Gentle Home Remedies For Preventing and Treating Chapped Baby Skin

The children stay inside the womb in the amniotic sac that helps in providing them with the required nourishment and hydration due to the presence of vernix caseosa.

However, after they are born, their skin is exposed to the outer dry air, contrary to the womb environment. This makes them adjust to their new environment.

Sometimes, during this adjustment period, their skin might temporarily become dry or chapped due to various factors, owing to the seasonal changes primarily. However, the skin tends to repair on its own after some time with proper care.

In most circumstances, treating chapped skin in infants is easily achievable with certain home remedies.

So, let us now dial down to the natural ways to treat chapped skin in infants for a healthy, cloudy, soft baby skin!

There are various reasons for chapped skin conditions in babies. They might range from seasonal variations, bathing time, and water temperature to exposure to harsh chemicals, etc.

Let us now understand all the possible factors in detail.

I. Causes Of Chapped Skin In Babies

• Dry Air

The indoor dry air during winters, especially due to the heater or AC, and also the natural atmosphere, makes the babies’ skin dry and flaky. They are both responsible for the extraction of natural moisture from the skin.

• Cold Weather

Both the temperature fluctuations as well as the dry air during winters may lead to a parched or a dry baby’s skin. It mostly affects the hands, face, and other body parts, leading to itching. This is one of the most common baby skin problems in cold weather and can be prevented by proper moisturization.

• Over Bathing

Infants’ sweating mechanism is still developing, and this implies that they require baths only 2 to 3 times in a week. Also, bathing time exceeding 10 minutes or with hot water might cause scalding, dry, chapped, or flaky skin.

• Heat Exposure

Excessive heat might cause sweating. This sweating, when mixed with natural body oils and dirt, could result in skin itchiness and irritation. The skin might also appear flaky and dry after the sweat evaporates.

Babies might also face skin issues due to diaper rashes during the summer months due to the trapped sweat. This might cause redness or bumpy patches, causing skin irritation.

• Contact Irritants

There are various factors playing a role, like the material of the dressing fabric, the soaps, lotions, massage oils, nappies, etc.

The most prominent body parts to be affected are their sensitive neck, thighs, stomach, and baby’s bump. Sometimes, even the baby wipes that contain alcohol and some harsh chemicals in their products might also accelerate the dryness in the skin.

Impact Of Indian Climatic Conditions On Baby Skin Health

The Indian subcontinent has a tropical climate that ranges from hot, cold, humid to dry, depending upon the location.

The effects of these climatic conditions on the baby’s skin is as follows:

1. Hot and Humid Climate (Coastal Areas)

The humid climate might lead to sweating and efficient moisture to keep the skin hydrated. Yet, excess sweating could also mix with the natural body oil and dirt, causing further issues like clogged pores, skin infections, and irritation.

Babies' potential to balance out this moisture imbalance is poor, which might further cause fungal infections due to trapped sweat at the skin folds.

2. Dry and Arid Climates (Western India)

The dry air is the leading cause of dry, flaky, and chapped skin due to the extraction of all the essential moisture from the skin. Babies skin is impacted due to:

• Their skin is 30% thinner than adults, and the harmful UV radiation can cause sunburn or dryness.
• The cold temperature during the night at this location can also lead to skin dehydration and flakiness.

Since the babies’ sweat glands are still developing, their tendency to tolerate this extreme temperature fluctuation is minimal. This calls for efficient moisturization of their skin.

3. Cold and Dry Climate (Northern India)

The northern winters are quite frigid, accompanied by cold, dry winds that cause dryness and result in chapped, cracked, or flaky skin.

It primarily impacts the most exposed areas of the body such as the face, hands, lips, etc.

4. Monsoon Season (Parts of Western, North-East, and Eastern India)

The monsoon air is ladened with high moisture content and humidity. This increases the intensity of sweating and decreases the rate of evaporation. This might further lead to fungal infections like ringworms, candidiasis etc.

This compels constant monitoring of babies to prevent  wet clothing or wet diapers for a long time.

How Can I Prevent Chapped Skin On My Baby?

The chapped skin in babies is a result of environmental transition from the womb to the outside world with various seasonal changes.

