Winter is coming again, and that means: extra dry skin. In this blog, we will explain how you can prepare your child completely 'winterproof' for the cold months ahead. We have researched everything you need to know about dry baby skin in detail, and in this blog, you can find all the information to protect your child’s skin!
What exactly is meant by a dry baby skin?
It is very normal for babies to suffer from dry skin more quickly. As a mother, you definitely don’t need to feel guilty if your child has dry skin or diaper rash. Many factors contribute to dryness. For example, the baby’s skin is naturally more sensitive. This is because the baby’s skin is not yet 100% developed and external factors, such as winter cold, can cause dry skin to develop extra quickly. The baby’s skin functions and reacts differently than adult skin. This causes flaky skin or chapped/red patches that feel rough to develop more quickly. But also eczema or diaper rash. The skin is fully developed only around the 4th-6th year of a child, but even then the skin still needs good care.
What are the causes of a dry baby skin?
The baby’s skin contains the same 'layers' as adult skin, but each layer is about 5 times thinner. The cells of the baby’s skin are not yet as tightly packed as adult skin. Mainly the stratum corneum (a part of the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin) is not thick enough. In addition, the sebaceous glands do not yet produce the normal amount of sebum, which keeps the skin oily. Because of these factors, the baby can retain less moisture and other important substances.
Every baby has an incompletely developed skin, which causes or can cause dryness. But many other factors can also play a role in drying out the baby’s skin. We have listed some causes for you:
Bathing or showering too often/for too long
CChlorine in swimming pools
Hereditary dry skin
Allergies
Winter cold
Humidity
Certain ingredients in products
Heating in the house
What are the consequences of a dry baby skin?
Is a dry skin in babies harmful? No, a dry baby skin is harmless 9 out of 10 times! However, it can cause irritations that make the baby itchy and cause scratching. If the baby scratches itself and breaks the skin, infections can develop (such as impetigo). Besides, the baby’s skin naturally doesn’t feel nice. The skin can become rough and red due to dryness. Eczema and diaper rash can also develop, which are itchy and irritating for the baby.
What exactly is the relationship between diaper rash and dry skin?
Babies often suffer from diaper rash. Diaper rash occurs because it is often warm and moist inside the diaper. In addition, urine and stool can irritate the skin. The causes of diaper rash are:
Not changing diapers often enough
Antibiotics
Teething
Fabric of the clothing (some fabrics retain even more heat/moisture)
Eczema
Diaper rash can be seen as red, chapped buttocks, sometimes with blisters or even broken skin.. Usually, you can also see it on the inside of the upper thighs. Diaper rash can be very painful and itchy. Often the baby also becomes very sensitive to crying and often has less appetite. Dry skin can increase the chance of diaper rash.
What should I watch for if my baby has dry skin?
To prevent the baby's skin from becoming drier and to limit the consequences, there are a few factors to consider. Washing your child plays a very important role in dry baby skin. First: limit washing your baby - bathing too often or for too long with warm water removes the protective fat layer on the baby's skin. It is best to use lukewarm water and especially dry well (pat dry) after bathing/showering. It is also important to use the right products for your baby during and after washing, as many products contain ingredients that can dry out the skin. There are a few other things to watch for if your baby has dry skin, namely:
Trim the nails regularly. This prevents the baby from scratching themselves open, as dry skin can be very itchy.
Make sure the skin stays well ventilated. But use air conditioners as little as possible.
Diarrhea is very common in babies, but if the diarrhea persists for a long time and the baby has dry skin, it is advisable to have the baby checked.
Do seasons also affect skin dryness?
Seasons definitely affect skin dryness. Both summer and winter can cause dry skin, each due to different factors. In summer, dry skin is caused by prolonged sun exposure, which evaporates a lot of moisture from the skin. Therefore, make sure to apply a moisturizing cream to your baby after swimming or washing. This prevents water from evaporating from the skin and creates a protective layer. Additionally, air conditioning is often used in summer, which also causes your skin to dry out.
In winter, dry skin can also occur quickly, usually caused by heating or dry air. Cold, wind, and dry air can also dry out the skin. A large part of the natural skin fats become dehydrated. It is therefore very important to choose the best products that suit your child, so you prevent the baby's skin from drying out.
Can I also prevent my baby's dry skin?
Completely preventing your baby's dry skin is almost impossible. But you can do as much as possible to limit and properly care for dry skin. Here are some tips:
Tip 1 - Bathe your child at most 3 times a week. Limit the number of times you bathe your child because washing your child often with water rinses away the greasy protective layer of their body. The sebum production is not yet sufficient to maintain that protective layer.
Tip 2 - Limit the use of soap or use soap with good ingredients. Just like washing your baby often, soap also causes dry skin. Soap, like water, washes away the baby's natural fat layer. This causes water to evaporate faster from the skin, resulting in dryness.
Tip 3 - Limit bath time; the longer you bathe a baby, the looser the skin becomes and thus more vulnerable. Try to keep it to a maximum of 10 minutes at a time.
