What Causes Newborn Skin Peeling And What's The Treatment?

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Newborn skin peeling is common and not always a cause for concern. The extremely sensitive skin of newborns goes through several changes in appearance and texture in the first few weeks after birth. In addition, many babies have dry patches of skin, which may lead to skin peeling or flaking. However, it is normal in most cases and does not require special care.

Nevertheless, if skin peeling is severe or persistent, medical treatment may be needed to resolve the issue. Read this post to learn about the causes and treatment for skin peeling in newborns.

Is It Normal For A Newborn To Have Peeling Skin?

In most cases, skin peeling in newborns is normal. Newborns’ delicate skin is susceptible to dryness, causing the top-most layer to flake off in the first few weeks post-birth. However, several external factors can cause irritability and rashes due to their skin’s delicate nature. Further, most of the time, the issue resolves on its own (1).

What Are The Causes Of Newborn Skin Peeling?

The following are some factors that cause baby skin peeling:

1. Vernix caseosa: This thick, waxy coating protects the baby from the amniotic fluid inside the womb. Losing this outer layer may cause natural skin peeling in the first few weeks of birth (2).

2. Full-term birth: The skin of newborns differs according to the time of birth. Premature babies (born before 37 weeks) usually have less skin peeling. A full-term baby’s skin is thicker, and their skin may lighten a few days post-birth and become dry and flaky (3).

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3. Eczema: Eczema is characterized by a dry rash on the face, elbows, and knees. It is an allergic skin condition which causes itching that may lead to skin peeling (4). Eczema is rare in newborns and does not usually develop until a baby is closer to four to six months of age.Infants born in a family with a history of eczema may be susceptible to cradle cap, a harmless skin condition characterized by yellow scaly patches on the scalp.

4. Ichthyosis: A rare condition due to genetic mutations where the dead skin becomes extremely dry and flaky and peels when rubbed (5).

5. Psoriasis: An autoimmune disease that occurs due to excessive skin inflammation, leading to the rapid shedding of skin cells. A study by multiple institutions states that about one percent of children are affected by psoriasis, with one-third of the cases beginning in the pediatric years. However, it is rare for infants to be affected by it (6).Diaper rash is another common skin condition that can cause skin peeling in newborns and older babies. It is often characterized by redness in the region, fussiness, skin blistering, open sores, and scaling.

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When Does Newborn Skin Stop Peeling?

There is no defined time frame by when a newborn’s skin may stop peeling. However, if your baby’s skin shows no signs of improvement in two weeks, you could contact your pediatrician (7).

What Are The Treatments And Remedies For Skin Peeling In Newborns?

The following are some ways to treat skin peeling in newborns (7) (8):

• Moisturizer:A hypoallergenic moisturizer, selected depending on the severity of dryness, can help restore the skin’s moisture and reduce cracking and peeling. Apply it right after bath time for maximum effectiveness.

Some parents may opt for oils like olive oil to alleviate skin dryness and minimize skin peeling in newborns.

Emily Inman, a mother to two, shares how massaging her newborns with olive oil helped her manage their skin peeling issues. She says, “It (baby massage) was most useful with them (her children) as newborns, especially when their skin got quite dry after birth and would peel like a sunburn. Both our kids had dry skin, so we found ourselves routinely rubbing olive oil over them to help moisturize their skin. We were told to use olive oil by the midwife at the time instead of branded and perfumed oils (i).”

Quick tip

Ensure the moisturizer you use for the baby is free of perfumes, colors, and alcohol (10).

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• Short bathing time: Keep the baby’s bath time to under ten minutes and avoid daily baths if possible. Newborn babies only need to be bathed once or twice a week as sponge baths are sufficient. Since hot baths can cause further dryness, use room temperature or slightly warm water (9).

• Avoid using soap: Do not use soap too often as it strips the skin’s natural oils, causing excessive dryness. Baby soaps and body washes are milder but shouldn’t be used daily.

• Keep the room humid: Dry air may further aggravate irritation and cause heat rashes. Maintain the humidity in the baby’s room by running a cool-mist humidifier.

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• Cotton clothing: Dress the baby in clothes made from cotton or natural fabrics. Cotton is preferred as it is soft and allows the skin to breathe, keeping it healthy and comfortably covered.

Point to consider

Pat the baby dry with a soft cotton towel instead of rubbing them, as rubbing may lead to a loss of the essential oils from the skin surface (11).

Infographic: Tips To Maintain A Newborns’ Skin

A baby’s skin is more prone to irritations and infections during the first year due to its sensitive nature. Fortunately, most of these issues resolve after the proper intervention and are rarely a cause of concern. Here is an infographic with some essential tips to nourish your baby’s skin. Save this infographic to keep it handy.

Illustration: Momjunction Design Team

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Reviewer Author Editor Fact Checker

Dr. Jessica MaddenMD, FAAP, IBCLC

Jessica Madden is a pediatrician, neonatologist, lactation consultant, and mother of four, who has been taking care of newborns for more than 19 years now. She works as a neonatologist in the NICU at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, and founded Primrose Newborn Care, a newborn medicine and “4th trimester” home-visiting and telemedicine practice, in 2018.

Read full bio of Dr. Jessica Madden

Dr. Ritika ShahBDS, CLC

Dr. Ritika Shah is a certified lactation counsellor (CLC) from iNational Health Care Academy, Singapore and a dental surgeon with more than seven years of clinical experience across various cities in India. She did her graduation in Dentistry from KM Shah Dental College.

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Rohit GarooBSc, MBA

Rohit Garoo is a writer-turned-editor with over 9 years of experience in content writing, editing, and content marketing. He did his bachelors in Science at St. Xavier's College, Hyderabad, and masters in Business Administration at Osmania University.

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Vidya TadapatriMSc (Biotechnology)

Vidya did her post-graduation in Biotechnology from Osmania University, Hyderabad. Her interest in scientific research and writing made her pursue a career in writing, in which she now has over five years of experience. She has done certified biotechnology-related training programs under renowned organizations such as Centre For Cellular & Molecular Biology and Department of Biotechnology.

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