Causes of itchy baby skin and how to overcome them

Babies have soft and smooth skin, but sometimes there are several conditions that interfere with the health of the skin. This makes the skin become red, bumpy, itchy, to a rash. Itching on your little one's skin is a frequent cause of fussy, crying, and uncomfortable babies, especially while sleeping. What causes itching on baby's skin and how to deal with it? The following is the full explanation.

Causes of itching on the baby's skin

As a parent, you are worried to see your little one constantly scratching his skin, which looks red even to the point where the spots appear on the skin. This condition can be caused by a variety of things, from mild to severe problems. Here are the causes of itching on the baby's skin.

1. Dry skin

The cause of itching on the skin that is often experienced by babies is dry skin conditions. Quoting from Raising Children, dry skin in babies is actually a very natural thing, especially when your little one is just born.

However, dry skin which is the cause of itching on the baby's skin can also occur due to bad habits. For example, bathing babies too often as this can remove natural oils from the baby's skin. This makes it difficult for the baby's skin to re-moisturize.

In addition, the use of baby soap that contains perfume or chemical additives can dry out the baby's skin. The reason is, the baby's skin is still very sensitive to foreign substances on the skin.

The environment that is too dry, can also make babies feel itchy on the skin. If you use an air conditioner (AC), make sure your little one uses a special moisturizer so that his skin is always protected.

If indeed itchy skin is caused by dry air, the itchy skin problem will disappear after some time after applying a baby moisturizer or cream.

2. Allergies

The next cause of itching on the baby's skin is an allergy that your little one has. Examples of allergies in babies are dust, food, weather that is too hot or too cold.

When a baby encounters an allergy trigger, your little one's body releases antibodies and histamine. Then, this histamine causes inflammation under the skin and makes it itchy.

Sometimes it does not immediately itch, an allergic reaction can also be a reddish skin that makes the baby uncomfortable. Allergies to certain clothing materials can also cause baby's skin to itch and make it uncomfortable.

It is important for parents to choose soft clothing materials and not to wear clothes that are too tight for their little one, because it can cause itching and discomfort when moving. The rules for washing baby clothes also need to be considered so as not to irritate the baby's skin.

If your little one has severe itching that can not be tolerated, immediately take it to the doctor for further examination.

3. Infection

There are several that can cause skin infections, thus making the baby's skin itchy. Examples of bacteria that cause skin infections, namely Staphylococcus aureus and several types of bacteria Streptococcus.

Usually, this infection is transmitted by people who have been infected previously or due to lack of cleanliness of the environment and themselves.

This condition is usually accompanied by other problems such as red skin and swollen parts of the body.

Various types of bacteria and fungi can grow on the baby's skin and cause itching. Some of them can cause infection when they multiply uncontrollably.

One example is the candida fungus which can develop on the skin and can even cause an infection. This fungus often causes a red, itchy rash in the skin folds.

This condition often disturbs the comfort of the baby, but can be treated with the use of antifungal ointments. If you find this in your little one, do not delay to take him to the doctor for further examination.

4. Prickly heat

The next cause of itching on the skin of the baby that is often experienced by your little one is prickly heat. This is an inflammatory condition in the baby's skin caused by blockage of the sweat ducts.

Quoting from the Mayo Clinic, prickly heat in babies can arise because the baby's sweat ducts are not yet perfect. Usually, prickly heat will be quite severe on skin covered with clothes.

Prickly heat in babies makes the skin feel very itchy, even to the point of pain like being pricked by a needle. Of course, your baby cannot tell you how it feels, he can only react through anxiety, fussiness, to crying because he feels uncomfortable.

Itching of the baby's skin due to prickly heat can be very severe if you experience the following things:

There is swelling in the itchy area due to prickly heat
Resilient contains pus
The child has a fever or chills

The above is a sign that the baby's skin itching caused by prickly heat is severe. Immediately contact your doctor for further treatment.

5. Diaper rash

Have you ever seen a reddish area in your little one's groin or buttocks until spots appear on the skin? It is diaper rash. Quoting from the Mayo Clinic, this is a skin irritation condition in the form of a reddish rash that appears on the skin area covered by diapers.

Usually the condition of diaper rash in babies is caused by three things, the skin is too moist, the diaper's air circulation is not good, and irritation from the baby products used.

Diaper rash causes itching sensation on the baby's skin and often makes your little one fussy and cry, especially when he has just urinated or defecated. He also feels uncomfortable when you change the baby's diaper many times because he feels pain.

The itchy condition of a baby's skin due to diaper rash is actually quite common. Launching from the Family Doctor, at least 50 percent of babies aged 6-9 years experience this rash.

However, that does not mean you can underestimate this condition because the conditions are quite severe, not only itchy. Diaper rash can trigger fungal and bacterial infections, which then live on your little one's skin.