Introduction
Dry skin is a problem that affects many babies. Often the reasons for dry skin are the wrong care. Many parents are very concerned about the well-being of their offspring, but in most cases there is a harmless cause behind dry skin.
What helps against dry skin in babies?
Targeted skin care for babies and following a few simple basic rules can help here. When bathing, for example, care should be taken to ensure that the bath additive is as soap-free as possible and has a moisturizing effect so as not to impair the skin’s acid mantle. Dry skin can also be prevented by reducing the bathing time, because a long bathing time can cause the skin to swell and lose moisture.
Too hot water should also be avoided, as it additionally withdraws moisture from the skin. It is advisable not to use washcloths or sponges while bathing, because they can irritate the skin additionally. After the bath, the baby’s skin should be creamed with a suitable cream.
As far as clothing is concerned, care should be taken to ensure that the clothes have been washed before they are worn for the first time in order to remove any harmful substances that may be present and thus reduce the risk of hypersensitivity or allergy. It is also important to ensure that the clothing is made of a soft material and does not scratch to avoid further irritation of dry skin. If the dry parts of the skin itch, it can also be helpful to keep the baby’s fingernails short and clean, because scratching the affected areas can allow infectious germs to enter the skin and cause inflammation.
When taking a winter walk outside in low temperatures, it is important to ensure that the baby’s head and hands are protected, for example with gloves and a cap. After bathing the baby, the lost moisture should be returned to the skin in the form of a baby skin-friendly cream. It is helpful not to dry off the skin too much, but to apply the cream as quickly as possible to keep the additional water loss of the skin as low as possible.
A moisturizing cream is best, but it should not be too greasy. Suitable products can be purchased in the baby department of any drugstore. Oily products, such as milking fat, are not suitable for this purpose, but rather for protection against cold or irritated areas, for example in the diaper area.
On the other hand, milking fat and calendula ointment, for example, can lead to an allergic reaction of the baby’s skin, making the situation even worse. When applying cream, the following principle should always be observed: only as much cream as the skin can absorb. To care for and protect dry baby skin, moisturizing ointments or creams should be used.
These special products leave a greasy film on the skin and are less absorbent than conventional body lotions. Refatting products such as baby oil or almond oil strengthen the natural protective function of the skin and are therefore particularly suitable for dry skin areas of babies or toddlers. However, there are a few points to consider when using them.
First of all, the oil should only be applied to the dry skin areas, whereas the rest of the skin should not be creamed with the baby oil, as the skin pores will otherwise be closed by the greasy oil. It is best to oil dry baby skin in the evening before going to sleep, so that the care can be easily absorbed overnight. There are also remedies for dry skin in homeopathy.
In this case, globules have proven to be particularly effective, which should be melted in the mouth. Since this is not possible with babies, the globules should be dissolved in some water or tea and administered with a plastic spoon. In babies and in acute diseases, low potencies are generally used (D1-D6).
Depending on the appearance of the skin, there are different globules that can be used. It should be noted, however, that in homeopathy different globules should not be mixed with each other if possible, as mixing them could have negative effects. One of the globules available in homeopathy is Causticum, Borax, Hepar sulfuris calcareum and petroleum, as well as sulfur.Also in homeopathy, however, it should be noted that if the skin’s appearance deteriorates, such as severe redness, weeping, swelling, warming or even honey-yellow crusts, a doctor should be consulted.
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