Common blemishes
Your newborn baby will most probably not have a pristine blemish-free skin, but don't worry, this is perfectly normal.
Birthmarks
© Jupiter
Quite commonly there are small red marks on a baby's skin, particularly on the eyelids, on the forehead and, if you lift up the hair, at the back of the neck just under the hairline. They are due to the enlargement of tiny blood vessels near the surface of the skin and are traditionally called stork marks. Both of my sons had them and they disappeared, as they do in most children, by the time they were six months old. In some babies, however, these marks may not disappear until they are about 18 months.
Another common birthmark is the so-called strawberry mark. This appears after a couple of days but usually fades before three years old. If you're at all worried by your baby's birthmark ask your health visitor for advice and reassurance.
Spots
It is not unusual for a baby to have small white spots over the bridge of the nose, called milia. These spots are not abnormal so never, ever squeeze them. They are caused by the temporary blockage of the sweat glands and sebaceous glands that secrete sebum to lubricate the skin. They nearly always disappear after a few days.
Weals and rashes
Many babies develop a skin condition that looks rather like nettle rash, called urticaria neonatorum. The baby's skin becomes red and blotchy, with small white spots that appear and disappear quite rapidly. The whole rash only lasts for a couple of days and will disappear without treatment. If you're in doubt get medical advice.
Body hair
Babies are born with varying amounts of hair, called lanugo, on their bodies. Some babies have only a soft down on their heads, others are covered in quite coarse hair over their shoulders and down their spines. Both are quite normal, and the hair usually rubs off quite soon after birth.
New Babycare
Copyright © 2009 Dorling Kindersley
Text copyright © 2009 Miriam Stoppard
Posted 03.11.2010
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