Infant skin care is all about protection from infections and diseases, balancing oil levels, provide hydration and nutrients, prevent skin damages from UV radiations, enable quick skin healing after cuts, bruises and injuries and care for the overall skin health.
This is the first stage which will be eventually followed by enhancement of complexion, tone, strength and glow factors.
Dermatologists suggest that you stop worrying about beautifying her skin till she is about 2 years of age at least. It could be due to the fact that exposure to cosmetics, toiletries and perfumes at this age could cause early age skin allergies which may be difficult to cure later.
Tip #1
Expose your baby skin to the early morning sun rays between 6 and 7 for about 5 to 10 minutes. It improves skin immunity, skin strength, skin metabolism and provides vital nutrients and vitamin D to her skin.
Tip #2
Feed plenty of pure water to your baby during the day. It helps in digesting milk and other baby food naturally besides keeping her skin moist. It cleans her skin pores and supplies oxygenated blood to skin layers. Natural skin glow and brightness will be well balanced in those babies who drink plenty of water.
Once your baby is 6 months old you can start giving her rich fruit juices made from carrot, sweet grapes, muskmelon, watermelon and milkshakes. It enhances the regular provision of vitamins and nutrients to her skin.
Tip #3
Avoid stuffing her skin with excessive protection clothes like wool and other synthetic materials. They prevent her skin from “breathing fresh oxygenated air”. Dermatologists suggest using fabrics made from cotton.
As long as she remains indoors make her wear loose fitting clothes. Light coloured pants and full arm shirts are recommended.
When you take her out, choose baby carrier made from nylon having complete protective cover. The material is capable of reflecting the sunlight without absorbing it.
During winter you can dress her in a long sleeved shirt and sweat jacket made of cotton. If the weather is too cold use a knitted sweater that allows limited air circulation to reach her skin. It is better to avoid overstuffing her with excess of coat and wool as they can cause skin allergies.
Tip #4
Feed your baby with veggies like carrot, green leaf, sweet potatoes, peaches and nectarines. As she nears her first birthday you could give her boiled carrots without adding any other ingredients. It helps her skin in absorbing all the vitamins and nutrients required for natural skin glow and complexion.
Beta carotene strengthens her skin and eyes. So you could give her root vegetables like beets, yams, and radish.
You need to consult your paediatrician about when you can start adding onions into her diet. Normally babies can eat onions after they have reached 6 months. Onions help in preventing and healing many skin infections like eczema. It is also highly recommended for improving skin brightness by removing paleness.
Tip #5
Use natural ingredients to prepare skin care recipes for your child. They provide her skin with wholesome health, natural glow and complexion, immunity and avoid many types of skin disorders from the root levels.
- One full cup of Pomegranate juice twice a week can add antioxidant elements to her skin. It heals many of the cuts and bruises which she may sustain during play and at school. Pomegranate is useful as a hydration provider. Collagen production naturally increases in her skin. Children may not have any skin tightness problems at this age, but skin tightening can help in keeping her skin safe during winter.
- Take two teaspoons of honey, one teaspoon of olive oil, one teaspoon of gooseberry oil and two teaspoons of lemon juice in a bowl and mix them well. Apply on your child’s skin areas which get exposed to UV radiation. Let the ingredients soak her skin for about 30 minutes before washing with warm water. Treating children between 1 and 3 with this recipe can help in inducing resistance to UV radiation.
- Consult your paediatrician and feed her with ½ cup of goose berry juice diluted in 1 cup of water. You could add 1 teaspoon of honey to make the juice tasty for her. This is said to be the internal way for boosting the child’s skin resistance to UV radiation which develops as she grows.
Infant Skin Care in Winter
Infant skin can develop dryness due to harsh winter climatic conditions. If your baby is less than 6 months old you need to continue with breastfeeding. It gives her skin a healthy fat cover for protection during winter.
Winter diet for your infant can include broccoli, apricots, blueberries, baby rice (without gluten which does not cause any type of skin allergy until she is 6 months old), red meat and papaya.
These diets contain rich supply of minerals like calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron which are required for her bones and muscles. Once they become strong, it is very easy for her skin to get the vital elements of strength and health.
Eucalyptus oil (for external use only) is highly recommended for skin massages during winter. Take one teaspoon of eucalyptus oil with two teaspoons of Neem oil and massage her skin which gets exposed to winter climatic conditions. It helps in generating natural heat within the skin layers which keep her warm.
Infant Skin Care in Summer
Natural sunscreen with honey, sandalwood oil and lavender oil mixed in the ratio of 1:2 can help in avoiding negative skin reactions during summer.
Drinking plenty of water and fruit juices can help her in balancing the water and fluid levels in her skin, avoiding dryness, sun spots and other skin orders.
Rose clay and honey skin pack is supposed to be highly moisturizing and nourishing for your child once she is one year old. It helps in protecting her skin from climatic conditions and pollution which is common in every city.