Tip 4 - Use lukewarm water. If the water is too hot, a baby's skin dries out faster.
Tip 5 - Add a few drops of baby oil to the bath. Oil keeps the skin supple and soft.
Tip 6 - Pat your baby dry with a muslin cloth. This ensures that your baby's skin does not get damaged.
Tip 7 - Apply baby ointment to your baby; the ointment forms a protective layer on your baby's skin.
Tip 8 - Limit dry air. In winter you turn on the heating and in summer the air conditioning. Both cause dry air, which increases the chance of dry skin. Therefore, limit the dry air around your baby.
Tip 9 - Use sunscreen. Your baby's skin is not yet protected against the strong sun and its UV rays. Therefore, make sure to apply sunscreen well on your baby. Preferably always use sunscreen with factor 50.
Tip 10 - Wrap your baby up well. In winter, you sometimes go for a walk with the stroller. Always make sure your baby is well wrapped up because you naturally want to prevent chapped hands or cheeks.
Tip 11 - Has your baby enjoyed swimming? First rinse off the chlorine or seawater from your baby before drying them. Chlorine and salt dry out the skin.
Tip 12 - Give your baby scratch mittens. When babies have dry skin, they get itchy and start scratching. With their sharp nails, they scratch their thin skin open. That’s why these are very handy to have!
Which cream is an absolute must-have for dry baby skin?
Does your baby suffer a lot from dry skin? Then the Attitude Baby Leaves Bodylotion is a real must-have! This is a natural nourishing lotion that is great to use on dry skin. The lotion absorbs well into the skin and does not leave a greasy layer. Thanks to a wonderful mix of natural nourishing oils, the lotion makes the baby’s skin wonderfully soft and supple. In addition, the body lotion contains no harmful ingredients such as parabens, silicones, harsh chemicals, or other carcinogens or hormone disruptors. Dermatologically tested, natural formula, allergen-free (just like all other products from Attitude), simply perfect!
What is an ideal routine for caring for dry skin?
Baby skin is very delicate. Compared to adults, they have very thin skin. Babies are more prone to dry skin or eczema as a result. That’s why it’s important to have the right routine for caring for dry baby skin. As an example, we have used products from Attitude, the perfect care for baby & child:
When washing your baby’s skin, which of course you only do occasionally (once a week, 1.5 weeks), it is important to use a very mild bodywash that supports the skin and hair’s natural process and does not harm it. Additionally, it must be completely free of (potentially) harmful ingredients and ingredients that cause irritation. So even natural ingredients that can irritate should be avoided, and Attitude is one of the few brands that pays attention to this.
First, wash your baby with, for example, the Attitude 2 in 1 Shampoo/Bodywash Fragrance-Free or the Baby Leaves 2in1 Shampoo/Bodywash Pear & Nectar. They contain only 100% safe ingredients that are gentle on the baby’s skin and only support the baby’s skin. To support dry baby skin, it is important to further support the natural process, and using a very supportive body lotion is essential. Note, a body lotion that in no way contains irritating or harmful ingredients. Just to be clear, the scent of pear and nectar is completely natural. No chemical substances were used to extract the fragrance. Of course, there is always the fragrance-free variant :)
Then use the Baby Leaves Bodylotion Pear Nectar to apply and massage the delicate and dry skin of your baby. The body lotion absorbs quickly, providing a fast, soothing effect on your baby.
Next, for extremely dry spots, you can use the Nanoil Sweet Almond Oil. This pure oil is cold-pressed, unrefined, and 100% organic. This oil is a very gentle oil that is especially suitable for babies and pregnant women :)
Additionally, you can always use the Naïf Milky Bath Oil while washing your baby, when you put him or her in the bath. This provides an extra protective layer for your baby’s dry skin. The baby oil absorbs well into the skin and does not leave a greasy layer. Thanks to a wonderful mix of natural nourishing oils, the oil makes the baby’s skin wonderfully soft and supple.
What should I look out for when purchasing the right baby oil?
Is your child suffering from dry skin or eczema? Then you need to pay close attention to the following ingredients. Babies are very vulnerable. Therefore, you should avoid certain ingredients to prevent dry skin or eczema. The most important thing is to choose products based on natural ingredients. So avoid products with many ingredients and unnecessary substances, such as:
A high fragrance content (which can cause irritation to the baby’s skin).
Parabens
Mineral oils, such as paraffin (paraffinum liquidum) and petroleum jelly (petrolatum).
The Naïf Soothing Baby Oil is perfect for the baby’s skin. The baby oil is suitable for every skin type, contains allergen-free fragrance and only natural ingredients, and specifically does not contain harmful ingredients such as parabens, silicones, sulfates, etc. The oil hydrates and strengthens the skin and does not leave a greasy layer.
Pure oils such as the Oils from Nanoil are also definitely recommended, such as the Sweet Almond Oil and the Avocado Oil.
What should I pay attention to when purchasing the ideal bodywash and shampoo for dry baby skin?
