Every parent wants to make sure their babies are happy and healthy — and pediatricians want the exact same thing. Of course, pediatricians are experts in all things kids' health, so they know a lot more than most parents. Because let’s be honest, no matter how much research you do or how much you prep for baby’s arrival, there will always be things you don’t know. One thing many parents don’t know a lot about is their babies’ skin health.
We spoke with Dr. Whitney Casares about all the things pediatricians wish parents knew about their babies' skin health. Dr. Casares is a Stanford-trained board-certified pediatrician, wellness expert, and mom-of-two. Here’s what she shared with us about babies’ skin health:
1. Babies have very delicate skin.
3. Moisturization is key.
In the womb, babies are protected by a coating on their skin called the vernix caseosa, which contains ceramides. This is lost soon after birth. Using ceramide-rich moisturizers, such as CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Lotion or Cream, can help soothe dry skin and help reinforce and maintain the skin barrier.
4. Skin care ingredients matter.
It’s important to look for certain beneficial ingredients, like vitamin E, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. When babies are washed immediately after birth, they can become ceramide-deficient. Ceramide-rich products like CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo and Moisturizing Cream can help reinforce babies’ skin barrier. Even better, all CeraVe Baby products are free of parabens, phthalates, dyes and fragrance.
5. Ceramides help protect the natural skin barrier.
Ceramides are lipids (or fats) that are naturally found in skin and make up 50% of the skin barrier. Ceramides help fill in the gaps between your skin cells so your skin can seal in moisture and seal out impurities. It’s why I recommend CeraVe Baby to all the parents with babies in my practice. For best results, I recommend washing with CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo at the hospital and using it immediately in the newborn period.
6. Some skin issues are normal.
Dry skin, baby acne, and cradle cap are all normal issues babies experience in the first few months of their lives because their skin barriers are so delicate. Skin issues can be anxiety-provoking for parents. I recommend CeraVe Baby for all my newborns. Its ceramide-rich, soothing formulas are developed with pediatric dermatologists to maintain and restore a baby’s skin barrier. It’s proactive baby skin care that I trust for the little ones in my practice and with my own kids, too!
CeraVe Baby
When it comes to choosing skin care products for your baby — like cleanser, moisturizer, and ointment, it’s important to pick a brand that is specifically formulated for babies. CeraVe Baby, developed with pediatric dermatologists and formulated with three essential ceramides, helps reinforce baby’s skin barrier and provide long-lasting hydration.
