5 Surprising Facts About Your Baby’s Skin

You may see a baby and want to have skin as smooth and soft as that, we all do. Well in reality, they were not born that way! When they are first born, baby’s skin come in all sorts of different colors, shades and typically have icky bitty gooey stuff all around them. See 5 surprising facts about a baby’s skin:

1: IT WON’T BE PRETTY AT FIRST

Babies born prematurely are usually covered with fine hair (lanugo) for the first few days of their life. It also might be coated with a greasy cheese-like substance called vernix that protects a baby’s skin in utero from amniotic fluid, and can take a day or two to wear or wash off. But do keep an eye out for a yellow cast to the skin, which could be a sign of jaundice.

2: IT’S VERY PRONE TO RASHES

About 30 to 40 percent of babies are born with milia – white or yellow dots that look like tiny whiteheads and appear all over their little faces. Also, a good number of them will develop pimples, breaking out in what is known as baby acne. Even if the above are avoided, there’s still a 50% chance baby might develop erythema toxicum — a harmless, temporary red rash that can cover their whole body, but usually breaks out on the chest and back. The best thing you can do for baby breakouts is to leave them alone (no squeezing, no scrubbing) and it will eventually all wear off in a few days.

3: YOUR HORMONES AFFECT IT

Your hormones worked their magic throughout pregnancy, now they’re making a few changes to your newborn’s skin. As your due date approaches, your hormones make their way through the placenta and into your baby, improving oil production. However, between a week and a month after birth, your baby’s system will flush them out.

4: IT’S PAPER-THIN

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Those thighs, cheeks and hands might be chubby, but right now, your baby’s skin is ultra-thin. In fact, you can see most of her blood vessels underneath, which, as it turns out, is one way to gauge your newborn’s temperature and mood. When your baby is cold, their feet and hands may actually turn blue, reminding you to cuddle or add another layer. Thin skin means it’s easy for babies to get cold, so it’s always a good idea to dress your little guy in one more layer than you yourself would wear for the weather (and always wear a hat except when they sleep). After about a year, their skin will thicken enough to keep them naturally insulated and you won’t have to worry so much about the extra-layer rule.

5: IT DOESN’T NEED TO BE WASHED THAT OFTEN

Contrary to popular belief, there’s no need to wash your infant every day. In fact, too much washing can dry out a baby’s delicate skin, leaving it more susceptible to rashes and infections. A quick wipe-down of delicate areas such as the neck, legs, arms, and diaper area with a damp wash cloth is usually good enough most days. However, our dusty weather and roads may call for a bath or two on some days. When you do bathe them, opt for a soap-free, fragrance-free cleanser and only use a minimal amount. And always choose fragrance- and dye-free lotions.