Baby Skin Rashes

I have tried many shampoos & conditioners that say they are "chemical free" or "all natural", but they still cause me to have an allergic reaction. Your products are the only products that I can use without a reaction. It is such a relief to finally find something that actually works. I just can't find the words to express how happy I am to have found Nature's Baby Products. Thank you from the bottom of my heart and you have a customer for life.

Lori, - Los Angeles, CA

Many things can cause a rash, a reaction or an irritation with your baby’s skin. Your baby’s skin is thinner and less oily than yours and that makes it much more fragile. It has less melanin to protect it naturally from sunburn, is less resistant to bacteria and more easily irritated. Also, babies retain some of your hormones for a few weeks after birth, which may cause minor skin irritations that disappear quickly.

You can prevent many child and baby skin rashes by reading ingredient labels carefully and choosing shampoos, conditioners, lotions and creams that don’t contain the toxic, irritating or dangerous chemicals used in many baby products. Other rashes and skin irritations are caused by heat, moisture, infections or even lack of development. Here are a few other common skin conditions you may encounter.

Heat rash or Prickly heat: Babies’ sweat glands are undeveloped so high heat and humidity can cause small pink pimples. Make sure you don’t overheat rooms or overdress your baby. Cleanse and dry the skin thoroughly and keep the clothing loose.

Infant acne: Babies retain moms’ hormones after birth and can get acne – pink spot on the face. If it doesn’t go away on its own within a few weeks, talk to your pediatrician.

Cradle cap: Baby’s glands in his scalp can get overactive leaving crusty patches. Wipe gently with olive oil, leave on a few minutes and shampoo with Nature’s Baby Shampoo and Body Wash. Brush or comb gently.

Seborrheic Dermatitis: This is Cradle Cap on other parts of the body, particularly around ears, eyebrows, even in armpits or other creases. Sometimes looks like dandruff.

Milia: These tiny white or yellow bumps on the cheeks and nose are common during the first two weeks. Dead skin gets trapped in tiny pockets near the surface. Avoid any creams or lotions, don’t scrub, don’t squeeze the bumps.

Eczema: These red, itchy patches on the chest, arms, legs, face, elbows, and behind the knees are caused by dry, sensitive skin or possibly allergies. Your pediatrician can tell if the rash looks like eczema and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Using a very gentle soap like Nature’s Baby Products is recommended. While we don’t claim that our products cure Eczema, many moms have written in to tell us how changing to our products has helped their baby’s eczema – or even their own. In fact my second daughter was born with severe Eczema and neither of my children have had any skin irritations or rashes since we developed Nature’s Baby Products. Gentle detergents and no fabric softener is also recommended. For more on Baby Eczema, Click here.

Yeast (monilia) infection: This intense red rash often has smaller bumps around the edges and can be found in the diaper area or moist dark areas like the creases of the thighs. See your pediatrician for anti-yeast liquid medicine or cream.

Erythema toxicum: This looks like mesquite bites or hives and usual goes away within a few days or weeks without treatment. The cause is unknown.

Dry, peeling skin: If the underlying skin is normal (soft and moist) this is probably due to a baby being born a little late.

Salmon patches: If it’s at the back of the neck, it’s a “Stork Bite.” If its between the eyes, it’s an “Angel’s Kiss.” These are probably caused by maternal hormones and are nests of blood vessels. Most fade on their own within weeks or months but some stork bites never go away.

Mongolian spots: These flat gray/blue patches look almost like a bruise and can be found anywhere on dark skinned babies. They are harmless and are caused by pigment that didn’t make it to the top layer when the skin was being formed. They will usually fade away by the time your baby begins school.

Any rash associated with other symptoms like fever, poor appetite and feeding, cough, or lethargy needs to be discussed with your pediatrician. Fluid filled blisters, particularly those with opaque or yellowish fluid can be serious. They may indicate a bacterial infection, herpes or other severe condition. Petechiae, or small red dots over the body, can be caused by an infection that is either viral or bacterial. Remember, any of these circumstances require a call or visit to your pediatrician.

To prevent many baby skin rashes and irritations, read labels and choose your baby skin and hair care products carefully. Use products specifically created to be gentle, non-allergenic, non-irritating and chemical-free. At Nature’s Baby Products, we test each product with a group of over 39 families with children with conditions including Asthma, Eczema, Dermatitis and Skin allergies. Both of my daughters have asthma, allergies and sensitive skin, too. So every product has to pass the strictest review of family, friends and our volunteer evaluation families. No product is sold without raves from all. We also use clinical tests.