Be Aware Of The Baby Skin

Everyone knows that babies have the most deliciously soft, velveteen skin. But few people are aware of the structural and chemical reasons that make that same skin incredibly vulnerable. Like many organs of an infant, the skin is immature and fundamentally different from adult skin. Generally, it is much thinner (fewer layers of epithelial cells), pH unbalanced, less oily and has a much higher water content. Sweat glands are barely functioning and protection through sebum (naturally produced oils) is almost non-existent.

The vernix, or white waxy substance produced to protect the skin in utero should be left on and gently massaged in to provide some additional protection to environmental stresses. If a baby is post-mature, meaning, born after full term, the vernix may have already been absorbed. In this case, the skin may appear dry and patchy but it will actually shed off this patchiness within a few weeks and a more normal looking skin will appear beneath it.

All these factors translate into a very simple skincare regime for your newborn. Simply sponge bath with soft terrycloth and water – no soaps (except for the diaper area as needed), no lotions, no petroleum products, no baby powders. Keep them at a comfortable temperature, neither too hot or cool and avoid full immersion baths until after the umbilical cord stump has dried and fallen off.

I know how tempting it is to lavish all the products that have magically appeared in your life via baby showers and well meaning friends and relatives, but honestly, a newborn doesn’t need any of it. Once your baby is a couple months old, you can bath them with organic non-drying, non-chemical shampoo and wash such as Organic Baby Shampoo & Wash.

This is one case where it is critical to read labels because it is possible to have a baby wash labeled ‘all natural’ that contains harsh chemicals such as sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate. This chemical, so commonly used in personal care products, can cause damage to the immune system and is a skin irritant with serious drying effect. Most frighteningly, it penetrates to systemic tissues such as the heart, liver and brain and is commonly contaminated with dioxane, a dangerous carcinogen. It can also cause permanent eye damage – even without getting in the eyes. How this toxic chemical can be used as the primary cleaning agent in baby products that call themselves safe is a complete mystery to me. You would do well to throw away any products in your home that includes it or any of it’s chemical variants.

Another temptation to avoid is to lather your baby up with lotions and creams. Babies do not typically need lotions unless their skin is actually dry and then it should be applied modestly only to those areas. Whole body coverage with creams can block the skin’s function of exchanging gases and releasing other bodily wastes. Plus, most commercial baby lotions have petroleum in them which reduces the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, interferes with the body’s natural moisturizing system, passes through liver & sequesters fat soluble vitamins and increases photosensitivity – promoting sun damage. Petroleum comes in many forms and any derivative of it is equally objectionable for baby’s skin.

If your baby’s skin does seems dry or chaffed, a small amount of an organic vegetable oil can be lightly massaged into that area. When your baby is a few months old, Organic Baby Lotion can be safely used after bathing. Organic is vitally important because of the pesticide and herbicide residue in any non-organic oils. Because a baby’s skin is so porous and thin, and their organs are not fully developed to process toxins, these pesticides are far more dangerous at this time and can have a major impact on their health. Commercial lotions or lotions simply labeled as ‘natural’ are likely to have chemicals in them that are toxic and should be avoided.

Talcum powders should never be used under any circumstances because talc is a known carcinogen. But corn starch based products (most certainly made with genetically modified corn) should also be avoided because the tiny particles of these powders can block baby’s airways and cause respiratory distress. Instead, try air bathing your baby to reduce the bacteria build up in the diaper area that can lead to diaper rash. But remember, baby’s have a hard time regulating their body temperature, so it’s important to monitor their temperature and minimize exposure to sudden temperature changes.

While your baby doesn’t need a lot of products for their first months, what they do need is lots of nurturing touch and massage. Massage and gentle stoking actually helps your baby’s nervous system and brain to develop. Sensory stimulation in the form of loving touch and your attention has been shown to have a significant effect in development of intelligence as well as immunity and overall well being. Babies that are touched and kept close to their parent’s body, develop much needed resistance to stress and seem to be happier and more well adjusted as adults.