Baby soft skin is a term used often and we all expect a baby to have flawless skin. However parents of infants know that this is not always the case. Babies have tender skin and weak immune systems which makes them vulnerable to nasty rashes. Rashes tend to cause discomfort and therefore it is important to know its cause, its type and how to treat it to keep your baby discomfort free.

There are a ton of different types of rashes, Diaper rash, eczema, Drool rashes, irritation by stool or urine or baby acne. The causes can be dampness, heat, friction, fragrances or chemicals

Let’s discuss some tips for dealing with some common types of rashes.

Diaper rash – This is one of the common types of rashes since it houses a lot of moisture and heat. Urine or stools can also be acidic which is damaging to the skin. Therefore, here are some helpful treatments.

  • Changing the baby’s diaper as soon as it gets wet or the baby passes stool.
  • Always wipe the baby’s genitals with a soft and damp cloth or mild wipes with less alcohol content or fragrance and prefer patting it clean over rubbing.
  • You can also use a cream with petroleum jelly or zinc oxide before putting on a diaper.
  • Coconut oil or olive oil is also a good alternative to diaper rash ointments since they have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
  • Using baby powder should be kept at a minimum and if used, keep it away from the baby’s face since corn-starch can get into the baby’s lungs and cause breathing problems.

Drool rash or facial rashes– It’s common for babies to drool a lot since they are developing teeth and salivary glands. Babies also tend to put toys in their mouth or use a pacifier which can also cause saliva to stay on the face causing rashes. Instead of frequently being worried about this, here are some tips to treat this rash.

  • Reduce the use of pacifier
  • Again! Pat, don’t scrub so that the skin doesn’t get irritated.
  • You must have gathered this by now, anything with fragrance is a big No! No! so use non fragranced lotions and avoid using soap on the baby’s face.
  • Prefer using plain warm water to clean the drool and keep a bib handy to avoid drool from reaching the chest or other parts of the body.

These are the two most frequent rashes and its treatments however prevention is better than cure so here are some tips to prevent rashes.

  •  Keep a note of foods that may be causing rashes and avoid them
  • Avoid getting the baby in physical contact with strangers or people with a transmittable skin illness.
  •  Don’t over dress your baby in the winters or underdress them in the summers, since excess warmth or cold can also cause rashes.
  • To avoid rashes from friction, make sure your baby is dressed in breathable clothes.
  •  Keep a track of the detergents you use to wash the baby’s clothes since some can have harmful chemicals that may harm the baby’s skin.

These tips should prove helpful to ease your baby’s discomfort from rashes and to keep you worry-free. However, if you notice the rash oozing out liquids, accompanied by or followed by a fever or one that doesn’t respond to home remedies for more than a week, then consult your paediatrician immediately.