Your long awaited arrival is finally here in your arms, but just what are those little bumps on your baby’s skin? Newborn’s skin can be prone to all sorts of rashes and skin conditions. Luckily most are harmless and will go away on their own with time. If your baby has less than perfect cherub skin, no need to worry! Here’s a list of common skin conditions that newborns may encounter in the first few months of life and how to best treat them.Baby Acne is very common and caused by exposure to the mother’s hormones while in the womb. No treatment is necessary. They can last a few weeks or months after birth and disappear on their own.Cradle Cap also known as seborrhea often appears at 1-2 months of age. Due to excess oil a greasy, yellowish crust or scales can appear on the scalp. This can also be accompanied by a red irritating rash on the face, behind the ears, neck and arm pits. Contrary to popular belief cradle cap is not due to poor hygiene, but by an excessively oily scalp caused by the transfer of hormones from mother to baby at the end of pregnancy. We suggest Mustela Foam Shampoo for Newborns with this condition. This formula gently cleanses scalp while maintaining its fragile balance. The mild exfoliating action of AHA’s helps soften and rinse away cradle cap flakes. Mustela Stelaker is a great product to use in addition to the shampoo. It helps to remove cradle cap and restore balance and comfort to the baby’s delicate skin. Aloe Vera and Borage Oil relieve itching skin and soothe discomfort.Dry peeling skin is often seen in babies that are born late. Don’t fret, the skin underneath is perfectly moist and plump. After the skin has flaked off that uber “soft as a baby’s bottom” skin will appear.Milia are little white bumps on the face and nose that are caused by blocked oil glands. As the baby’s oil glands enlarge over the days and weeks after birth the white bumps will disappear.Eczema is red, itchy dry patches of skin that is often found on the baby’s chest, arms, legs, face, elbows and behind the knees. It is caused by dry, sensitive skin, and can be exacerbated by allergies. In general treatment may consist of a very gentle fragrance free, dye free soap, using gentle detergents and no fabric softener in the baby’s laundry and topical moisturizing creams. Your pediatrician may prescribe a steroid cream like hydrocortisone if the eczema is persistent. We suggest Mustela Stelatopia Moisturizing Cream to nourish and rebalance very dry, lipid-depleted skin. This moisturizer quickly soothes irritated skin and limits the use of corticosteroids by up to 75%.Erythema Toxicum is another common skin condition that looks like hives or mosquito bites. The cause is unknown, but fades after a few days or weeks with no treatment necessary.Prickly Heat appears as small red bumps located on the areas of the body that tend to overheat and sweat like the neck, diaper area, and armpits. To treat, simply keep the area dry and avoid overheating by wearing loose fitting clothing especially in warmer months.
