Thinner, more fragile, less resistant to bacteria or harmful substances, your baby’s skin is prone to rashes of all sorts. Some of them are easily manageable and just go away by their own. Other ones don’t really disappear and natural treatments might be needed. Learn about cradle cap, diaper rash and thrush, and how to treat them naturally.
Does a baby skin rash usually go away by its own?
Minor skin conditions can appear the first weeks after birth, but they usually go away on their own. Keep in mind that your baby retains some of your hormones even after birth and may be prone to getting a skin rash. The skin problem usually goes away when these hormones disappear and no treatment is necessary.
Here are some examples of common skin rashes that are easily manageable:
- Pink pimples also called “neonatal acne”. This should go away on its own after a few months.
- Jaundice, which causes a yellow hue to the skin and eyes, usually goes away quickly.
- White bumps on the nose and on the face also called “milia”. Once your baby’s oil glands open up, they should disappear.
Other common baby rashes are less easily manageable and you should see a doctor in some cases. Cradle cap, diaper rash, and thrush are the most common ones. Let’s see how you could get rid of them naturally.
Cradle cap
Cradle cap is a form of seborrheic dermatitis, which is very common among babies. This is an inflammatory skin disease that usually clears up by the time your baby reaches twelve months.
Cradle cap is caused by overactive oil glands and is characterized by thick greasy scales with yellow crusts, usually on the scalp. It is not itchy in comparison with dermatitis.
If your child has some signs of cradle cap, it is important to heal the lesions to prevent further stages of bacterial infection. If the flakes become itchy, flaky, and show signs of a local infection, please seek a doctor for advice.
Several alternatives can be used every day if your baby has cradle cap. You can massage your baby’s scalp and alternate products with:
- Calendula cream or vitamin E (helps heal lesions and soothes the skin)
- Aloe vera gel (restores the skin)
- Evening primrose oil (natural anti-inflammatory)
- Almond oil (moisturizing)
- Sage (anti-bacterial)
Let the oil or the cream be absorbed by the scalp for fifteen minutes. Then, shampoo to remove any excess oil and gently comb away dry skin. Don’t try to remove flakes if they don’t fall away naturally, as it may cause an infection.
Try to keep your child’s scalp clean and dry in order to prevent cradle cap.
The Amazing Benefits of Calendula for Skin Irritations
Diaper rash
Diaper rash is quite common and can occur as long as your baby has diapers. There are two different kinds of rashes:
- a contact diaper rash caused by a reaction to: disposable diapers, diarrhea, urine, soaps, etc. The skin is red and irritated, sometimes dry and scaling.
- a fungal diaper rash caused by yeast or candida in the intestinal tract. The skin tends to be bright red and shiny. If the origin is fungal, your baby might have thrush as well.
You should ask your doctor for a diagnosis to insure the diaper rash is treated correctly and to be sure there isn’t an infection.
What to do if your baby has a diaper rash?
A warm water bath with calendula or chamomile helps soothe the skin. Calendula cream can be applied on the rash to help heal the skin.
Evening primrose oil is also commonly used for its natural anti-inflammatory properties.
Gently clean your baby’s skin with each diaper change, rinse well and keep the skin dry. Baking soda mixed with some water can also be applied to balance the acidity of urine and stool.
Here are some other useful tips if your baby has a diaper rash:
- Change your baby’s diaper often.
- Do not use “baby wipes” that have alcohol or propylene glycol to clean the skin when you baby has a diaper rash.
- Pat your baby dry after a bath.
- Let your baby be diaper-free!
Thrush
Thrush is a yeast infection characterized by white patches in the mouth, on the tongue, and, sometimes the lips. It is usually seen in children under six months.
This skin issue is different from cradle cap: the patches don’t scrape off easily compared to milk curds, and thrush leaves a red, inflamed area under the patches.
Don’t try to scrape away the patches, you may hurt you child. Because thrush can be painful, it can cause your baby to lose their appetite and get insufficient feeding.
Thrush is caused by the growth of a yeast called candida albicans. This is why when a baby has thrush, the yeast can cause a diaper rash at the same time. Everyone has candida in their body, but babies’ immune systems are weaker and not yet strong enough to control the growth of candida. Thrush can also result from the intake of certain medication like antibiotics, because they kill friendly bacteria and alter the flora balance.
If you are nursing your baby, there is a possibility that thrush spreads to your nipples. If there is an infection, nipples become red, swollen and even cracked or itching.
Clean everything that comes in contact with your baby’s mouth, that is to say your nipples between feedings, and any item that your baby puts in the mouth. You can use a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to clean the item and rinse it with water before giving it back to the baby.
What are the best homeopathic remedies for baby skin rashes?
Sulphur and thuja are the most popular homeopathic remedies for baby skin rashes.
Sulphur can be taken when the rash is very red, irritated and sore. On the other hand, thuja might be a good choice for persistent diaper rash.
What to eat if your baby has a rash?
If you are nursing your baby, be aware that most of the food you eat pass through your breast milk onto your baby.
Allergenic foods could be the cause of your baby’s skin rash. They include coffee, sugar, wheat, dairy, and citrus fruit.
If the cause of your baby’s skin rash is bacterial, eat foods that are rich in probiotics to maintain friendly bacteria. The best probiotic-rich foods are yogurt (plain, no sugar), kefir, tempeh, miso, and sauerkraut.
Limit your intake of foods that feed the bad bacteria, such as:
- Refined sugar (also sugar in fruit, maple syrup, or honey!).
- Most fats, apart from cold-pressed, uncooked olive oil that can help inhibit the growth of candida.
- Alcohol, coffee, tea, chocolate.
- Foods containing yeast such as bread, mushrooms, vinegar, or smoked foods.
Anti-candida Diet: The Foods to Eat and to Avoid
If you are nursing your baby, you are probably the most important one to be taking supplements because everything passes through your milk. To reduce and kill the yeast in your intestinal tract, you can supplement your diet with:
- Probiotics. Your baby can also take a probiotic supplement in a lower dosage.
- Good antioxidants such as beta carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, small amount of zinc, and selenium.
- Caprylic acid from coconut.
- Grapefruit seed extract.
- Odorless garlic capsules.
- Ginger tea with your meals.
- Aloe vera.
- Disclaimer
Article by
J. Beck
DISCLAIMER
The information provided on Optiderma.com is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for the advice of an appropriately qualified practitioner.
If you are allergic to the foods, herbs, essential oils, any remedies listed here, you must of course avoid them. For example, consuming food that you’re sensitive to will only cause more (not reduce!) inflammation.
Please consult a practitioner (such as Naturopath, Homeopath, Doctor of Chinese Medicine, Dermatologist, ...) to follow the most appropriate treatment to heal your skin. All legal mentions »
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