Note when taking care of newborn skin right after birth

This is an automatically translated article.

The article is expertly consulted by Master, Doctor Truong Thanh Tam - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

1. Baby skin characteristics

A baby's skin is very thin: A newborn's skin is only one-fifth as thin as an adult's, and the blood vessels beneath the baby's skin can be seen. With fragile skin, unstable skin structure, baby's skin is very susceptible to allergies or damage by factors from the external environment; Children's skin is often red and wrinkled: The reason is because in newborns, the subcutaneous fat layer of the baby has not accumulated much, so the baby's skin is not plump, the epidermis layers of the skin collapse because it is not supported by the fat layer. . After a few weeks, when the subcutaneous fat layer forms, the baby's skin will be ruddy and smooth, plumper; There are many thin layers of white skin that fall off: While in the womb, the baby's skin is covered by a white membrane, which helps protect the baby in the amniotic environment. When your baby is born, this white membrane is rubbed, dried, and peeled off. This is a normal condition so parents need not worry; Baby's skin is hairy: Along with the white membrane, the downy layer of hair that grows on the baby's skin helps to protect the baby from the effects of amniotic fluid. Some babies will lose most of this hair while in the womb, but others will be born with this coat. This coat will disappear after the baby is about 1 - 4 years old; Baby acne: The layers of milky acne on the baby's skin are very small, white like pearls. Milia are not dangerous and may disappear after a few weeks or months. If after 3 months, the milk blisters on the baby's skin have not disappeared, parents should take the baby to the doctor for an accurate check.

2. How to care for baby's skin

Right after birth, one of the newborn care jobs that need careful attention is skin care. The reason is because the baby's delicate skin is very vulnerable to damage and infection by the effects of the environment and bacteria, so the mother needs to have knowledge of proper newborn skin care to protect the baby.
The care and selection of skin care products for babies need to adhere to the following principles:
Avoid exposing children to skin irritants:
Choosing clothes for babies is the most important. soft fabrics; Pay attention to avoid rubbing, even gently rubbing on the baby's skin because it can cause damage to the baby's skin; Avoid exposing children to harsh soaps because these products are often highly alkaline, which can easily irritate the baby's skin; Keep baby's skin with proper moisture:
If the weather is dry or bathing a lot, the baby's skin can become dehydrated. Newborn caregivers should apply baby lotion to areas with dry, dehydrated skin; Not changing diapers often plus hot and humid weather can cause fungal infections, infections in babies. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly wash the diaper area of ​​the baby with cleaning agents with mild, non-irritating ingredients;

Limit exposure to skin irritants from the environment:
Change the baby's diaper every time the diaper is wet so that the baby's skin is not exposed for too long to feces and urine; Gentle, clinically proven skin care products should be used to combat skin irritation and reduce friction; Choose the right diaper for your baby; Avoid factors that negatively affect children's eyes. Because infants do not yet have reflexes to close their eyes or secrete tears when encountering irritants, parents or caregivers should note:
Keep babies away from cigarette smoke and polluted environments; Avoid cleaning products that contain soap or alcohol; Use hair and skin care products with mild ingredients that do not sting your eyes; Limit changes to the balance of bacteria on the baby's skin. The strains of bacteria that normally reside on the skin are present from the moment the baby is born. They rarely cause disease unless there is an open wound on the skin or the natural acidity of the baby's skin is destroyed. Therefore, parents need to:
Keep the baby's umbilical cord and open wounds clean; Clean baby's skin with mild body wash, pH balanced, suitable for the physiology of the skin. Parents need to keep the baby's skin clean and care properly so that the baby's skin is always soft and cool, thereby helping the baby to be comfortable and eat and sleep better.
Master. Truong Thanh Tam has 15 years of experience in pediatrics and especially has a lot of experience in hematology, resuscitation and pediatric oncology. The doctor has participated in many national and international scientific conferences on pediatrics and participated in many short-term training courses and was certified as "Pediatric Core Instructor", by Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy. grant. Currently, she is a Pediatrician at the Department of Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital.

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