Specific features of baby skin

A newborn's skin is thin and sensitive, covered with an oily layer called vernix; it is not developed, and its structure and function are different from adults' skin.

The skin is made up of three distinct layers

The first layer - the epidermis

This layer has a barrier function and gives the skin firmness and protection. The baby feels through it, it is thinner and more permeable than in adults. Baby skin absorbs more harmful substances than adult skin.

The second layer - the dermis

The dermis contains sweat glands, sebaceous glands, hair follicles and connective tissue. In babies, the function of the sweat and sebaceous glands is reduced. This makes it difficult for the baby to regulate body temperature changes. When there is no sweat and the body overheats, it cannot cool down through the baby's skin. The skin envelope (hydrolipid layer) consists of water and fine fats which repel microbes with their mild acidity. This is why it is important not to bathe newborn babies often.

The deepest layer - the hypodermis

The subcutaneous fatty layer, the hypodermis, is made up of fatty tissue that contains blood vessels and nerves. It stores energy (adipose tissue), provides protection and insulation. The blood vessels network is underdeveloped, as a result of which the baby is thermally unstable, i.e. adapts to temperature changes slowly. In two to three weeks, the baby gains weight, the skin layers thicken and the condition changes substantially. During the first few months, the skin grows stronger, thus becoming less sensitive to external factors. Sometimes, usually on the back, there are delicate thin hairs called lanugo, and on the face tiny white spots, smaller than the head of a pin (milia) can be seen.Baby's skin can sometimes be dry, flaky, wrinkled, very red or marbled. Rash on the face and body or red spots can look dramatic, and the next day they disappear as if they had never even existed. All these changes are normal, they occur owing to skin immaturity, and as the baby thrives and gains weight, the skin develops, the subcutaneous layer increases, most of the changes recede spontaneously and do not require any treatment.