minutes or so before bathing to avoid spit up. Not all babies like a bath at first. Your relaxed attitude will help a great deal in helping baby enjoy a bath. Babies usually find baths tiring and so may you at first!

Here are some tips to make bath time better for everyone:

• NEVER leave an infant alone near a tub or water - not even for a minute!
  
• Make sure you have all supplies ready before you begin the bath - towel, mild shampoo or soap, cotton balls or wash cloth to clean face.
  
• Make sure the room is warm enough and the water is not too hot or cold before putting your baby in the tub. Baby's skin burns easily.
  
• Use a washcloth to gently wipe baby's face and ears. No soap is necessary near the eyes.
  
• Use only a mild baby shampoo and soap.
  
• Scrub your baby's scalp with a soft brush and rinse well to avoid cradle cap.
  
• Lotions are usually not necessary. Do not use talcum powder on your baby.
  

Baby or neonatal acne

Just what are those little white pimples on your baby's nose and cheeks? Baby acne. It's common for babies to develop acne in the first few weeks of life. Like acne that results later in life, baby acne is caused by a change in hormones prior to delivery. The hormones cause an increase in oil production, which causes the pimples. This condition usually passes by two months. What should parents do? Keep the skin clean but do not disturb the pimples. They will go away on their own. Do not apply acne creams. Rarely, the pimples may get infected. If so, call your pediatrician or health care provider.

Cradle cap


During a baby's first few months of life, he or she will probably develop cradle cap, a skin condition that looks like dirty skin on the scalp. There is nothing you can do to prevent it, but washing the scalp daily with soap and water will clear up most cases. You can also brush the scalp with a soft baby brush or toothbrush. Sometimes rubbing a little mineral oil into the scalp before a shampoo can help. But don't put oil on after the shampoo. Some consider cradle cap to be a form of eczema. If the condition persists or spreads, call your physician.

Heat rash

In hot weather, your baby may develop prickly heat or heat rash. This rash is more common if the infant is overdressed. The rash develops because the baby's pores don't work properly yet. It looks like tiny raised red bumps on a red patch and is most often found around the neck, on the chest and back and on the scalp. There is no need for any action on your part, although a cool bath and comfortable clothing may help the baby be more comfortable.

Sunburn

Babies have sensitive skin and should not be left in the sun too long, even if they are wearing sunscreen. Infants younger than six months of age should NOT be exposed to direct sunlight. Hats and sunglasses and light, loose clothing will help protect your baby from the sun. Sunburn causes pain and may increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Limit exposure between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Sunscreens may be used after six months of age. Those containing zinc oxide or titanium oxide are good choices.

Treating sunburn

If your baby does have sunburn, you may want to call your doctor just in case. A cool (not cold) bath or a cool cloth placed on the skin may help. Make sure the baby drinks lots of fluids. If you see blisters or your infant appears listless, the condition may be more serious and require immediate medical attention.

Umbilical cord care

Until the remainder of the umbilical cord falls off sometime between one and three weeks after childbirth, regular cleaning of the area will prevent infection. Each time you change your baby's diaper, also clean around the umbilical cord. Take a clean cotton ball soaked in rubbing alcohol and clean all around the cord. This won't hurt the baby, but he or she may jump a bit from the cold alcohol. You should lift up the cord to clean underneath. Eventually, when the cord falls off, you may notice one spot of blood where it had been. This is normal and should not cause concern.

When to call the doctor

Most cords fall off easily. However, if you notice a foul smell near the cord, or if there is blood coming from the cord, call your doctor or health care provider.

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Caring Baby's Skin at Early Months

Monday, June 15, 2009

A parent first (or second) can be very intimidating and suddenly you find youself responsible for health can cause anxiety. In fact, a baby hygiene need for care are relatively easy to maintain, if you are organized and have everything ready.

Bathing & Washing
A baby does not need to be bathed every day unless, of course, your baby enjoy and you find that the bathroom is a good way to merge with your baby. Every two days or even every three days (unless the baby has an accident, a complete cleansing of the body) should be sufficient, so you can simply wash the baby.

A baby needs a wash and the beginning every morning and every evening, if necessary. A small bowl of warm water should be sufficient to wash the baby's face, hands, wrinkles, naval and groin. Start cleaning the face of baby and thoroughly dry. Followed by washing baby's hands and make sure that you are between the fingers as milk and saliva can be used in these areas.

Baby’s can sweat a lot, or you may find that milk has trickled into the creases such as under the arms, right under the chin or within any folds of body fat and skin. These should be wiped over and dried properly. The navel area can be wiped over to make sure that it is kept clean and to encourage the stump of the cord to be released. Do not put pressure on the cord or try and pull it off as this will occur naturally when it is ready. It is vital that it is kept dry after the wash to special attention should be paid to this.

Lastly the groin can be cleaned. Although you may have cleaned the area several times during the day when you are changing the nappy, it should be done again as part of the wash and incorporated into the daily routine for life. Again drying is important.

There is no need to buy wash cloths or other wise for carrying out a newborn baby wash as some cotton wool balls are ideal as they are disposable and very soft to the baby’s skin.

The Importance of Drying Properly
Equally as important as maintaining baby’s hygiene is making sure that your baby is dried properly after the wash. This is because any dampness left will result in your baby getting chilly, increasing the chances of infection and sores developing. Try not to rub your baby’s skin, instead simply pat it with a soft clean towel. Make sure the room in which you are bathing baby is warm enough for baby to be naked in during the bath or wash as babies lose their body heat very quickly and may get cold and it will also help to make the experience more enjoyable for both baby and you.

Using Talc
Not all new parents use talc and often it is not necessary, however sometimes it can help if it is used on the bottom or in the creases after they are dried to make sure baby doesn’t get sore from any build up of moisture that may develop. Do not however use talc if your baby is sore already, has a rash or has any areas of broken skin as the ingredients may make it worse and cause discomfort. In these instances, plain warm water is the best option.

As your Baby Gets Older
As your baby progresses from a newborn into an older baby, you may find that the routine now takes a few minutes as you have got used to it and bath time is now a lot of fun. It is possible to buy several types of bath chairs for babies which means that although they cannot be left alone, they have more independence and security whilst in the bath and will enjoy the experience more.

Looking after your baby’s hygiene needs is very important and there are some things to remember but overall it should be an enjoyable and as you get used to your routine, you’ll find it doesn’t take very long and you become quite an expert.

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