| The skin of your newborn baby may be visually | | | | six months of age. |
| different from what you may expect, especially if that | | | | For the first few days after your new baby is born, |
| expectation has been derived from the television, | | | | you may notice an assortment of minor skin irritations |
| advertisements and glossy magazines showing a | | | | and rashes developing on your baby's skin. In the vast |
| clean, calm and smiling newborn baby. There are a | | | | majority of cases these are perfectly harmless and |
| number of primary aspects of your new baby's skin | | | | merely a consequence of your baby's newly exposed |
| that may be apparent. | | | | skin stabilizing, which generally takes about three |
| At first your newborn baby's skin will be coated in a | | | | weeks. There are three common types of skin rash |
| substance called vernix, which is whitish in color and of | | | | and irritation experienced with a newborn baby. First, |
| a greasy texture. Vernix is a natural protective barrier | | | | where small white spots occur, mainly on the bridge of |
| that prevents your baby's skin from absorbing | | | | the nose but can appear on other parts of your baby's |
| excessive amounts of water and fluid whilst at the | | | | face, this is known as Milia. This is simply the result of |
| same time providing your baby with additional | | | | blocked sebaceous glands, which while regulating, |
| protection from minor skin irritations such as flaking and | | | | excrete excess sebum on to the surface of the skin. |
| peeling. Some hospitals remove this substance | | | | This is entirely temporary until the relevant glands |
| immediately after delivery of your baby, but some | | | | regulate themselves, but you should avoid squeezing |
| keep it on for a period to aid in maximizing protection | | | | them and causing longer term scars since they will |
| for your newborn baby. The standard practice varies | | | | simply disappear after a couple of days of their own |
| from hospital to hospital. | | | | accord. Second, which is less of a problem within the |
| Since your baby has been immersed in fluid for so | | | | carefully controlled and monitored delivery rooms of a |
| long, the skin on your baby's hands and feet, as well as | | | | hospital, but a heat rash can occur as a direct result of |
| appearing wrinkled, may also turn dry and peel to | | | | your baby becoming too warm. If this does happen, |
| some extent, this will adjust itself rapidly. | | | | you should immediately ensure that your baby is not |
| A newborn baby's blood vessels are not stable upon | | | | overwrapped in excessive clothes or blankets and |
| delivery and the main visual impact of this is that your | | | | that you monitor the temperature of the room and |
| baby's skin will appear 'blotchy' in composition. This is | | | | your baby's skin to achieve optimum temperature |
| entirely normal and as your baby's blood vessel | | | | levels for your baby. Third, another rash that generally |
| system stabilizes over just a short period of time, the | | | | occurs in the first week of birth is typified by a spot |
| blotchy appearance will disappear. | | | | that has a white centre and a red ring, this rash is |
| Darker skin babies will often appear whiter at first, | | | | known as Urticaria. Again this is another common type |
| which is due to the low levels of melanin in your baby's | | | | of rash which may re-occur in the first month or so, |
| skin. This pigment will build up over a period of time and | | | | but it does not need any treatment and will disappear |
| your baby should achieve their natural color at about | | | | very quickly under normal conditions. |