Deciphering Baby Skin Issues

Ever heard the saying: “As smooth as a baby’s bottom”? Well, there’s a good reason the phrase has become so popular—baby’s skin is some of the softest, smoothest skin there is. So, when new parents suddenly notice a rough patch or rash, their first instinct may be to worry and wonder, is this normal?

Indeed, new parents may be surprised to learn that despite being years away from the woes of teen acne, their newborn and young children are extra susceptible to a whole host of skin issues and conditions including bumps, rashes, rough patches, and more.

For a primer on common baby skin issues, we turned to Northwell Health pediatric dermatologist Nika Finelt, MD. Here’s her overview on the conditions parents most typically see, how to prevent them when possible, how to treat them if they do happen, and when you should take your little one to the doctor for professional evaluation.

When it comes to the most common blemishes and nuisance skin conditions for small children, Finelt says there are a few that top the list:

• Heat rash or miliaria: “This is basically sweat trapping, and can look like little bumps on the baby’s skin,” according to Finelt. It develops when blocked pores trap sweat under the skin and can show up as lumps or blisters. Sometimes this condition can itch or feel prickly (ergo, the common ailment is also known as prickly heat).

It usually clears up on its own after cooling down the skin and ending the perspiration. But if it’s painful, if pus drains from the lesions, or if it comes with a fever or swollen lymph nodes, consult a doctor.

• Eczema or atopic dermatitis: Finelt describes this as “rough, dry, itchy skin on the baby’s face, neck, and body,” and explains that a genetic susceptibility in combination with exposure to irritants like fragranced or drying skin care products can increase the likelihood of experiencing this condition.

Common among young children, this can also happen at any age. The chronic condition results in periodic flare-ups, and might be accompanied by asthma or hay fever. While there's no cure for this condition, at-home treatments like medicated creams can help soothe it. To help prevent flare-ups, steer clear of harsh soaps and frequently moisturize baby’s skin.

• Cradle cap or seborrheic dermatitis: This is a common condition among infants, and typically disappears by the time your little one hits the one year mark. It doesn’t hurt or itch, and parents needn’t worry about scarring or loss of hair. Instead, Finelt says, it is caused by the “normal colonization of yeast,” and can be identified as “yellow scale on scalp and erythematous patches in folds.”
• Infantile hemangiomas: These are bright red birthmarks formed by collections of extra blood vessels. These “benign growths” happen commonly in infants, according to Finelt, and even more so in girls, multiples, and premature babies. You might see these at birth, or in the first weeks or months of the baby’s life. Most stop growing within months without treatment. Sometimes, these can be improved with laser treatments or beta blocker drugs prescribed by a doctor.

While parents can’t prevent some common baby skin conditions (such as infantile hemangiomas), they can help improve others (such as eczema) or even prevent flare-ups with some basic best practices and simple home remedies.

Sure, those heavily fragranced and frothy mass-market skin care products can be tempting as part of a cozy bath time routine, but these soothing-seeming items can actually be the cause of irritation on babies’ fragile skin. “Avoid using fragranced products, avoid bubble baths, and use minimal soap,” Finelt says.

Bathing the baby daily is OK, she says, but each time “moisturize with bland emollients following the bath to minimize irritation and drying.”

Specifically as a way to prevent or mitigate eczema, “you want to avoid bubble baths, too much soap, fragrant soaps, and emollients,” she explains. “Too many baby products have fragrance added to it, and these additives stress delicate skin.”

Although baby skin conditions are common and frequently harmless, Finelt advises approaching them with caution and visiting a doctor to explore any concerns, especially if marks are visible on the skin or are clearly causing discomfort to your child.

“If a baby is symptomatic, itchy, or if anything is growing on their skin, then their parents should seek care,” she says.

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