Wellness

Childhood Skin Concerns: Expert Answers To Your Questions

Answered by Team ParentCircle

Dr YG Suvarna, pediatrician at Rosewalk Hospital, New Delhi, answers your questions related to children’s skincare.

1. Can I massage my 3-month-old baby with olive oil?

Massage therapy for infants has been a tradition in our country since time immemorial, and various oil preparations have been used, depending on the region. A delicate massage with oil (just oil application on the skin) makes a baby more alert and less stressful and also helps with weight gain. Research shows that it’s better to avoid olive oil for infant massage. Olive oil is low in a type of fatty acid called linoleic acid and high in oleic acid. The former can strengthen your baby’s skin barrier, but the latter can damage the delicate layers of skin, making the skin more permeable. As oleic acid also increases moisture loss from the baby’s skin, it can worsen skin conditions like eczema.
Instead, use pure coconut oil, safflower oil, or sunflower oil, as these oils have antioxidant properties and essential fatty acids that increase the flexibility of the skin and help maintain skin integrity.

2. My 2-month-old baby has small pimples on his head and boils in the neck folds. What should I do?

It’s common to see red, bumpy lesions on a baby’s head and skin folds, such as on the neck and in the thighs and groin. These are likely to be boils caused by a bacterial infection. Small pus-filled boils will heal on their own. Good hygiene, proper baths, and washing with a mild cleanser or soap and water will help prevent these boils. Don’t make your baby wear tight caps and clothes, as tight clothing can cause pimple breakouts.
Call your doctor if:

• you notice signs of illness (e.g., fever) in your baby
• the boils appear on your baby’s face or around his nose and mouth
• the boils last for more than a week
• the boils are spongy and painful to touch
• the boils get bigger

If a pus-filled boil bursts:

• Clean it thoroughly using an antiseptic as recommended by your doctor
• Wash your hands before and after touching the boil
• If the boil doesn’t heal in a day or two, take your child to a doctor for treatment with antibiotic ointment or oral antibiotics

3. Which is safer for babies—wet wipes or dry wipes?

Baby wipes often contain ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions and cause dermatitis. So, it’s very important to choose the right kind of wipes.
Look for baby wipes:

• made of non-irritating organic materials like wood pulp. (Avoid wipes made of synthetic materials like polypropylene and polyester.)
• that are hypoallergenic and gently clean the baby’s skin
• formulated with a large percentage of purified water
• containing an extremely mild surfactant (0.3%), which removes water-insoluble dirt and residues, maintains the skin’s pH and prevents the growth of microbes. The surfactant (cleanser) shouldn’t disturb the protective lipid layer of the skin
• containing mild preservatives

Wet wipes are preferable to water and cloth. Use wet wipes to clean only the diaper area, as the rest of your baby’s body needs the protective natural lipid covering. In other areas of the body where microbial cross-contamination is not a risk, use dry wipes.

4. White patches are appearing on my 3-year-old’s face. I’m worried. Please help.

Skin pigmentation conditions are common in children. Although they are usually no cause for alarm and are easily treatable, don’t ignore uneven skin tone on any part of your child’s body. Seek immediate medical aid.
The most common skin conditions in children include:

• Pityriasis alba: Pityriasis alba typically affects children between the ages of 3 and 16, and resolves without treatment as the patches usually go away with time. The patches are dry, scaly and become noticeable after the child spends some time in the sun, and the skin surrounding the patches may darken with sun exposure. Mild cases can be treated with a moisturizer and sunscreen to prevent the surrounding skin from tanning so that the patches (which do not tan) don’t become obvious. A dermatologist may recommend topical steroids in severe cases.
• Tinea versicolor: This is a fungal infection. Dark, light or pink-colored patches appear on the neck, chest, abdomen, back or face. Sun exposure may make these patches more noticeable when the surrounding skin tans. A dermatologist may recommend topical antifungal medications. To prevent recurrences, keep the affected area dry and cool.
• Vitiligo: The most common type of vitiligo is vitiligo vulgaris, which occurs when a child’s immune system attacks its own melanocytes. It first develops as a single spot of lighter skin called a macule, and over time the macule grows in size and spreads. Vitiligo occurs on sun-exposed areas and around the eyes, nostrils and mouth. A dermatologist may recommend anti-inflammatory creams (corticosteroids) and UV light therapy.

5. My 3-year-old son is getting an allergic rash under his chin and on his cheek. Could it be caused by woolen clothing?

Allergic skin disorders, called eczema, are common in children. Eczema makes children’s skin red, dry, bumpy and itchy. Allergic skin rashes may occur due to the ingestion or inhalation of allergens. In this case, wool could have triggered atopic dermatitis.
Every skin rash needs to be shown to a dermatologist, who may treat it with moisturizers and other anti-inflammatory preparations. You can help your child avoid these rashes by preventing his exposure to the allergen. Don’t let woolen clothing come in direct contact with your child’s skin, as it may be harsh on his skin.
Seek immediate medical attention if your child has fever, if you notice redness and warmth in the affected area, or if pus-filled bumps develop. Usually, childhood eczema fades away when the child turns 15 or 16.

6. Why does my 1-year-old have a bald spot on his head?

The medical term for hair loss in patches or throughout the scalp is alopecia. Common causes of alopecia in babies include:

• Ringworm of the scalp: Patchy hair loss with easily pluckable hair
• Tight hairstyle: It breaks the hair strands (this hair loss is called traction alopecia)
• Twisting or pulling out of hair:
• The missing hair occurs in patches of different shapes
• A rare autoimmune genetic condition called alopecia areata: It leads to patchy baldness

Call your doctor if:

• the affected area is red or swollen
• scabs are present on the scalp
• you notice widespread thinning of hair

Also Read:

Skin Care for Babies And Kids

Foods That Can Cause Skin Allergies In Children

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