However, dry skin problems, especially winter skincare for babies in India, is an easier affair than contemplated by just keeping a few pointers in mind, like:

1. Hydrate Adequately

The outer hydration is a result of the hydration from within. Therefore, ensure that your baby remains sufficiently hydrated with breastmilk or formula.

For older kids, make sure that they always have a water bottle near them and they remember taking a sip after every 20 minutes. This would not only keep them hydrated but would also cure other digestive issues due to solid food.

As a caretaker, it is important that you keep monitoring their signs for dehydration, like chapped lips, rough and dry skin, fussiness, etc.

2. Moisturise Regularly

In addition to the inner hydration, the outer hydration is equally important. This can be done with either body massages with oil and moisturizer. However, ensure to use hypoallergenic fragrance-free baby products to prevent any kind of skin reactions.

Also, ensure to apply the moisturiser within a few minutes after bath. This is because the skin is damp enough to absorb the moisture into the skin.

During the night, use thicker moisturisers like petroleum jelly to promote hydration for a longer duration.

3. Limit Exposure To Harsh Elements

This is one of the most important factors to prevent dry baby skin. Some important points to keep in mind are:

• Make sure the baby is dressed in a breathable fabric where the sweat does not get trapped easily. Also, the bedding must have a breathable fabric.
• If you stay at hot locations, ensure baby’s clothes are dry, in case they sweat profusely.
• Socks, mittens and scarves are important winter accessories to prevent children from frostbite.
• Ensure using mild and fragrance-free soaps, detergent, shampoos etc.

Regular monitoring would prevent your baby from having dry, chapped, and itchy skin.

4. Use A Humidifier

This is one of the most efficient ways to treat and prevent chapped skin in babies during the winter. Ensure to set your humidifier to 40 to 60% functionality to not overdo the humidity.

Benefits

• It maintains skin hydration by putting the moisture back into the environment for the skin to absorb.
• It helps in clearing the nasal pathway in children during winters.
• It keeps the skin hydrated and moisturised and also reduces various skin infections.
• It prevents chapped lips and faces despite babies’ habit of sucking their thumbs or rubbing their faces.

It helps in preserving a baby's sensitive skin with efficient hydration and also promotes comfort in their breathing. So, it is a win-win!

Gentle Home Remedies For Treating Dry Baby Skin In India

Let us now look into some chapped baby skin remedies to treat them with simple home remedies. This includes:

1. Natural Oils

The most efficient natural oils are coconut oil and almond oil that help in skin nourishing and regeneration due to the presence of ample antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Warm a small amount of oil and gently massage the baby either on the affected area or the entire body before or after bath or before their bed time. In case of a serious dryness, use almond oil due to its thick consistency.

Oil massages to babies are an excellent way to achieve a well hydrated and soft skin.

2. Aloe Vera Gel

It has natural cooling and skin soothing properties which helps in preventing itchiness, swelling and promoting moisturization with its application.

It also contains essential natural antioxidants that help in locking down the moisture, besides promoting a relaxing sensation to the babies.

However, ensure to use a fresh aloe vera gel, directly cut from the plant to guarantee its purity.

3. Ghee (Clarified Butter)

Due to the presence of various fatty acids, ghee is a wonderful skin smoothening agent.

You can always apply it at the baby’s affected area and then wash it with lukewarm water. It has top-notch skin nourishing properties.

4. Neem and Turmeric Paste

Both of them are a rich source of anti-septic, anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. This makes its application to the affected area soothing which also helps in promoting a smooth skin.

It also helps in the protection against various fungal infections leading to itchiness and inflammation due to diaper rash and various other skin problems.

5. Oatmeal Baths

Colloidal oatmeal solution bath is an excellent moisturizer for dry, irritated and bumpy skin because of various anti-inflammatory, anti-itching, skin-soothing and moisturizing properties.

Mix a tablespoon of colloidal oatmeal in a lukewarm water and wait until it turns milky. Now, place the baby for around 10 minutes to let it absorb into the skin and pat dry with a soft cloth.

