Baby Skin Conditions in the Winter

First, remember that just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you should overdress your baby. “I think new parents get a little freaked out about the cold temperature, so even if they’re just going out for a short walk, they’ll put their baby in a romper, and then a sweater, and then a jacket, and then they slide them into the little bundle me on the stroller and put a blanket over that…” says Hartshorn. “They only need one more layer than you’re wearing.” So, if you’re comfortable going out in a sweater and a jacket, dress baby the same way, plus one. Throw a blanket over their stroller and they’ll be just fine.

Pay special attention to your baby’s comfort at night. “Overheating at night is more of a serious issue,” says Hartshorn. “It doesn’t just cause a rash, it can make it hard for the baby to breathe.” Instead of covering your baby with a blanket, which can pose a suffocation risk as well, try dressing your baby in footed pajamas or a wearable blanket. These blankets, which have a zipper up the front and arm holes, allow free movement, but keep baby just warm enough so that he or she doesn’t overheat.

Many babies get rashes in the winter, and they often pop up if the baby is overheated. In the summer, letting your baby run around naked for a bit will help. In the winter, however, you don’t have this option because it’s too cold. When the air gets chilly, Hartshorn suggests, “A nice warm bath in just plain water, or something with a real mild baby wash.” Using an oatmeal-based formula will help take the itch away. After they’re warm and dry, apply a petroleum-based cream on the affected area. This acts as a barrier against the elements and helps the rash to heal.

Babies are also faced with chapped lips and faces in the winter. With their little nose running and their mouth drooling, a child’s face is both cold and wet, which can accelerate chapping. In addition to wiping their face often with a clean tissue or cloth, try applying a little diaper rash cream. This, while a little surprising, helps heal the chapped lips and face and prevents future chapping as well.

Prickly Heat

Heat rash often is called prickly heat but its technical name is miliaria. Nobody really understands exactly why babies have heat rashes, except that the sweat glands in the skin seem to become blocked up. You then get a little leak of the sweat outside of the duct, and that creates irritation or inflammation that results in a tiny red spot or bump about a millimeter or so in size.

Those spots tend to appear in areas where there are skin folds such as in the folds of the neck. They are more likely to happen if a baby becomes overheated. So heat rashes can occur in the summer months in warm climates, or if a baby is a bit too heavily dressed for the surrounding temperature. Sometimes heat rashes can be made worse if parents are applying thick moisturizers or other products.

Care For the Umbilical Site

For the first week or so the umbilical site needs special attention. If the area surrounding the navel becomes red and tender, or the umbilicus itself shows a puslike discharge or emits an unpleasant odor, these signs indicate an infection and medical assistance should be sought. Herbal powders in single or combination form have proven to be potent allies in this instance. The following powder has a reputation for completely drying the umbilical stump within three days after the birth. The powder can be gently applied several times daily, usually at diaper changes, with a cotton ball or swab. It will also help to be certain that the diaper is not rubbing or chafing this delicate area, and that it is in general kept clean and dry. In fact, if weather permits, it helps to expose the area to fresh air and sunlight for a time each day to promote healing.

Herbal Cord Care Powder

Barberry root

Oregon grape root

Goldenseal root

Combine equal parts of each and blend well with a wire whisk. Store in a clean, dry glass jar. These three roots share the berberine alkaloid, which is a powerful astringent and antimicrobial. These herbs must be ordered from ethical sources, such as organically grown, as the wildharvested variety contributes to their preca rious status as endangered plants. Goldenseal especially has been overharvested to a point of extinction from its natural habitat to meet the huge consumer demand. Using organically grown herbs gives the environment an opportunity to replenish and grow strong again, ensuring that these valuable plants are not lost to us.

Honey is another option and an old remedy for protecting and drying the umbilical stump. Traditional midwives praise honey for its natural antibiotic properties, as well as being nutritive and healing for the skin. Apply honey to the umbilical site following the birth and thereafter several times a day.

Continue your chosen remedy even after the stump drops off for a few days, to protect while the healing process is fully completed.

Erythema Toxicum

Babies have the most amazing skin. Unlike adults, the brand-new skin of a baby has not been affected by the damaging rays of the sun or environmental factors. Although the skin of a baby is soft and supple, it is not necessarily blemish-free. Babies often have rashes and blemishes that are quite common. Many of these skin conditions do not require special care and eventually correct themselves, but some do require special treatment.

Erythema Toxicum

This skin condition sounds rather serious, but it commonly affects up to 50% of all newborn babies. This skin condition is characterized by red flat blotches that appear on the trunk and face of newborns, generally before they are five days old, and it does not require any special treatment. These harmless blotches usually disappear on their own within seven days.

Milia, Cradle Cap, Acne

Babies’ skin is supposed to be perfect, so how come your bundle of joy doesn’t look flawless? Newborns go through a lot to enter the world and most end up with some skin conditions. These imperfections shouldn’t alarm or bother you, they certainly aren’t bothering your newest addition (nor should they affect her later in life). Here are a few things that may show up:

Premature babies and even some full term can be born with a soft, fine hair (lanugo) covering the skin. This fur should disappear after a few weeks.

Any patchy, peeling or cracking in your newborn’s skin is normal and should improve over time. If it appears on her head it’s called cradle cap and should clear up on its own after several months.

Baby acne is very common, and doesn’t usually last more than a few months. Don’t try to treat the blemishes yourself with creams or over-washing, it’s best to just let it run its course — the acne will eventually go away.

Milia is another condition that is normal (and looks similar to baby acne) and harmless. The small white spots that occur on baby’s cheeks and nose should fade within a few weeks.

Any small red spots on her forehead, eyelids, lips, and/or neck are caused by stretched blood vessels, and should disappear by the time she is 18 months old.
In the case of your wee one’s skin conditions, patience is the best medicine. If you think your babe is experiencing something more serious (perhaps from an allergic reaction), contact her pediatrician.