Baby Dry Skin Patch - Leading Causes, Treatments And Natural Remedies

Baby Dry Skin Patch – What causes dry red patches on baby skin? Babies may appear to have eczema during the first few months which can appear as red and crusty patches on your baby’s skin, but this can be treatable if that is you are worried about. Most parents are wondering if their baby has eczema or simply irritating rashes caused by diaper rash and such. The best way for you to figure this out is by bringing your baby to the doctor to have him or her checked ^[1].

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Baby Dry Skin Patch
What Causes A Dry Skin Patch On Babies
What Pain/Discomfort Does Dry Skin Patches Cause Babies
How Long Do Babies Have A Dry Skin Patch
How Do You Prevent A Baby Dry Skin Patch
Dry Skin Patch Remedies Or Treatments

What Causes A Dry Skin Patch On Babies?

What causes dry red patches on baby skin? There are many possible causes for baby dry skin patch to appear such as:

Dry skin

It is possible for red patches to appear on your baby’s skin because of dryness due to sensitive skin that can flare up or become drier when exposed to certain chemicals such as those that are found in body washes and detergents. If one or both parents have dry skin, it is possible that your baby may have the same problem as well ^[2].

Baby eczema

Another possible cause for dry skin patches to appear is baby eczema or atopic dermatitis. This causes the skin to have dry patches that are red, itchy, and even rough to the touch. These rashes can appear around two to four months and typically begin as pinkish, flaky rash on their cheeks and chin. Babies who are already crawling may develop more rash on the outside of their arms as well as their legs ^[3].

Heat rash

Also referred to as miliaria or prickly heat, heat rash can happen to newborns because their sweat glands are not yet fully developed. And because of this, the pores of their skin can be blocked which can trap the heat inside them causing skin rash to appear. The rash can worsen when your baby perspires often or is exposed to hot weather or when you dress them too tight ^[4].

Cradle cap

Another possible cause for baby dry skin patch to appear is because of cradle cap. As the name suggests, dry red patches on baby skin appear on their scalp which can appear during their first few weeks to months. This can appear on your baby’s scalp when there is an overabundance of yeast or skin fungus. It is possible that these white patches on your baby’s head can be one of the symptoms of early eczema.

Diaper rash

What causes dry red patches on baby skin? Rash on your baby’s bottom is highly likely to appear because of moisture and heat. Your baby’s diaper area can break into itching and scaly skin when not treated properly.

AcneIt is possible that the rash on your child’s skin is due to neonatal acne. This appears the same as acne that adults can have but this doesn’t become whiteheads or blackheads even. It is believed that these bumps on your child appears because of your breastmilk but this shouldn’t stop you from breastfeeding your baby.

Erythema toxicum

This is a common rash that can appear on your newborn but can disappear after a few weeks. The rash can appear on your baby’s chest, face, ears, and legs even with the exception of the soles and palms. Since this problem fades on its own and that there are no symptoms associated with it, no treatment is needed ^[5].

Psoriasis

This is a type of skin inflammation that can affect your child especially when you or your partner has it. If your baby’s skin has red lesions that are covered in flaky, white scales, this can be one of the symptoms that they have plaque psoriasis. This can appear anywhere on the body such as elbows, knees, lower back, and even their scalp. It is not common for babies can have psoriasis, but it might be more on eczema or seborrheic dermatitis ^[6].

What Pain/Discomfort Does Dry Skin Patches Cause Babies?

So, you’ve noticed that there is baby dry skin patch on your child, and you’re probably worried how your little one feels. As a parent, you want to protect your child as much as possible against any skin condition that they may acquire while their skin is still in the sensitive stage, but when patches of flaky skin appear, you already know that your little one is feeling discomfort.

For babies who have intertrigo, they may not feel any discomfort at all but there are some who feel pain especially when the rash has spread in several areas of their skin. Contact dermatitis, on the other hand, can trigger red and itchy skin, that may cause your little one to scratch at them which can aggravate the problem. You need to watch out for this as it can make the bumps on their skin weep and get infected ^[7].

How Long Do Babies Have A Dry Skin Patch?

Dry flaky skin can appear after a few days in a newborn especially when your term reached 40 weeks. This is quite normal and will disappear eventually as well. Your baby’s skin problems, whether it is triggered by discoid eczema, fungal infection, nappy rash, and the like, as well as their symptoms will disappear a few days or weeks depending on the treatment that you are using.

As for babies who have eczema, this skin condition can last a few weeks to months, to years even. Some experience remission with their skin problem, only to have it back during adolescence or adulthood. It is possible that some babies may have dermatitis as they age. The good news is that this is not contagious but may require proper skin care to avoid making their condition worse.

How Do You Prevent A Baby Dry Skin Patch?

Now that you have an idea on why your child has patches of dry skin on their body, you’re probably wondering how you can prevent dryness from happening in the first place. Here are a few possible preventive measures to try out.

Change diapers often

To prevent rashes on your baby’s diaper area, it is important that you change their diapers when they are soiled as soon as possible. Leaving it on for hours can cause bacteria to adhere to the skin, causing inflammation that can cause discomfort to your baby.

Skip bubble baths and soaps

If you have a newborn at home, it’s never a good idea to wash them with baby soaps or give them bubble baths no matter how much you want your little one to become squeaky clean. These bath products can irritate your child’s skin which can cause dermatitis to appear.

