3 common baby skin conditions and how to treat them

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Taking care of that sweet new skin is important to parents and caregivers, but when common infant skin conditions like cradle cap, diaper rash and eczema strike, it can be challenging to know what to do. “Baby skin is very fragile and sensitive,” notes Maxine Ryan, a senior educational trainer with Ducray. “The skin cells are still very immature and the skin is about 20 to 30 percent thinner than adult skin. It’s trying to adapt to the outside world for the first time so it can get very dry and irritated very quickly. And, it’s like a sponge, so it’s very sensitive to outside elements like creams and lotions.” Here are some points for parents and caregivers to keep in mind.

Eczema

Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, refers to itchy, red, bumpy irritated patches on your little one’s skin, often in the body’s creases at the elbow, neck, knee or hand. Bathing in lukewarm water for five to 10 minutes daily, using fragrance-free, soap-free gentle cleansers can help, followed by an ointment or cream recommended by your doctor. Creams containing corticosteroids are often prescribed for eczema lesions but can’t be used for long periods because there is a possibility of thinning the skin, as well as irritation, burning or stinging.

Parents looking for cortisone-free, fragrance-free products recommended by dermatologists now have some options. “Since they were born, my boys have had sensitive skin, and we have dealt with eczema,” says Magalie Cournoyer, a Quebec mom of two. “We have been using the Dexyane range every day for a few months now for our bath routine and the results are amazing.” Ryan adds that the Dexyane MeD products by Ducray be used directly on mild to moderate lesions. For more severe lesions, it can be used alone or in tandem with prescribed corticosteroids. “Dexyane MeD forms a clear ‘mesh’ on the skin that’s almost like a bandage that protects the skin from infection and helps medical ingredients penetrate the skin.” The Dexyane range can be used from birth and Dexyane MeD from three months of age.

Cradle cap

Cradle cap is a form of dandruff for babies, most often seen in newborns and disappearing by age one. It’s harmless, and looks like crusty or oily yellow or white scales on the scalp, caused by the normal buildup of skin oils and sloughed skin cells. Washing your baby’s scalp daily with a mild shampoo can help loosen the scales, but it’s important not to scratch them off.

Diaper rash

Just about every baby has diaper rash at some point. It’s caused by skin contact with wet or soiled diapers, leading to red, sore, irritated skin. Be sure to change diapers often and get some “bare bum” time to expose that baby skin to the air. Use unscented wipes or soap to gently clean up soiled skin. If diaper rash does develop, apply an unscented barrier ointment like a zinc oxide cream or petroleum jelly to clean skin after each diaper change.

When your little one has healthy skin, everyone feels better! For success, stick with proven, gentle care and products.

Skin-soothing ingredients

There are several active ingredients that help to treat eczema: hydroxydecine, derived from royal jelly—an extremely rich fatty acid—to repair the skin barrier and provide lasting protection from dryness; enoxolone, which is derived from licorice and quells inflammation and itching; and isoleucine, an essential amino acid that helps to form an invisible barrier to prevent harmful bacteria from sticking to the skin. Find them in these cortisone-free, fragrance-free, paraben-free, soap-free, clinically proven products from Ducray, like the Dexyane MeD Soothing Repair Cream, which is suitable for babies ages three months and up. This rich cream quickly soothes the pain and itching of eczema lesions and can be used with or without prescribed corticosteroid products.

Click here for more information about the product lineup or visit Shoppers Drug Mart, Well.ca or your local pharmacy to purchase.