Newborn skin questions

AmandagStark · November 2013

Just gave my LO a bath after an explosive poop diaper. After doing so, I see that he has quite a bit of dry/flaky skin on both his hands and feet. I remember the hospital telling me not to use lotion. He is two weeks old...how should I care for his skin without lotion? I also noticed that the area where his leg meets his pelvis area seems to have some kind of skin issue as well. It looks like when you've had your skin submerged in water too long. Not wrinkly, but the same color. Ugh. I cannot explain this right! Is this due to not wiping him correctly in that area during diaper change?

carawasa · November 2013

I was told Vaseline and have been using it on her face. It doesn't really do anything for her hands or feet though. However I went to the pedi today and he said I can use baby lotion so i did after her bath tonight she's 15days old. Also, try a&d ointment it could be a little irritation!

Mae208 · November 2013

In the crotch area is it just kind of red? You might want to try changing him more often if you think he's getting irritated there, and maybe allow him to air dry between changes. My LO has skin coming off in those creases but it's just normal newborn shedding. And with the dry hands and feet you don't really need to worry about it but I do use aveeno exema therapy lotion (had it on hand from DS).

AmandagStark · November 2013

Mae208 said:
In the crotch area is it just kind of red? You might want to try changing him more often if you think he's getting irritated there, and maybe allow him to air dry between changes. My LO has skin coming off in those creases but it's just normal newborn shedding. And with the dry hands and feet you don't really need to worry about it but I do use aveeno exema therapy lotion (had it on hand from DS).

The area is a little red, but in the crease is the skin issue (skin "peeling"?). I will try the A & D ointment and see if that helps...

Painterlady · November 2013

Just let it go and it will slough off by itself. Not sure about the pelvis thing. My kids had all sorts of skin issues...cradle cap, baby acne etc. Just make sure you're not over bathing and I try to only use water. Especially in the beginning.

Mae208 · November 2013

AmandagStark said:

Mae208 said:
In the crotch area is it just kind of red? You might want to try changing him more often if you think he's getting irritated there, and maybe allow him to air dry between changes. My LO has skin coming off in those creases but it's just normal newborn shedding. And with the dry hands and feet you don't really need to worry about it but I do use aveeno exema therapy lotion (had it on hand from DS).
The area is a little red, but in the crease is the skin issue (skin "peeling"?). I will try the A & D ointment and see if that helps...

Yep that 'peeling' funkiness is totally normal! Honestly I wouldn't worry about the ointment. As for the dry hands and feet I also recommend organic coconut oil. And it smells yummy!

blathnat · November 2013

Newborn skin gets flakey and peely it's totally normal. I rub LO down with almond oil a couple times a day.

chicsahm · November 2013

DD "molted" that is what pedi called it.... her skin pealed all over. I used Aquaphor every other bath, but found that it shedded easier when you don't use a ton of product. I also only bathe her a couple times a week. (she is not a "spitter")

HFrizzle · November 2013

I third the coconut oil. It's amazing!

AmandagStark · November 2013

Wow! Guess I will invest in coconut oil! Can this be purchased at Walgreens? What brands do you use?!

Crinita · November 2013

I had a sample of CJ's BUTTer and that is what we used on our LO. It works so well for everything that I just ordered a tub of it. DH, who normally could care less about that kind of thing, even commented that it was the best and he was gungho about using it.

cvjoyner · November 2013

My daughter has the look of skin being submerged in water for too long as well where her legs meet the pelvic area. The pedi said its fine and it's been clearing up. She's 4 weeks old.

ETA: I wouldn't be too concerned about it unless it starts turning red as a rash would.