Thursday, 12 February 2009
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Baby Skin: Not Always Smooth as a Baby's Bottom
by Nurse Jenna 
It goes without saying that babies do not come out all soft and smelling of baby wash. But what exactly is that “stuff” on your baby? There are many common skin variances among babies which you may see, but are not cause for alarm.
- Vernix is the white, pasty substance that served as protection for the baby before birth. It can take several weeks to fully go away, but it is not necessary to try and rub it off. It serves as a natural moisturizer for the baby’s skin. Don't get out the Brillo pad trying to get rid of it.
- Peeling, or cracking skin is something else you may see, especially if your baby is over-due. No treatment is necessary.
- Mongolian Spots are a pigmentation that can resemble a large bruise, often found on the butt, thighs, or backs. These are more common in dark skinned babies and usually will fade.
- Blue hands/feet—It is normal for a baby’s hands and feet to stay somewhat purple because their circulatory system is not fully developed. This and mottled skin, where the skin is somewhat transparent, usually only lasts a few weeks. It is more noticeable with fair skinned babies.
- "Stork bites" are the name for pink/red areas where the blood vessels are visible under the skin. They are most commonly found on the neck, nose, eyelids and forehead. They usually will go away within a few months.
- Lanugo is the term used for the hairy back and shoulders on some newborns, usually more noticeable on premature babies. The hair will fall out in the first few weeks. No waxing necessary!
- Milia are the tiny white dots on the baby’s nose or cheeks that are the result of blocked oil glands. They require no treatment and will go away in a few weeks. Do not try to squeeze them!
- Birthmarks can vary in size and location and sometimes will fade as time passes. If you notice anything you have questions about, talk to your provider.
How was your baby's skin when he/she was a newborn? Does your baby have any birthmarks?
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About the Author
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- From: NurseJenna
- Name: NurseJenna
- About Me: Hi Everyone, I'm a Registered Nurse in labor and delivery and also a Family Nurse Practitioner. I'm here to offer any advice or answer questions about pregancy, labor and delivery, or your newborn. I hope your find my suggestions helpful whether you are awaiting your little one, or trying to get a good night's sleep after coming home. Please feel free to ask me any questions and I will do my best to get you the answer, or at least let you know where to find it.
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Comments (7)
My son has no birthmarks. However, he was literally born with eczema. While counting his fingers and toes, I noticed his feet were red and very scaly. I asked the doctor right away and he told me it is was eczema. "Not to worry. It goes away all on its own."
While children do grow out of their eczema (I did), not all do. My son is almost 14 and he still has chronic, severe eczema. It is a constant (and expensive) struggle to keep my son's skin clear and free of infection.
my son has at least 2 birth marks. I have neurofibromatosis I so he most likely has it as well.
He also has eczema. Its not as bad as it used to be. My mom and I still struggle with eczema so it will be something he will most likely always have.
My daughter (16 mo) has a vein on the bridge of her nose that is too close to the surface - so she has a blue dot there! It's been there since birth, but our pediatrician said it should go away soon. She also had such dry hands and feet that they bled. We had to put vaseline on them.
My dad brought a Sharpie marker with him when my mom went into labor and they went into the hospital, to mark the bottom of my foot so that they couldn't switch up the babies, or whatever; but I was born with a big freckle-type thing on the bottom of my toe. Bahaha that story just makes me laugh :] But that birthmark never faded. Does anything in particular cause them?
Most babies get washed at the hospital after birth and my mom only let them wipe me and my brother down because she wanted the vernix protecting our skin for a little while. I think we got our first bath bath, other than just a quick sponge bath at the hospital, when we were two or three days old. I wonder now if that's what I can attribute to my good skin...my brother and I have amazingly soft, flawless skin but we didn't get it from our parents. I don't know if that's the case but I've wondered about it sometimes!
evelynn has a cute little birth mark on the top of her head :)
My oldest daughter had perfect skin but my 2 youngest both had bad baby acne....I wash my infants face twice a day with a warm wash cloth to keep the redness and acne away, miss a day and he is broke out again. Oh well....