Managing skin irritation in babies

There’s nothing quite like the softness of a baby’s skin and we know that you’ll want to protect that softness for as long as possible. But babies’ skin is naturally more sensitive than that of adults, and it can easily become dry, sore, flaky and everything in between. That’s why Bepanthen® Baby is here to give you a helping hand in caring for your precious little one.

Causes of skin irritation in babies

One in two babies will experience problems with their skin. From nappy rash to scaling, blemishes to rashes, all babies’ skin irritations stem from the same common problem: the skin barrier becoming damaged.

There are many reasons as to why the skin barrier is so sensitive among babies, including:

Baby skin is thinner than adult skin, meaning irritants and other aggressors can permeate more easily.
The surface of your baby’s skin is very large relative to his or her weight, so there’s more scope for irritations.
Until three months old, your baby’s skin has a higher pH than adult skin.
Baby skin is still adjusting to life outside of the womb, so it’s more vulnerable to sunlight and the friction from rough fabrics.
Babies tend to sweat a lot, as their internal temperature is changing. Their sweat can irritate the skin.

Managing skin irritation in babies
with baby ointment and more

Here are some quick tips for you:

Keep baths short and infrequent, and make sure the water isn’t too hot.
Avoid soap.
Only use products specially formulated for babies.
Pat your baby’s skin dry, never rub.
Wrap your baby up warm in cold weather.
Use a gentle laundry detergent when washing baby clothes.
Keep your baby well hydrated.
Keep your baby's fingernails trimmed so they can’t scratch any dry patches.

Skin irritations in babies are extremely common and you’ve probably done nothing wrong. But you can help minimise the risk by following three simple prevention steps:

Parent applying barrier cream to baby's arms and hands.

1. Choose your baby products carefully

Mum massaging baby.
Ask your midwife, GP or health visitor to recommend baby products.
Try to look for products that are free from alcohol, colours, preservatives or fragrances.
Only use products that have been specially formulated for babies.
For general skincare try emollients as they generally contain less sensitisers, e.g. fragrances, than cosmetic moisturizers and they also provide deep moisturizers.
Any products that you use should be very mild and pH neutral.
Look for products that have been clinically tested.

A tight nappy can worsen a nappy rash, as it both rubs the skin (removing the skin’s protective lipids) and prevents air circulation. If left untreated, this can even lead to fungal infections such as candida albicans (thrush). Some baby wipes and cleaning products can also cause irritation.

2. Maintain a good bathing routine

It is essential that your baby's skin is always clean, but many experts do not recommend a daily bath, which can dry out the skin. Instead, clean the face, hands and buttocks with cotton wool and clean, lukewarm water every day.
When you do bathe your baby, use pH neutral, fragrance-free products that have been specially formulated for babies.
Make sure the bath water is lukewarm, if it’s too hot it will irritate your baby’s skin.
After bathing, always use an emollient or moisturizers specially formulated for baby which should be applied gently to your baby’s whole body with clean hands or cotton wool.

Bepanthen® Baby contains deeply moisturizers provitamin B5, which aids skin recovery while caring for dry and sensitive skin.

3. Maintain good nappy practice

Use high quality disposable nappies instead of washable cloth nappies, as the former are associated with less frequent and less severe nappy rash.
Change your baby’s nappy frequently, and immediately when soiled.
Use a nappy ointment during every nappy change, especially at night time when the nappy is likely to be on for the longest. Applying a thin layer of ointment to the bottom and genitals can protect the baby's sensitive skin from the causes of nappy rash at night. Look for products that contain pro-vitamin B5, which forms a protective transparent layer on the skin to prevent further irritation.
Try Bepanthen® Baby.
Bepanthen® Baby works to soothe, protect and care for your baby's delicate skin. It’s gentle caring formulation is free from colorants parabens, fragrances and preservatives. In fact, 9 in 10 moms agree that Bepanthen® is suitable for every nappy care.

Baby bottom cream is a good way to avoid skin irritation.

If your baby is less than a year old…

Moms, especially new moms, should know that the right nappy ointment is essential to protect their baby’s delicate skin.

Try Bepanthen® Baby. Contains hypoallergenic formula that is free from colorants, parabens, fragrances and preservatives. Its gentle caring formulation works to soothe, protect and care for your baby's delicate skin. In fact, 9 in 10 moms agree that Bepanthen® Baby is suitable for every nappy care¹.

Bepanthen® Baby helps to protect the most delicate skin from further irritation by forming a strong yet breathable layer for up to 10 hours², keeping baby’s bottom comfortable and protected.

Applying Bepanthen® Baby is also a comfortable experience for both baby and mom. Bepanthen® Baby is proven to reduce friction during application by up to 27% compared with a zinc oxide topical preparation³. This allows you to apply Bepanthen® Baby easily and smoothly without causing further pain or irritation.

SOURCES:

1.Consumer Satisfaction Survey conducted by IQVIA in 2019, with 300 mums in Thailand, with at least one baby aged 6-12 months old. 150 mums are frequent users of Bepanthen® Ointment (every diaper change or at least 4x/day) while the other 150 mums are using it as-needed. Results derived are based on the proportion of mums who strongly agree with the stated statements. A 5-point scale was employed in all questions.

2.Flexing-cracking study
Reference: Internal report Oct-2018 -In vitro flexibility test with bioskinsubstrate (n=10) -Optimised visual assessment. *Bepanthen® Ointment cosmetics status UI:1600198 ** individual response may vary

3.Friction
Reference : Internal report May 2019 -in vitro tribology test (n=10 repetitions) additional disclaimer when speaking about ZnO: ** compared to two ZnOcommercially available product *Bepanthen® Ointment cosmetics status UI:1600198