Dry and flaky skin is not always a precursor to rashes or skin conditions. Your baby’s skin is delicate and is bound to lose moisture faster than yours does. So you don’t have to send all the alarm bells ringing just yet. Maybe consider it a sign that you need to rethink your newborn’s skincare routine? Including the baby lotion, oils and cleansers you use? Sometimes that is enough to restore your infant’s skin to its famous “baby soft” state. Let us show you how you can do that by including ceramide-based products into your baby skincare routine!
What Is The Skin Barrier & How Is It Different For Babies?
Let’s talk about skin barriers. This is the outermost layer of your skin or epidermis, and its primary purpose is to lock in moisture, protect your skin against the harsh effects of the environment (including pollution, bacteria, UV rays etc.), and to keep your skin naturally regulated and balanced.
Interestingly, guess what the skin barrier is primarily made of? If you guessed ceramides, you are right! It is also made up of fatty acids and cholesterol that hold your skin cells together but ceramides are one of the main ingredients, so that is something to think about.
Needless to say, a baby’s skin barrier is still weak and developing. Studies show that it is 20-30% thinner than that of an adult’s, which means it requires that extra dash of care and all the TLC you can give it.
How Do Ceramides Support Infant Skin?
Since ceramides are the primary component of a human’s skin barrier, they have an important role to play in keeping it protected and hydrated. And that is no different when it comes to babies. Their skin barrier is still developing, which means they lose skin moisture at a faster rate than we do. This dehydration not only causes their skin to dry out but it can also make it more susceptible to common skin conditions. In fact, studies show that around 50% babies will experience either erythema toxicum (a harmless skin rash) or diaper rashes. The only way to fix them? You guessed it again! Ceramides-based products!
How Does The Indian Climate Impact A Baby’s Skin Barrier?
As you already know, the Indian climate is far from forgiving. Factors such as extreme summer heat, humidity in the monsoon season, dry winters, and the presence of hard water in most cities in towns of the country can baby skincare further. That is why using the right products is so important. It can prevent common infant skin issues while supporting the natural development of your baby’s skin barrier.
Can Oils Be Used To Improve Baby Skin Barrier Function?
There is no harm in trying. And we are certainly not asking you to skip the baby massage oil routine. That plays its own role in the development of your child. But even hydrating oils, such as coconut oil for example, are not rich in ceramides. That is to say, though they can be hydrating, they do not complement the skin barrier development of your child quite like ceramides-based products do. So while oil massages are irreplaceable, using ceramide-rich cleansers and baby lotion is still key to strengthening the natural defenses of your little one’s skin.
How To Develop A Skin Barrier-Friendly Routine For Babies?
Developing a skin barrier-friendly routine obviously involves choosing the right baby bath-time products such as baby lotions, washes and shampoos, but it also includes keeping the following tips in mind:
- Keep baths short, ideally no longer than 5 to 10 mins and use lukewarm water only to prevent your baby’s skin from drying out.
- Use soap-free,m pH balanced cleansers or baby wash and shampoos that contain ceramide to lock in moisture.
- Make sure the baby lotion you use after every bath, not only contains incredibly moisturising ingredients such as PENTAVITIN®, but also skin-soothing agents such as Oats, which heal existing inflammation and keep your baby comfy.
- Be generous with the amount of moisturiser you use on your baby’s face, shins and any rough areas as they may require a little extra hydration to remain soft and supple.
- Don’t skip baby massage oils. Just choose the right ones that match your baby’s core skin concern.
Conclusion
Using ceramides-based baby lotion and cleansers is an un-skippable part of a healthy baby skincare routine. Since they are specially formulated to support the development of your infant’s skin barrier, they are more effective in warding off common skin issues and in soothing existing cases of mild rashes, irritation, and dryness. Using natural products is key, so make sure you pick the right items when shopping for baby skincare products.
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