How to improve the well-being of a baby with atopic-prone skin?
Dr. Valleteau de Moulliac,
Consulting pediatrician for Laboratoires Sarbec
Atopic-prone skin is characterized by abnormalities of the skin barrier (the stratum corneum and lipids), linked to a genetic predisposition and responsible, among other things, for a state of significant skin dryness (xerosis) which manifests as various skin lesions but all cause intense itching. Your baby may show this when undressed, but it can also cause discomfort (fussy baby) or sleep disturbances. In addition, this skin dryness makes the skin more permeable to external allergens (alteration of the barrier function) which can induce digestive or respiratory allergies or worsen eczema in this predisposed context.
This is why it is essential to restore and preserve this skin barrier, and to fight against xerosis:
- The use of moisturizing and soothing emollient creams adapted to this skin type is an integral part of care.
- As well as hygiene care: do not give baths that are too hot or too long. Prefer showers. Avoid using water that is too hard (calcareous) or too chlorinated. Avoid soaps and instead opt for syndets, dermatological bars with acidic pH, or even better, cleansing oils. Dry by patting, not rubbing, to avoid irritating the skin. Avoid irritating fabrics. Keep a cool temperature in the baby’s room day and night. No exposure to tobacco smoke, among other things.
Regular moisturizing helps repair your baby’s skin, rehydrate it, and thus restore its barrier function, as so-called “normal” skin should do. In this way, you will help improve your baby’s well-being by eliminating all these discomforts.
