A baby’s skin is perfect. It is the type of skin we want for ourselves as adults; it is smooth, soft, and spotless.
This is the nature of skin they’re born with until they become exposed to their immediate environment.
It is hard for moms to watch their baby’s skin morph into something different, with spots and bumps or a complexion not as beautiful as that which they were born.
You begin to search for ways how to improve baby skin color naturally in order not to damage their skin.
Don’t worry; this article will answer some questions about how to improve baby skin color, along with other frequently related questions.
Types of Newborns Skin Color
There are a variety of skin colors babies are born with; some may indicate underlying health issues, and others are just natural indications of the change occurring within the baby’s body.
These skin colors may only last for so long, and sooner than later, and the baby’s skin color will be obvious.
Here are some skin colors babies are born with and what they mean.
Yellow
A baby with a yellowish skin color can only mean one thing, Jaundice. Jaundice is a condition relating to a baby’s liver breaking down old red blood cells.
When the old red blood cells are broken down, they produce a yellowish substance called bilirubin.
Jaundice is common in many newborns and can go away after a few days in cases where it isn’t much in the baby’s system (physiological Jaundice) but there are cases where urgent treatment is required.
Other causes may include:
- Mismatched blood between mother and the baby
- Underactive thyroid
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
- Blocked gallbladder and bile
Blue
Bluish skin color indicates an inadequate supply of blood around the body.
Newborns do not have a fully developed circulatory system, which causes their hearts to work more slowly than that of an adult, leading to slow blood delivery in their hands and feet, making it appear blue.
Another cause of bluish skin color is cyanosis, a health condition relating to the malfunction of the heart, lungs, and central nervous system.
If your newborn’s bluish skin is persistent, do not hesitate to reach out to your baby’s health care provider.
Dark Red
A newborn baby may have a dark red skin color; this results from the skin being very thin and appearing transparent where the vascular network is visible.
The blood flowing through this network tends to appear darker than usual.
How To Improve Baby Skin Color Naturally
There are several ways to naturally maintain or even enhance your baby’s skin colors without irritating them.
These natural methods are easy on your baby’s skin and have no side effects like those chemical-based products, which tend to be harsher on the skin.
1. Keep Your Baby Away From the Sun
To maintain your baby’s flawless skin, you must avoid exposing them to the sun.
This is because UV rays can increase skin sagging and give early wrinkling and age spots.
Dress your baby in clothes that can protect their skin from the sun. Items like hats, long sleeves and trousers instead of short sleeves and shorts can help to reduce the amount of sun reaching their skin.
2. Moisturize Frequently
Dry skin patches are normal in newborns when their skin begins to shed off dead cells, this is normal, and only a little amount of moisturizer should be used.
Regular moisturizing helps to seal the moisture in your baby’s skin.
Use perfume-free moisturizing lotions if available; if not, a petroleum jelly product like Vaseline is best for newborns.
3. Bath Baby Regularly
Apply the best practices when bathing your baby and do it often. Adopting the best patterns will encourage your baby to enjoy bathing and give you more ease to do it frequently.
4. Avoid Using Soap
When bathing your baby, use mild soap for the baby’s sensitive skin.
Alternatively, you can even make a homemade bath pack with raw milk and rose water. Apply this mixture to your baby’s skin during bath time and wash it off with warm water.
Read Also: Best Laundry Detergent for Babies With Sensitive Skin
5. Avoid Contact Dermatitis
Contact dermatitis is an allergic reaction on the skin due to some triggers.
If your baby’s skin has exhibited signs of contact dermatitis, identify the trigger and ensure it doesn’t get anywhere close to your baby’s skin again.
Here are some triggers of contact dermatitis
- Perfumes
- Soaps
- Lotions
- Saliva
- Urine
- Detergents etc.
6. Use Gram Flour Paste
Raw milk, turmeric, fresh cream, and gram flour are combined to make a skin pack.
Procedure:
- Apply the thick paste to your baby’s skin
- Then clear after ten minutes with cotton or a soft cloth.
The use of raw milk and turmeric may be beneficial to your baby’s skin. This traditional Indian paste is also said to give the skin a glow. It cannot, however, make the baby have a fair complexion.
7. Oil Massage
Several countries have traditionally used coconut oil and olive oil for newborns.
In addition, when using this oil, ensure the oil is warm rather than hot. Apply gentle pressure and gently rub the oil into the baby’s skin.
Routine oil massaging aids in the improvement of the baby’s sleep. If you use uncontaminated and natural oils, it can keep the baby’s skin hydrated, and smooth, and act as a skin barrier. However, it does not lighten the baby’s skin.
8. Homemade Scrub
As your baby advances in age and gets busier with playing and crawling around, their skin may likely sustain more dirt than usual, and using just mild soap may not improve it.
Using a homemade scrub that is suitable for their tender skin can help.
Ingredients for a mild scrub
- Milk
- Gram flour
- Turmeric
Procedure:
- Mix the milk in a lukewarm water
- Add a teaspoon of turmeric powder and gram flour
- Apply on the body 15 minutes before bathing
Factors That Determine Baby’s Skin Color
There is a wide range of factors that determine the color of skin a baby is first born with, these factors could be biological, lifestyle, and health.
Biologically, a baby’s skin is polygenic which means that a baby’s skin color depends on more than just one gene.
If a baby inherits genes from both parents, the complexion of both parents will determine the skin color of the baby.
The mother’s lifestyle as an expectant mother can also affect the baby’s skin appearance.
A baby born by a healthy feeder will not have the same skin appearance as that of a baby born by a heavy smoker.
That is why pregnant women are advised to consume a lot of fruits and vegetables because aside from the energy they provide, they also play a huge role in a baby’s well-being and general appearance.
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- What To Use For Baby Acne
- Can I Use Regular Vaseline For Baby? Explained
- Best Fabric Softeners For Babies’ Sensitive Skin
Other Frequently Asked Questions
When do babies get their original skin color?
Well, according to a 2017 study, babies’ skin changed significantly as they grew older.
Between the ages of 2 and 20 months, babies’ skin became lighter and less red, according to the researchers. Furthermore, until the age of 20 months, babies’ skin was found to increase in yellow pigmentation.
Can breast milk affect a baby’s complexion?
Breastfeeding helps the baby’s sensitive skin by ensuring that they are relaxed. These disorders usually resolve on their own over time, but milk can make things easier for your baby.
Is it okay to put breast milk on my baby’s face?
These breakouts usually clear up on their own over time, but breast milk can help soothe them and soothe your baby’s sensitive skin.
Soak a cotton ball in breast milk and gently wipe it across your baby’s face. The milk’s natural ingredients may aid in skin clearing.
What foods are good for brightening baby skin?
Avocado is a fruit that is high in both vitamin C and vitamin E. Both of these vitamins are well-known antioxidants.
Vitamin C also aids in the reduction of inflammation and is required for the production of collagen in the body. Collagen production, in turn, improves the skin tone of your baby.
Wind Up
If you’ve been looking for ways how to improve baby skin color naturally, this article should be a guide to maintaining that smooth skin for a longer period.
Do not be in a haste to use artificial products to enhance your baby’s skin, this may cause irreversible damage to their sensitive skin.
Natural remedies can be slow but they are surely the best for your baby’s skin.