Even a small amount of chemicals or colorants can cause side effects and lead to skin diseases, especially if it is not suitable or there are allergies. Therefore, to choose the right products, we should focus on simple skincare. Simple in the sense that it is beneficial to moisturize and protect the skin of babies and toddlers! Want to know more tips and the most common disease risks for your baby? Stay tuned!

What Causes Baby’s Skin to Be More Sensitive?

The skin acts as a huge protective barrier, which is why skincare is so important. Newborns have been in a neutral environment during pregnancy and are exposed to harsh irritants in their new environment. That means babies don’t yet have skin protection factors against exposure to the new environment, so they are more at risk of infection.

This high level of sensitivity often causes various types of rashes on our kids’ skin! It is possible for their skin condition to change every day. Some rashes can look shocking, stay calm moms! Most are harmless and will heal on their own. This common rash (erythema toxicum) is a benign rash that is very common in newborns. 

What are the symptoms? They can be seen as small red bumps or pimples that can cover the whole body (these bumps may look less red on darker skin tones). Diaper rash is also common, but we can help prevent it by changing diapers frequently and using diaper rash protection creams.

In addition to rashes, it is common for sensitive baby skin to flake off. The factor can be from certain irritants or also dryness. Therefore, we must not let our guard down and keep our baby’s skin hydrated and clean!

Most Common Baby Skin Diseases

As we’ve already discussed, a baby’s sensitive skin can cause a variety of skin diseases and conditions. Examples include diaper rash, heat rash, baby acne, cradle cap (seborrheic dermatitis), and eczema.

Diaper rash develops from contact with urine and feces. To prevent this, we can use a diaper rash protection cream with every diaper change that contains zinc oxide. It is also important that we change baby’s diapers diligently! Next, heat rash or prickly heat, is usually often located in the folds of the skin. This can happen in warm climates and will resolve with cooling. We can also use zinc oxide medication or lotion to soothe this condition.

Newborn acne commonly develops on the cheeks, chin, forehead and back. The cause could be due to hormones, skin hygiene, or bacteria. Seborrheic dermatitis, often seen as a cradle cap with crusty yellow flakes on the scalp. This condition can spread to the face, neck and body. Apart from oil production and fungal growth, seborrheic dermatitis is also thought to be caused by an abnormal response from the immune system. For treatment, the doctor will usually give antifungal drugs or topical corticosteroids.

Lastly, babies are also prone to eczema. Eczema is characterized by dry, flaky and sometimes itchy patches on the face and body. Why does this happen? It could be because we may bathe our babies too often. Too much bathing can strip the skin of its natural oils and cause dryness! 

Unique facts: A full bath is not necessary every day, especially for newborns, but skin folds and areas that look dirty need to be cleaned daily to prevent odor and buildup of old skin cells. In general, a bath every 48-72 hours is sufficient – after the umbilical cord falls off. 

As a recommendation, a short shower is sufficient. If the skin is very sensitive, you can wipe the skin with a soft wet cloth, without soaking in water. Don’t forget to apply an unscented moisturizer immediately! 

Recommendations for Choosing Baby Skincare Products

Serenitree will provide keywords for the right product selection, namely:

• “Noncomedogenic” – does not clog pores
• “Hypoallergenic” – does not cause allergies
• “Unscented” – unscented

In addition, there are also some ingredients that we must avoid. These include skincare with parabens, SLS, phthalates, and fragrances. These products when ingested or absorbed through the skin can cause dangerous medical conditions!

Instead, skincare with natural ingredients (less chance of irritation) for babies is now available. Here are some natural ingredients that could be an option:

• Shea butter: Hydrates, reduces itching and dryness
• Aloe vera: Soothes inflammation, helps with eczema, relieves itching
• Almond oil: Absorbs moisture, improves blood circulation, reduces water loss
• Olive oil: Promotes the growth of new skin cells, regenerates skin tissue, hydrates the skin

Those are some choices of natural ingredients for our baby moms! We need to remember that products specifically branded for “babies” are often more expensive because of the target market. However, it is the safest choice for our baby! We recommend that for babies and toddlers, use baby-specific products with the three keywords above!

After the baby turns 3 years old, we can continue skincare with Serenitree body wash, followed by Serenitree body lotion. These two products are the best combo in cleansing and moisturizing. It’s not just for kids, we adults with sensitive skin and even pregnant women and mothers can safely use it because of its natural ingredients, without SLS, phthalates, parabens, and other harsh chemicals. So, let’s take care of our skin health and baby as early as possible to be protected from the risk of skin diseases! Relax moms, now there are many options that we can choose according to skin conditions!

The post Watch out for the 5 most common baby skin diseases! appeared first on Serenitree Indonesia.

Let’s see the explanation until the end!

Why is the rainy season prone to skin diseases?

