Dermatologist recommended tips to take care of your baby’s skin during the winter season

Babies have sensitive skin and are more prone to skin problems. Here are some tips by Dr. Sirisha Singh, Dermatologist to help you take care of your baby's skin during the winter weather.

The chilly weather brings with it a lot of skin woes. And these are not limited to adults, even children are prone to dry skin during the winter season. While your baby's skin may be soft most of the time, but it might get dry at times. Babies are prone to dry skin during winters, which can lead to problems such as itchy eczema and more. We asked Dr Sirisha Singh, Dermatologist, to share with us some tips for mothers so that they can take care of their baby's skin. Along with the tips, she also shared some insights on what might be leading to the problem.

How does the winter weather affect a baby's skin?

Dr Singh explained that the atmospheric humidity reduces during the winter season, which affects our skin and makes it dry. In addition, sitting in front of the heater with your baby can dehydrate your child's skin. Dehydrated and dry skin is more prone to rashes, eczema and other skin allergies.

"There is a particular skin problem called atopic eczema. It is a kind of genetic tendency that makes children more prone to allergies. So, their skin is intrinsically dry, and they have a high tendency of getting red patches on the skin," she added. Atopic eczema is a common condition in babies. Itching, dryness and redness are common symptoms of the skin problem.

Tips to take care of your child's skin

The skin of newborns and infants is very delicate and needs very careful nourishment and gentle care. Changing weather can wreak havoc on the skin and increases the likelihood of rashes and allergic skin issues. Here are a few tips recommended by the dermatologist that you can use.

1. Use a pH balanced cleanser to gently wash the body, face and hair regularly. These cleansers do not foam and may not be as much fun for babies as a foaming body wash, however, it is the right choice.
2. Moisturise using a glycerine-based moisturiser 2-3 times a day. If the skin is very dry, a body butter may be a good option for moisturising the skin.
3. Olive oil or almond oil may be used for a gentle body massage. You can also use desi ghee.
4. Wool may irritate the skin, so it is better to wear cotton rich clothes as the first layer and wear wool only on top of cotton clothes.
5. If the baby develops a rash, see a dermatologist. Atopic eczema is a fairly common allergic skin rash and needs to be treated.
6. The blankets used should ideally be cotton blankets. It's better to avoid fleece as that traps dust and can cause allergic rashes. Dust can increase the risk of developing skin problems.
7. Try and maintain good internal hydration of the skin by giving adequate clear fluids.
8. Also, do not use hot water to bath your child. Lukewarm water is a better option.