Skin is a window into the body’s internal condition and mirrors its external environment. Its ability to communicate stability and imbalance has been used for thousands of years as a primary diagnostic tool in nearly every form of medicine–Eastern and Western alike.
Your baby’s skin provides you with a tool to help measure their health because it is their body’s first defense.
The key to keeping baby’s first line of defense operating at full capacity is to keep it hydrated, prevent rashes, and maintain the right balance between healthy cells and healthy bacteria so its immune functions can work efficiently.
While some of the skin conditions below are considered “normal,” many cause pain and could indicate a bigger health issue.
BEB Organic Products Defend Against:
Dry Skin
Because the oil glands are underdeveloped, baby skin is always at high risk of becoming severely dry, and your preemie’s thin skin loses moisture even faster than full-term babies. In fact, as much as 60% of baby skin may be dehydrated at any given time, but 90% of parents think that their baby’s skin is NOT dehydrated.
Over-cleansing, weather, and irritants in toiletry products will exacerbate dry skin, resulting in cracks, infections, and painfully sensitive areas.
For dry skin, it is imperative that you use hydrating, heavy creams with daily sun protection (e.g., SPF 6) to prevent secondary problems like cracking and infection. BEB Organic Silky Cream cools, soothes, and rehydrates your baby’s skin in the most natural and healthy of ways.
Rash
A painful rash can occur anywhere on the body. Between 6 months and 1 year of age, rash often appears in the diaper area, but rashes on the arms, in the leg folds, and under the chin can occur anytime.
Rashes are often caused by a food or environmental contaminants. The best solution to calm redness, treat pain, and prevent infection is using natural creams, salves, and zinc ointments. Beware of baby care products containing petroleum by-products and irritants that can trap excess heat in the skin and can slow the healing time of any rash.
A good rule of thumb: If a rash persists for seven days, call your doctor.
Our natural BEB Organic products create a protective, nurturing environment without exposing your baby to unnecessary environmental contaminants like parabens and synthetic fragrances. BEB Organic Silky Cream is light yet nourishing and can be used over and over again throughout the day.
Cradle Cap
Cradle cap is common and painless, and it probably bothers you more than it does your baby. Waxy-looking patches of brown or clay-color skin on the scalp are not painful and can be worked loose by gently massaging the affected area with moisturizing ingredients like olive oil and shea butter. Apply a moisturizer, like BEB Organic Nurturing Oil, brush well, rinse clean, and repeat for several days to get rid of cradle cap. But beware of over-cleansing in an effort to remove it all, because that can lead to other skin problems.
Acne
Baby acne, often caused by residual maternal hormones in the baby’s body, can occur at two or three months of age and looks a lot like adult acne. It usually disappears without treatment after four to six weeks.
Acne’s uncomfortable symptoms can be treated with soothing, calming ingredients such as the oat extract, neem oil, and calendula in BEB Organic Soothing Serum (formerly named Healing Gel) that help reduce inflammation, prevent infection and minimize discomfort.
Eczema
Any scaly skin condition is a good reason to check with your doctor or NICU nurses.
Red and scaly eczema affects about 10% of babies[1] and is often hereditary. It can be irritating, extremely itchy, and has the potential to lead to infection. Eczematic skin is particularly vulnerable and sensitive—specific triggers like soy products, milk, or a particular skincare product can cause a painful flare-up.
Determining triggers and minimizing flare-ups can be a long process. Hydrating, organic jojoba oil and natural antibacterial ingredients like neem oil are helpful to soothe and prevent secondary infection. BEB Organic Nurturing Oil or Soothing Serum (formerly named Healing Gel) will help you soothe away your baby’s discomfort.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis, which causes the skin cells to shed more quickly than they should, will make the baby’s skin look red, scaly, and thick. Psoriatic skin is not fully functional and is less permeable than healthy skin. As with eczema, under the direction of a pediatrician, this condition may be successfully treated–and even prevented –with non-pharmaceutical products. Try BEB Organic Soothing Serum (formerly named Healing Gel) then Silky Cream for powerfully gentle moisture.
[1] http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/skin-care/eczema
