Why Baby’s Skin Gets Dry

Factors you should watch out for
Having a baby in the house is a cause for celebration. When he breaks out into a smile, you forget about all the worries that plagued your day. When he gurgles out a laugh, you remember how it is to enjoy each and every moment. When he takes his first steps, you feel blessed to have been part of such a miracle. When he starts exploring the world around him, you marvel at just how fast those little feet could go!

Because baby brings so much joy and laughter, it’s understandable to get a wee bit anxious when he experiences even the smallest of woes. A tiny insect bite can give you nightmares. A slight sneeze can send you scurrying off to the Internet, looking for immediate remedies. But when your baby starts itching like crazy, and his skin starts getting flaky, you can go totally ballistic. How could your baby’s smooth and soft skin turn into something which looks a bit like the Sahara Desert?

It’s important to remember that baby’s skin is different from an adult’s.

* It’s thinner. Baby skin is only two-thirds the thickness of adult skin.
* It is prone to dryness. Because baby skin has a thinner stratum corneum, it loses moisture up to five times faster than adult skin.
* It gets easily chapped. Baby skin produces fewer moisturizing oils than adult skin.
* It is extra sensitive. Baby skin is vulnerable to the environment, especially during play and exploration time when it comes into contact with many things.

Which is why parents would do best to watch out for several factors which could cause dry skin in babies.

EXPOSURE TO THE ELEMENTS

Babies love exploring the world around them. Unfortunately, it’s a rough world out there and things which adults normally take for granted like the temperature, the sun, and the wind could have an effect on baby’s skin. Make sure your baby’s skin stays soft and smooth by…
… Keeping him well hydrated when it gets hot. Fluids help keep his body hydrated, his body temperature balanced, and his skin moisturized. Having a cool-mist humidifier at home will help too. When there’s more moisture in the air, there’s likely to be more moisture in the body.

… Applying JOHNSON’S® milk+rice powder on your baby. It eliminates friction while keeping him feeling cool and comfortable under the summer heat.

… Covering him up with a hat and pair of mittens when you take jaunts in windy, chilly places. Keep in mind that the cold air coupled with the wind can leave your baby’s skin a little bit chapped.

… Rinsing him down when he goes swimming with you either in the pool or out in the beach. Both chlorine and salt can wreak havoc on baby skin. Moisturize baby every so often with a gentle lotion like JOHNSON’S® Milk + Rice. It would give him a boost of moisture to keep him feeling fresh all day.

BATH TIME

Bath times are fun times for both mom and baby. Babies love playing in the water. There’s nothing like the splishing and splashing of water which could light their eyes in delight. But as much as baths are cool and refreshing for babies, it could also dry out their skin. Keep baby skin soft and smooth by…

… Staying away from family bar soaps. Family bar soaps are typically developed for grownups and formulated with ingredients which maybe harsh on baby skin. Because baby skin is thinner and more sensitive than adult skin, family bar soaps might not only dry out your little one’s skin, it could also cause other unpleasant effects.

… Opting for dermatologically tested and clinically proven mild and safe cleansers which not only cleans, but also nourishes baby skin during bath time. JOHNSON’S® Milk + Rice Bath gives superior complete skin nourishment that keeps baby’s developing skin soft, smooth, and healthy in a rough world. It has the Nourishing 5 ingredients–Milk Proteins, Rice Proteins, Vitamin A, Vitamin E, and Minerals–that help growing skin stay soft, smooth, and rough-world ready.

… Keeping baths short and sweet. It’s too easy to keep baby in his tub for long periods of time as he seems to be having a grand old time. However, doing so could lead to him having dry skin. Limit bath time to 10 minutes max. It’s also best to use lukewarm water. Not only is it less drying, it is infinitely safer than hotter water.
… Patting his skin dry after a bath. Don’t rub your baby dry with a towel. Gentle patting would suffice to avoid friction which can cause chapped skin.

… Moisturizing baby after every bath. Gently spread JOHNSON’S® Milk + Rice Lotion on baby’s still damp skin after every bath.