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.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: what are the best natural options?
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.
Nutrition for cradle cap
When you are breastfeeding, keep in mind that everything you eat passes through your milk to your baby.
What to eat:
Choose sources of essential fatty acids (from fish or oil) instead of saturated animal fatsEat foods made with live bacteria culture including cheese, yogurt, kefir, tempeh, miso, sauerkraut
Not to eat:
Try to avoid refined sugar, as it feeds yeast and bacteria
Supplements for cradle cap
Take probiotics as a supplement so that it goes through the breast milk directly to the baby. It is also safe to give probiotics directly to your baby. You can find probiotics for infants in most natural food stores. For a breastfed baby, it may be easier to put a small amount of no-sugar yogurt on your nipple.
External treatments for cradle cap
Several alternatives can be used every day. 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)
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.
Homeopathic remedies for cradle cap
Sulphur or thuja are common homeopathic remedies for skin conditions.
Thrush or yeast infection
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.
Nutrition
A change in your own diet is needed if you are nursing your baby :
What to eat:
Eat natural plain yogurt without sugar to maintain the friendly bacteria
Limit your intake of:
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.
Supplements
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 some in a lower dosage and a lactobacillus mouthwash may also be helpful.
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. You can apply it topically to your baby's thrush as well, several times a day. (ask you holistic pediatrician)
Homeopathic remedies
Arsenicum album 9c
Sulphur 9c
Thuja 30cCapsicum (ask you homeopathic doctors for suggestions.)
General recommendations
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.
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