Baby’s skin is chewable. But its softness is fragile and requires appropriate care. Explanations.
Summary
- Why should you take care of baby’s skin?
- How to protect the skin of babies?
- Use products suitable for baby’s skin
- Products to avoid
Baby’s skin is thin, fragile and sensitive. So many good reasons to take care of it with the greatest attention.
Why should you take care of baby’s skin?
Baby’s skin does not allow it to defend itself well against aggressions from the external environment (wind, sun, change in temperature, pollution …).
In fact, in the newborn , the dermis , the thickest layer of the skin, is still very thin at birth. The elastic fibers and collagen bundles are much thinner than in adults. Result: the barrier formed by the dermis is still very permeable .
Likewise, the epidermis , the most superficial layer of the skin, contains very few melanocytes (the cells responsible for pigmentation). This is why babies’ very white skin is extremely sensitive to ultraviolet radiation .
As for the baby’s sebaceous glands , they do not yet fulfill all their functions. Ultimately, they allow the secretion of a waterproof and antibacterial protective film (based on sweat and sebum): the hydrolipidic film .
In addition, the sweat glands , also immature, are concentrated in the infant at the palms of the hands, feet and head. Consequently, the baby regulates its temperature poorly : it hyper-reacts to hot and cold .
By growing all the functions of the skin are gradually being set up, the sensitivity disappears and the skin defends itself better and better.
How to protect the skin of babies?
It is therefore necessary to protect baby’s fragile skin from the harmful effects of the sun :
- avoiding up to 1 year, any direct exposure to UV rays .
But also external aggressions (which can induce dryness, irritations or skin infections):
- by strengthening the hydrolipidic film using a suitable moisturizer ,
- and by maintaining the neutrality of the pH of the hydrolipidic filmwith gentle hygiene products , this makes it possible to combat the development of pathogenic microorganisms.
Use products suitable for baby’s skin
Until the baby is two years old , when his skin becomes more mature , we must use suitable products .
In the baby toiletry kit , the products are hypoallergenic , that is to say that they contain elements chosen from among the least aggressive in order to minimize the risk of allergy . They are particularly recommended in babies with allergic terrain .
Prefer formulas using as few ingredients as possible . Specifically adapted to children’s skin , baby milks, soaps, shampoo or creams are made up of around twenty ingredients compared to fifty or more for other cosmetic products. They are neither colored nor scented .
These products are as simple and as gentle as possible . Generally formulated under medical supervision, with a neutral pH , they are tested by dermatologists and can be used daily (mention “frequent use”).
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Products to avoid
This fragility is all the greater as the newborn has a very large skin surface compared to its low weight . The skin surface area / weight ratio reaches 647 in the newborn while it is only 243 in an adult .
Consequence: when a product is applied to a baby , the concentration in the body will be greater than in an adult. Hence a greater risk of toxicity if the product is not suitable.