During the rainy season, air humidity tends to increase. This condition affects human skin because moisture can trigger the growth of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi on the skin surface. In addition, high humidity makes the environment more humid.

This also makes the skin more prone to irritation. The increased moisture content in the air can make it difficult to absorb the excessive moisture. The result = irritation and other skin problems.

In addition, during the rainy season, we tend to frequent wetter environments, especially if exposed directly to rainwater or moisture from the air. Prolonged exposure to water, especially if it is contaminated with dirt or bacteria, can increase the risk of skin diseases! 

Another factor that plays a role is the change in temperature during the rainy season. Rapid temperature changes from hot to cold or vice versa can affect the skin’s balance. This can cause the skin to become more sensitive or prone to irritation and other skin diseases. 

6 Skin Diseases During the Rainy Season

There are actually many, but there are 6 types of skin diseases that often appear during the rainy season. The symptoms and causes are different so make sure you are familiar with the symptoms!

• Ringworm: This disease is caused by a fungus that grows on the surface of the skin. The high humidity of the rainy season creates an ideal environment for fungal growth.

Symptoms of ringworm include: Red patches or scaly skin, high-intensity itching in the infected area, and painful or burning spots.

When affected, make sure not to scratch the itchy area and consult a doctor immediately. Generally we need anti-fungal ointment as a treatment. For prevention, simply shower regularly and avoid exchanging hygiene items with others.

• Prickly heat: Who says prickly heat only occurs when it’s hot? This disease occurs when the sweat glands are blocked. High humidity prevents sweat from leaving the skin!

Symptoms include: The onset of a small, red rash resembling a pimple accompanied by a stinging itching or burning sensation in the area.

We can treat this disease with ointments/medications with zinc oxide. For prevention, make sure the room is well ventilated and keep the skin clean and moisturized with lotion.

• Athlete’s foot: Athlete’s foot is caused by an allergic reaction to the bites of athlete’s foot on moist skin, especially in the foot area.

Symptoms include: The appearance of fluid-filled bubbles on the skin and intense itching.

The treatment is by applying Miconazole or Clotrimazole. To be on the safe side, don’t forget to consult your symptoms first! Make sure to always keep your feet clean and avoid wearing closed footwear for too long!

• Tinea versicolor: Tinea Versicolor is a type of fungal growth on the skin due to high humidity levels.

Symptoms of tinea versicolor include: The appearance of white or yellowish patches on the skin. It is also not uncommon to experience itching and redness around the infected area.

Some options of tinea versicolor medicine that we can try are Selenium sulfide, Itraconazole or Ketoconazole. For prevention, we need to avoid wearing too tight clothes and dry the skin well especially after activities or bathing.

• Acne: Skin is prone to breakouts during the rainy season as the increased humidity in the air can lead to increased oil production on the skin. This makes the pores prone to clogging.

Acne comes in many forms, but one symptom is red bumps on the skin.

Prevent and treat acne by using non-comedogenic or acne skin-specific products. We must also maintain our hygiene!

• Cold Allergy: Some people have allergies to cold weather, especially if the temperature changes drastically.

Symptoms of this allergy resemble: Skin redness and rashes on areas exposed to cold air and mild/severe itching (Intensity depends on individual skin conditions).

As a treatment, allergy sufferers can take antihistamine drugs such as Cetirizine, Ioratadine, or Desloratadine. Make sure to consult a doctor, especially if symptoms worsen! We can also avoid this allergy by avoiding exposure to cold temperatures. 

These are some of the most common rainy season skin diseases! Are there any symptoms that you often experience? Unlike prevention, for treatment, try to always rely on medical personnel and professionals. Don’t let the symptoms get worse and risk being fatal to our health!

Rainy Season Skin Care

The change in temperature and humidity during the rainy season means we have to change our skincare routine a bit! This is to keep our skin healthy, hydrated and glowing.

First, your skin needs to stay hydrated. Cold weather can make our skin dry so we can keep it hydrated by applying lotion after showering (Recommended product: Serenitree Body Lotion), drinking more water, and taking supplements if necessary (Especially for those with very dry skin). This should also be balanced with the consumption of vegetables and fruits to increase antioxidants in the body, thus protecting the skin from free radicals.

Do not forget also that the habit of exfoliation must remain the way to remove dirt on clogged pores. Clogged pores will become skin diseases if we don’t clean them!

The last tip is to minimize the use of makeup. It’s okay to use makeup, but try not to be too thick. This is to prevent buildup on the pores of the facial skin. 

The point is to maintain hygiene (Avoiding the growth of bacteria & infection), hydration (Inside and outside the body), and increase immunity so as not to be vulnerable to disease. Let’s stay healthy together, Sereni-Trees!

The post Rainy Season Arrives, Here are 6 Skin Diseases that are Prone to Occur! appeared first on Serenitree Indonesia.