Offer breastmilk

If your child is six months old or younger, make sure that they are hydrated all the time. Water may be the first solution in your head but don’t give your baby water yet. Your milk is enough to keep your little one hydrated along with the nutrients that your milk contains.

Use olive oil

Olive oil is a natural ingredient that you can use to trap moisture on your baby’s skin to prevent dermatitis and even skin infection to happen in the first place. If you don’t have any olive oil, coconut oil can be an alternative preventive measure to use.

Don’t bathe too often

One reason why dryness happens to your baby’s skin is because you bathe them frequently. This can actually strip the natural oils from their skin hence they end up with dry patches of skin which can be irritating to them. If your baby has eczema, your doctor will most likely recommend that you skip bathing your baby every day as it can exacerbate their condition ^[8].

Skip detergents

Because babies have sensitive skin, washing your baby’s clothes in regular detergents can cause an allergic reaction. If you are going to wash your baby’s clothes, choose a product that is formulated for baby clothes or stick with baking soda and water alone. This way, there will be no harsh chemicals sticking to your baby’s clothes that can irritate their skin when worn.

Dry Skin Patch Remedies Or Treatments

Dry skin on your baby can leave them irritated, uncomfortable, and fussy especially when their condition worsens. Dealing with an irritable baby can be frustrating at times which is why you need to start looking for treatments or remedies that can alleviate the problem as soon as possible. Your doctor can prescribe treatments that may help soothe your little one. Here are some treatments that you should try.

Apply moisturizer

For babies who have eczema, you don’t want to leave their skin untreated with a moisturizer since this can make their skin cells drier. Eczema can appear when your little one’s skin is too dry. There are moisturizers that are designed for babies or you can switch to natural ingredients such as olive oil to lock in the moisture on their skin. There are lotions available in stores so test them out to see which one will work for your little one ^[9].

Adjust their wardrobe

If your baby has heat rash, your best bet to treat the problem is to alter their wardrobe. Look for clothes that are made from cotton so that there will be no sweat trapped against their skin that can block the pores causing rashes to appear. Heat rash typically disappears after a few days so if you notice these bumps on their skin because of the hot weather, adjust their clothing.

Remove the trigger

For babies who suffer from contact dermatitis, the best way to treat the problem is to look for the trigger. It might be that you gave your little one new earrings or let them wear a necklace. Look for any signs of irritation on their skin and remove any possible culprits. You can also apply petroleum jelly to act as a barrier on your baby’s skin, especially on his face, to prevent irritation from happening in the first place or to keep their infection from worsening.

Oatmeal facial wash

Another possible remedy that you can give your baby who has eczema is an oatmeal facial wash. Oats are well-known for their soothing qualities hence they are often used on dry skin. Get a cup of rolled oats and process it in your food processor until it turns to powder. Add the powder to a basin filled with warm water and mix the two until the water becomes milky. Soak a clean facecloth in the water then place it on the areas of your baby’s skin that are dry. Make sure that you avoid their eyes, nose, and mouth. Eczema tends to worsen when your baby’s skin is not properly moisturized.

Trim fingernails

Your doctor will recommend that you be careful with treating your little one’s skin to prevent dryness and flare ups. One way to prevent them from making their condition worse is to trim their fingernails so that they won’t scratch at their rashes.

When Is It Safe To Cut A Newborn’s Nails? – Experts Answer This Question

Apply corticosteroids

Depending on how severe your baby’s skin condition is, your doctor may recommend the use of corticosteroids. These are medications that can alleviate the inflammation and itching on your little one’s skin. You will have to apply this medication twice on the infected area or as recommended by your health practitioner.

Antihistamines

In cases when the rashes are triggered by an allergic reaction, you can give your little one antihistamines as recommended by their pediatrician. Make sure that you follow the dosage to ensure that you are not overdosing on their medication ^[10].

Your baby’s skin is sensitive during their first few months which means that rashes may appear from time to time. This is quite normal as there are many possible causes for these rashes to come out such as dryness, psoriasis, or eczema. Finding out the trigger can help you determine the best course of action to treat the problem so your baby will be spared from the discomfort that they come with.

Baby Dry Skin Patch, Dry Red Patches On Baby Skin Resources:
[1] WebMD; Does My Baby Have Eczema?.
[2] Baby Center; 6 month old has developed hard rough patches of skin, what is it?.
[3] The Bump; What Causes Baby Eczema—and How to Treat It, Celia Shatzman, October 2017.
[4] Health Xchange; Common Baby Skin Conditions: Symptoms & Causes, Anjana Mothihar Chandra.
[5] Kids Health from Nemours; Infections Erythema Toxicum, Mary L. Gavin, MD, September 2016.
[6] Baby Center; Psoriasis in babies.
[7] Parenting; 5 Common Infant Skin Conditions, Maria Livingstone.
[8] Mom Tricks; What To Do If Your Newborn’s Skin is Dry, Red or Peeling, Nicole Arsiwala, July 22, 2017.
[9] Today’s Parent; 5 most common kid skin rashes and sensitivities (and how to soothe them), Claire Gagne, February 28, 2017.
[10] Kids Health from Nemours; Eczema, Patrice Hyde, MD, June 2015.

Skin Conditions

Baby Dry Skin Patch – Leading Causes, Treatments And Natural Remedies

Stacey LoPinto