Dietary Tips For Healthy Skin

Apart from the above mentioned natural ways to treat chapped skin in infants, there are also some dietary tips to maintain healthy skin for the babies. These include:

1. Vitamin A: The Skin’s Reviver

Being a rich skin-regenerating source, this vitamin helps in promoting healthy and smooth skin in babies by:

• Improving the skin texture.
• Supporting new cell growth.
• Providing protection against harmful pollutants in the environment.
• Support in collagen synthesis.
• Enhancing the sebum or natural oils production.
• Protecting against several skin infections.

Source: breast milk, infant formula feed, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, egg yolks, mangoes, peas, red bell peppers, etc.

2. Vitamin C: The Glow-Up Serum

This vitamin helps in contributing to a healthy skin due to the presence of various antioxidants in it  by:

• Supporting a healthy collagen production.
• Promoting efficient skin moisture retention.
• Supporting skin healing in case of cuts, scrapes, or chapped skin.
• Protection against cradle cap, rashes, and other skin infections.
• Acts as a protective barrier against harmful UV radiations.

Source: Breast milk, infant formulas, citrus fruits, strawberries, mangoes, peas, broccoli, etc.

3. Vitamin E: Baby’s Softness Secret

Due to the presence of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, it serves as an excellent source for skin healing. This is because:

• It protects against harmful pollutants that damage the skin cells.
• It accelerates the skin repair, in case of diaper rash, cuts, cradle cap, etc.
• It soothes skin inflammation.
• It promotes skin hydration and moisturization.

Source: breast milk, infant formula feed, avocados, spinach, sweet potatoes, grounded nuts, and seeds

4. Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Skin-Soothing Superfuel

This is an excellent source for healthy, smooth, and glowing skin because of the fatty acids present in it. It also helps in promoting a healthy scalp due to its skin healing properties.

Source: breast milk, infant formula, fatty fish, chia seeds, flax seeds, walnuts, eggs, etc.

5. Breast Milk: Nature’s Moisturiser

Breast milk is known to be the child’s first vaccine due to the presence of all the essential vitamins and minerals in it. It is known to be the most primary tonic for the kids’ that supports their immune system and overall growth and development.

Also, it is slightly acidic that helps in balancing the skin pH levels and maintaining the skin’s natural acidity in babies.

Dos And Don’ts For Baby Skincare

Although chapped baby skin remedies can be cured with certain home remedies, there are yet certain safety measures that must be followed like:

• Choose mild and fragrance-free soaps.
• Do not overuse the soaps, and use your hands or a soft cloth to cleanse the skin. Also, avoid scrubbing your baby’s skin.
• Dress your baby in breathable fabric.
• Apply the moisturiser while the skin is still damp to let the moisturiser absorb efficiently.
• Keep monitoring for the wet diaper and change nappies frequently to avoid diaper rash, red patches, and other fungal infections.
• Monitor for skin allergies and other skin reactions regularly.
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight.
• Wash your baby’s clothes with mild and gentle detergents.
• Avoid overusing talcum powder.

When To Consult A Paediatrician?

Home remedies are excellent for common baby skin problems, especially in cold weather.

However, you must be mindful about the signs, implying the time to consult your doctor. This includes:

• Persistent dryness and flakiness.
• Rough skin texture despite all the home remedies.
• Persistent diaper rashes, red patches, inflammation, itchiness, etc.
• Appearance of severe eczema, psoriasis, cradle cap, or other skin conditions.
• Cranky or fussy baby unable to sleep.

Conclusion

The dry texture of the baby’s skin is a common phenomenon after the birth, but it heals after some time with various winter skincare and home remedies for babies in India.

Breast milk is an excellent cure for all the skin problems during infancy, but care must be taken when they start taking solids.

This is because not only the oil massages, moisturisers, and the type of fabric but the diet also plays a pivotal role in determining the skin condition in babies.

Lastly, if you are willing to purchase mild cleansers and various other bathing and grooming products for your little munchkins, then visit R for Rabbit’s Pure and Beyond collection. This is especially curated for baby’s sensitive skin.

 Worth to Read:

1. Common Skin Conditions in Babies: A Comprehensive Guide
2. How to Keep Your Baby’s Skin Moisturized?
3. How Often Should I Use Baby Lotion On My Baby?
4. 10 Natural Ways to Soothe and Prevent Diaper Rash

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