SKIN IN CHILDHOOD
Parents are often bombarded with advice on how to care for their newborn baby, resulting in feelings of anxiety and inadequacy if the child suffers from even a minor skin abnormality. We tend to assume that our babies will be born with soft, unblemished skin, and while this is usually the case, it is not uncommon for a newborn to suffer from some kind of skin ailment.
Skin Care for BabiesAlthough newborn skin looks fragile, it is actually quite strong if undamaged, and provides very good protection, particularly against infection. The skin’s effectiveness as a natural barrier to disease, however, can be much decreased by the antiseptic solutions in which newborns are commonly bathed as these can cause dryness and cracking of the skin. Moisturizing bath oils and very mild soaps, such as Dove and Neutrogena, which tend to reinforce the protective layer, are best for newborn skins. Antiseptics should be reserved for open areas such as the umbilicus and circumcision sites.
Breast-feeding and the SkinBreast-feeding has gained enormous popularity in the last twenty years. Although there are some benefits associated with breast-feeding, there is no evidence to suggest that breastfeeding prevents any skin disorders.Initial studies suggested that breast-feeding protects children from allergies and eczema (inflammation of the skin). Recent studies, however, have shown that this is not the case and, in fact, that the opposite may be true. Breast-fed children are exposed to a number of different substances in mother’s milk to which they may subsequently develop allergies.Although the Nursing Mothers’ Association has successfully revived the art of breast-feeding, it should be kept in mind that infant milk formulas are today greatly improved, and mothers who are unable to breast-feed should not feel that they are disadvantaging their child, either physically or emotionally. Women who are unable or who chose not to breastfeed are not responsible for any skin disease or ‘allergy’ which their child develops. The supposed benefits of breast-feeding, among them a decrease in allergies, remain controversial.
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