Is It Normal For A Newborn Skin To Peel

Accept a deep breath, mumma. While information technology looks strange and unusual, newborn skin peeling is really completely normal. In fact, flaky newborn skin is very mutual in babies that take 'cooked' past xl weeks gestation because the coating that protects the pare from amniotic fluid begins to lessen as pregnancy stretches on.

Common reasons for newborn pare peeling

Being built-in later 40 weeks
Cold weather
Bathing too ofttimes
Using lather
Other skin conditions like eczema or infection

Mum's Grapevine spoke to Senior Neonatologist at Sydney'south Mater Hospital Dr Tushar Bhuta to find out how to help newborns with peeling skin.

"A newborn'southward appearance changes a lot within the start few weeks," Dr Bhuta explains. "The skin peels ordinarily because newborns are born covered in vernix. This is the coating that protects a babe's skin from amniotic fluid within the mother's uterus. Once the vernix disappears, the baby will shed its outer layer of skin.

"Another possible crusade of peeling skin among newborns is dryness of skin or infection. Importantly, if your babe has patches of dry skin that become increasingly red in colour, you should consult your GP or paediatrician."

How long does newborn skin peeling last?

According to Dr Bhuta, the shedding, flaking or peeling of newborn peel tin last upward to 3 weeks.

"Usually the more than vernix a baby has at birth, the less their pare will peel. If your baby is built-in premature, he or she is probable to have more vernix and so will peel less."

How to treat newborn skin peeling

Flaky and peeling newborn skin usually corrects itself in a couple of weeks, only Dr Bhuta says there are a few things you tin do to assistance ease any discomfort bub might be feeling:

Reduce the length of bath times and use warm h2o instead of hot water. Long baths tend to strip abroad the oils from your baby'due south peel and may make the peeling worse.
Employ moisturisers after bath time.
Choose hypoallergenic cleansers and moisturisers without any harsh chemicals or scents.
Endeavor to shield your infant from cold air. This includes using blankets if your baby is sleeping in air-conditioning or when outside, particularly during winter.
Use a humidifier to help increase wet levels in the air if your business firm is too dry out.

Dr Bhuta says if the dry pare does not disappear later on a few weeks, information technology's all-time to seek communication from your GP.

Read side by side …

Looking for more means to care for baby's skin? From gentle nappy creams to the softest blankets, we list the peak baby products and brands other mums recommend.

Read this: fifty ways to soothe baby's sensitive pare