Babies' skin is a very sensitive and delicate organ, and due to its exposure to the outside as well as its immature characteristics it can suffer different alterations that we must know how to identify.
These are ten common alterations in babies' skin They are benign and do not need treatment, but usually disappear on their own over time. The majority are granites and skin spots that spread in more or less localized areas of the baby's body.
- Small yellow or white granites located in front, nose, upper lip and cheeks: sebaceous gland hyperplasia. These grains are produced due to the enlargement of the secondary sebaceous glands by the stimulation of the maternal androgens. It is a benign process and disappears progressively and without treatment in the first weeks of life.
- Small whitish cysts located on the face, gums or palate (where they are called Epstein pearls). These small cysts are called "Milium" and are also characterized by disappearing spontaneously.
- Changes in skin color when the baby is exposed to a low ambient temperature. In response to the cold your skin turns a red or blue color forming a network (crosslinked). This phenomenon tends to disappear gradually with the growth of the child.
- In the vast majority of newborn children, pale pink spots can be seen in the following places: central region of the forehead, eyelids, upper lip and in the neck region. They are the flat angiomas, which correspond to vascular lesions, which persist for a few months. These lesions may be more noticeable with crying or ambient heat. They disappear completely with the growth of the child.
- The purplish blue or grayish spots located in the lumbar and sacral region are called "Blue Stains." They can extend throughout the back and even to the lower limbs. They disappear during the first years of life.
- 50% of newborn children may have a rash on their skin with yellowish-white granite-like lesions surrounded by a pink halo, called "toxic erythema of the newborn" or "urticaria of the newborn." It disappears over the weeks.
- In a large percentage of newborns a peeling can be seen mainly located in wrists, backs of hands and feet, knees, and in some cases in thorax. This is a physiological desquamation (norm) in the newborn. It appears within the first and second day of life, disappearing spontaneously by the third or fourth week of life. If the peeling appears at birth it is related to the gestation time: it is a sign of post-maturity.
- The presence of small blisters located in the forearm, thumb, index finger and middle region of the upper lip, correspond to lesions secondary to intrauterine suction, disappear spontaneously. Some babies have small blisters on their lips during breastfeeding (suction callus or labial blister), which also disappear spontaneously.
- Sudamine or miliaria is a secondary reaction to perspiration in times of heat or overcoat. The lesions are most often located on the face, neck, upper trunk, extremities and diaper area.
- Up to 20% of newborns may present with neonatal acne, the characteristic lesions are pimpled or simply colored pimples that are located on the cheeks, forehead and chin. They usually resolve spontaneously during the first month of life but may in some cases persist for longer.
These ten alterations are frequent in the skin of the newborn baby, but as we see, they are not worrisome, since they usually disappear alone with the passage of time. However, if you have any questions or if the baby shows discomfort, we will always have to go to the pediatrician to assess them.
