Babys skin peeling: Causes and ways to improve

The phenomenon of baby's skin peeling makes many mothers worry. This can be both a normal condition, but it can also be a sign of a number of skin conditions.

Taking care of a newborn can be exciting for many people but it also comes with a lot of stress, especially if it's the first time you have a baby. In addition, one of the things that worries many people is the peeling of infant skin.

Why is baby skin flaking?

A baby's appearance, including the skin, will change a lot during the first few weeks of life. Your baby's hair may change color and the skin may turn darker or lighter. Therefore, the peeling condition is completely normal. This phenomenon can occur in any part of the body, such as the hands, soles of the feet, and ankles.

When they are born, their skin is covered with white wax to help protect their skin. When the wax disappears, your baby will begin to peel the outer skin within 1-3 weeks. The amount of peeling skin depends on whether your baby is born prematurely, at the right age or older.

The more layers of vernix white wax on the skin at birth, the less flaky your baby has. Premature babies often have a lot of vernix wax, so babies' skin peels less than babies born after 40 weeks. Baby skin peeling usually goes away on its own and does not require much care.

Causes of baby skin flaking

Some reasons why babies may experience flaking include:

1. Eczema causes a baby's skin to flake

In some cases, baby's skin flaky is also caused by eczema . Eczema can cause problems such as scabs, redness, and itching on the baby's skin. This is very rare in the immediate postpartum period, but can develop later. Baby eczema is not dangerous, but it can be uncomfortable for your baby. Therefore, you should know how to treat this disease .

2. Fish scales disease

Flaky newborn skin can also come from a strange disease called fish scales . This disease will cause the baby's skin to be scaly, itchy, and flake off. To determine the correct cause, the doctor will make a diagnosis by physical examination and based on the family history. 

While there is no cure for scab, regular use of moisturizers can reduce dry skin and improve baby's skin.

Improving the condition of infants with flaky skin

While you don't have to worry about flaking, your baby's skin can crack or dry in certain areas. Therefore, you should still improve this situation by:

Use a humidifier

The moisture present in the air will help prevent dry and itchy baby skin, thereby minimizing flaking.

Do not turn on the air conditioner too low

Cold air is often quite dry and can dry out the skin, leading to worse exfoliation in babies. Therefore, you should not set the temperature too low.

Do not take a shower too hot

Parents should bathe their children with warm water instead of hot water, because high temperatures will make their skin lose moisture as well as natural oils, causing babies to peel their skin. Also, don't use soap with strong alkalinity, as this will make your baby's skin drier.

Besides, use a baby moisturizer right after your baby has finished bathing.

Take an oat bath to reduce flaky infant skin

Research shows that oatmeal aids in reducing inflammation and itching, which may prevent children from scratching off flaky skin. Therefore, you can give your baby oatmeal baths if the baby's skin is flaky.

Breastfeeding to limit skin peeling of babies

When a baby has flaky skin, besides supplying moisture to the skin from the outside, you should also supplement your baby with water through breast milk or formula.

Choose clothes for babies with skin peeling

To help your baby feel more comfortable when a baby has peeling skin, you should choose soft material that is suitable for your baby's young skin.