A dear friend of mine, Lisa, recently gave birth to her first baby girl, Myra; she has the biggest puppy eyes and the sweetest smile that would melt any heart. However, when I visited Lisa a couple of days ago, she shared that her baby’s skin looked dry and she wasn’t quite sure what to do.
Lisa is careful with the temperature of her baby’s bath water and makes sure to moisturize her after bath, and to keep her comfortable and have better sleep, Lisa keeps the air conditioning turned on 24/7. Lisa is baffled as to why newborn baby’s skin can actually get dehydrated since they are, as the saying goes, “fresh out of the oven”!
Is This Normal?
Having dry-looking or dehydrated skin is actually very normal, it just means that our skin is thirsty and needs a good drink. Whether a baby or an adult, dehydrated skin is unavoidable as we go through many different changes on a daily basis such as, change of temperature or weather, exposure to element such as air pollution or condition, lack of fluid, and the use of skincare products that may contain synthetic or harsh ingredients.
As for newborns, the appearance of dry skin and skin peeling is a natural effect of pregnancy after having spent 9 months “soaking” in a sac of amniotic fluid. Understand that a baby’s skin is much thinner than an adult’s. Now that the baby is out in the world on his own, the skin will naturally dry out and peel as it gets exposed to the environment, but the good news is, after this process is over, you will start to see and enjoy your baby’s new, smooth, and plumped-up skin as they continue to grow on healthy feeding and diet.
The Usual Causes of Dehydrated Skin
When Hot Is Too Hot
Adults may enjoy a hot bath to soak away all the stresses of the day, but the same cannot be said for a tiny new baby. Hot water strips away moisture especially that of a baby whose skin is still delicate and lacks moisture for protection. Test out the water temperature by dipping your elbow in the water before putting your baby in the tub, the water should feel comfortably lukewarm, not hot.
Choose cleansing products that are gentle and paraben-free. NIVEA BABY Head To Toe Shampoo & Bath uses a gentle care formula derived from natural ingredients like Calendula that helps gently clean your baby’s body and scalp and moisturizes his or her delicate skin and fine hair. It is paraben-free, a perfect 2-in-1 solution for babies of all ages as it was co-developed by paediatricians and dermatologists.
Keeping Cool Is Not Cool
No doubt, our tropical weather is quite a bother and it is right to keep babies away from the sun and rain as much as possible. But do you know that by keeping babies in an air-conditioned room, their skin gets dehydrated quickly too?
To counter the effects brought on by our weather and the air conditioning, always remember to moisturize your baby. NIVEA BABY Gentle Touch Moisturizing Lotion helps to combat your baby’s dehydrated skin, by moisturizing and keeping their delicate skin moisturized all night long.
NIVEA BABY Gentle Touch Moisturizing Lotion with cares and protect baby’s delicate skin without adding harmful ingredients such as 0% paraben and colourant. The lotion contains naturally derived cooling property from Aloe Vera and is effective in hydrating and keeping the skin supple. The hypoallergenic formula also helps lock in moisture to keep your baby’s skin moisturized, soft, supple, and healthy.
Touch, Or Lack Of
Babies thrive on touch – this is no secret. A baby feels most secure when she receives hugs, touch, and a generous amount of kisses throughout the day. After a nice, warm bath, why not give your baby a good massage? NIVEA BABY Soothing Caring Oil is a dermatologist and clinically approved versatile oil; it is free from paraben, alcohol, and colourants.
NIVEA BABY Soothing Caring Oil provides baby’s skin with a protective barrier, keeping moisture and preventing the skin from drying out. The best time to use the oil is after a bath when the skin is still fresh and softened by the bath. It is a great baby oil to counter dry, flaky skin, as well as cradle cap.
With proper cleaning and moisturizing, we can keep the baby’s delicate skin soft, supple, and moisturized all time. Let NIVEA BABY range of products does its magic by giving you and your baby the best gentle skincare solution today!
To find out more, visit NIVEA Malaysia’s website.