If a baby suffers from dry baby skin, it is important to choose a neutral bodywash and shampoo without added fragrances and colorants. But also completely free from carcinogenic substances and hormone disruptors. Bodywash and shampoo are of course meant to clean the baby's body and hair, but it is certainly not always good for the baby's skin to use them. It is wise to buy a bodywash with oil in it or to use bath oil in the bath. Oil affects the protective layer on the skin much less, so the skin dries out less quickly. Another thing to watch for is whether the product has been tested on sensitive skin and whether there is no perfume in the products.
Which ingredients should I avoid when purchasing skincare products for my baby's dry skin?
There are a few ingredients you should definitely avoid for babies with dry skin, here they are:
Perfume
Synthetic preservatives
Talcum powder
Parabens
Colorants and fragrances
Added substances
MIT etc.
Which ingredients are essential in skincare for children?
A few ingredients are of course essential for the dry skin of the baby. With baby skincare, it is important to look at which ingredients the product contains. UV protection is very important, especially in the summer. Because the baby's skin is still so thin, it burns very quickly, so UV protection is definitely necessary. In addition, the skincare should contain many natural ingredients that care for and hydrate the skin well. Ingredients like almond oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, or cottonseed oil, which are obtained naturally.
Which baby products should I use when?
For the baby’s dry skin, besides the products you normally use when washing, you can also add a little baby oil to the bath. The oil is nice to add to the bath but also to rub on the baby after bathing. After the bath, you can moisturize the baby with a hydrating body lotion. The body lotion makes your baby’s skin wonderfully soft and also cares for the skin. For extra hydration with extremely dry skin, you can also use the baby oil for a baby massage to rub the nourishing oils well into the skin and let them absorb.
Is there also vegan skincare for babies?
Absolutely! Besides vegan haircare, there is also vegan skincare for babies. For example, skincare products from Naïf are 100% vegan. But what exactly are vegan products? And why is this so good for the skin? If a product is vegan, it means it is free from animal ingredients. It’s good for the skin because some people are allergic to dairy products and can have an allergic reaction. It’s also a win-win for vegetarians and vegans who want to use vegan products for skin and hair. And the great news is: all products from Attitude are vegan!
25 tips for dry baby skin:
Now it’s time for 25 tips for dry baby skin:
Tip 1 - Don’t wash your baby too often. 3 times a week is more than enough.
Tip 2 - Wash your baby with lukewarm water. This protects the natural fat layer on the baby’s skin.
Tip 3 - Don’t let your baby bathe for longer than 10 minutes. The longer your baby stays in the water, the more vulnerable the skin becomes.
Tip 4 - Don’t forget to wash between the skin folds and between the fingers/toes during washing. It’s important not to miss anything, otherwise irritation may occur there.
Tip 5 - Use the right care products during and after washing. Use products that are as natural as possible, as some ingredients can be harmful to the baby's skin.
Tip 6 - Use oil (washing oil) during washing. This limits the drying out of the baby's skin during bathing.
Tip 7 - If your baby already has dry skin, it is better to pat the skin dry rather than rubbing roughly with a towel.
Tip 8 - When drying, make sure to dry well between the skin folds.
Tip 9 - Hydrate the skin with the right nourishing care products.
Tip 10 - Going outside? Bundle your baby up well! Wind and cold can cause the skin to become chapped, so it is important to dress your baby warmly.
Tip 11 - If your baby has dry skin, it is better to avoid chlorine and sea salt, but if your child has swum in chlorine or sea salt, it is important to rinse your baby well afterwards.
Tip 12 - Dry skin causes itching. To prevent your baby from scratching open wounds, it is important to keep the nails well trimmed.
Tip 13 - If the scratching really doesn't stop, you can put scratch mittens on your baby.
Tip 14 - Air conditioning and heating dry out the air, try to use both less. And ventilate the baby's room well.
Tip 15 - Aavoid clothing with rough fibers, such as wool. Rough fibers can chafe and irritate the skin.
Tip 16 - UV rays dry out the skin, so make sure to apply sunscreen well if you go out in the sun with your baby. It is best to also put a hat on your child against the sun.
Tip 17 - A baby cannot regulate its own body temperature well yet. Do not dress your baby too warmly and do not place your baby near a heat source.
Tip 18 - Do not use fabric softener when washing baby items. Fabric softener can contain irritating ingredients (however, there are special fabric softeners for babies).
Tip 19 - Diron the clothes as hot as possible, this kills a large part of the bacteria on the clothes.
Tip 20 - Ichange your baby extra often to prevent diaper rash.
Tip 21 - Cclean the bottom well after changing (no irritating baby wipes), to prevent diaper rash.
Tip 22 - Let your baby lie without a diaper for a few minutes, in his or her bare bottom. This allows the skin to dry well.
Tip 23 - Lapply a moisturizing ointment to the bottom after changing.
Tip 24 - ADoes the diaper rash not go away? Then you can get medicinal products against diaper rash from the doctor.
Tip 25 - Use hydrophilic diapers, they absorb more moisture than a towel. This prevents the baby's bottom from staying damp and getting irritated.