A newborn baby often suffers from dry, scaly skin. Most of the time, flaking of a baby’s skin is normal, although most parents expect their newborns to have smooth and flawless skin, so they often express their concerns. In this article, we will talk about the causes of infant skin peeling, in addition to knowing the most important treatment methods.

Reasons for peeling skin of the infant

Usually, the reason for newborn babies’ skin peeling is a natural consequence of pregnancy; Babies have spent 9 months surrounded by amniotic fluid, so their skin doesn’t peel off like an adult’s skin does, and even a newborn’s skin may look dry and start to peel.

The following factors may affect the likelihood of developing flaky skin in an infant:

1. Vernix caseosa

It is the layer that surrounds the fetus when it is in the womb, so a thick waxy layer begins to form on the baby’s skin. to protect it from amniotic fluid. According to studies, this fatty layer begins to form around the 20th week of pregnancy.

2. The age of the fetus at birth. Full-term birth

The severity of the infant’s skin peeling varies according to its age at birth. In most cases, babies born prematurely, that is, before 40 weeks, may suffer from skin peeling at a lower rate than babies born after that, that is, after more than 40 weeks of pregnancy.

This is because babies who spend more time in the womb tend to have less lipid at birth, which means that their skin has more exposure to the amniotic fluid, and this can lead to more flaking of the infant’s skin.

3. Eczema

In some cases, atopic dermatitis or eczema in children can lead to dry and flaky skin. The cause of eczema is still unknown, but it may be caused by an allergy to certain products.

4. Ichthyosis

Ichthyosis is a group of hereditary skin conditions that cause scaling and dry skin. Doctors diagnose ichthyosis to see if it was present at birth based on family medical history and a physical examination. They may also request a blood or skin sample to confirm the condition.

Treating infant peeling

Although peeling skin is normal in newborns, excessive flaking and dryness of your baby’s skin in certain areas can be a cause for concern.

Here are 8 ways to treat and prevent infant flaky skin:

1. Reduce exposure to cold air. Cold air is often very drying and can dry out the skin, which can lead to flaky skin.
2. Use a humidifier. With the moisture in the air, this helps prevent dry skin.
3. Reducing bathing time, as long periods of bathing may lead to the removal of natural oils, which leads to a negative effect on the child’s skin, which makes the child more prone to peeling of the skin.
4. Use lukewarm water to clean the baby, and lukewarm water is ideal for washing the baby’s skin, as water that is too hot may dry out the baby’s skin.
5. Moisturizing the skin, by buying moisturizers suitable for the baby’s skin, and applying them two to three times a day.
6. Keeping the child hydrated, by making sure that he is not dehydrated.
7. Avoid unnecessary chemicals Newborn babies’ skin is very sensitive, so if the skin comes into contact with chemicals, such as perfumes, the skin may become irritated.
8. Choosing the right clothes, because soft and loose clothes made of natural materials are better for the skin of a newborn baby.

When should I go to the doctor?

Skin peeling is common in newborns; So in most cases it is not preferable to go to the doctor. But if abnormal symptoms appear, you should go to the doctor immediately, and these symptoms include:

• Skin peeling does not improve after a while.
• skin redness
• feeling itchy