Baby Skin

The skin is a natural shield that protects the internal parts of the body, holding everything in place, and has a large reservoir of water, fats, and vitamin D. Think of it as an armour protecting us against foreign matters like the sun's heat, injuries, and infections. Without it, our sense of touch will be lost, our body will overheat, skin infections will occur, and our hair follicles will not stay in place

Myths About The Skin

1. Bathing in milk will give baby great skin.

Fact: Milk has a soothing effect on people who have an inflammation of the skin, like eczema, but so do a number of other products. An oatmeal bath could have a similar soothing effect. Milk does have other soothing benefits, and can be used as a compress for sunburn and rash because it is both moisturising and lubricating.  

2. Stress can aggravate skin problems, especially eczema.

Fact: Stress may exacerbate an inflammatory response which can worsen the appearance of skin problems such as acne, psoriasis and eczema.  

3. Using antibacterial toiletries can keep your baby's skin cleaner.

Fact: The truth is, skin contains (harmless) bacteria to some degree. It is impossible to free it completely of bacteria although antibacterial toiletries have properties that may keep your skin cleaner. However, it is not necessary for daily use and like any excessive usage it can result in resistance against bacteria.  

4. Some Chinese people believe that what you eat during pregnancy will affect the skin colour of your baby. For instance, if you want your baby to have fair skin, consume food that are light coloured (e.g. soy bean milk, tofu).

Fact: The colour of the food you consume has no relevance to the skin colour of your newborn. Skin colour is determined by genes.  

5. Some Indian people believe that a newborn will have fair skin if the pregnant or lactating mother drinks milk with a few threads of saffron.

Fact: Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. While adding saffron to milk may be common practice amongst Indians, there is no evidence to support the claim that it lightens skin tone. Skin colour is determined by genes.  

Layers Of The Skin

The skin is made up of three layers:

1. First layer: epidermis

The epidermis is the outermost layer and visible part of the skin, itself comprising of a further three layers, namely the stratum corneum (horny cells), keratinocytes (squamous cells), and basal layer. Together, they are responsible for producing keratin, a protein that contributes to the protective nature of the skin. They are also responsible for the regeneration of new skin cells to replace those that are dead or have shed away. The epidermis also contains melanocytes, the cells that produce melanin to give our skin its pigmentation and to keep it safe from the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

2. Second layer: dermis

The second layer of the skin is largely responsible for keeping our skin plump and stretchy, thanks to two types of proteins, collagen and elastin, which are found here. Known as dermis, this layer is home to blood vessels, lymph vessels, sweat glands, oil glands, and hair follicles. Together, they keep the skin waterproof and lubricated with its own oil (sebum), regulate the body temperature, and transport oxygen and nutrients to the cells.

3. Third layer: subcutaneous

Also known as the fat layer, the subcutaneous comprises of a body of collagen and fat cells which behave like glue holding the skin and underlying tissues together. Its other jobs are to act as a shock absorber and to conserve body heat.

Non Asian VS Asian Skin

Traits of Asian and non-Asian skin types

Skin type is primarily determined by genetics and is scientifically classified according to the hair colour and the skin's ability to tan. Skin types vary greatly depending on one's geographical location, the climate, gender, and even health.

Although we generally distinguish skin colours as being white (e.g. Caucasian), brown (e.g. Asian), or black (e.g. African), there are in fact six grading of skin types:

Skin conditions in Asians and non-Asians are vastly different. Aside from genetics, this is largely attributed to the climate in which we live in. Most Asians live in the tropics where it is predominantly wet or dry with high humidity all year round whereas non-Asians generally enjoy seasonal changes.

Asian skin vs non-Asian skin
Asian	Non-Asian
 Brown skin with yellow undertone, dark complexion	 White skin, fair complexion
 Larger pores therefore more prone to skin problems (e.g. acne, oily skin), skin texture, pigmentation, and tone also appear uneven	 Smaller pores therefore less problem with oily skin but more prone to freckles
 Higher level of melanin in the skin therefore more protection against the sun and lower rate of skin cancer	 Lower level of melanin therefore skin burns more readily, resulting in higher rate of skin cancer
 Higher level of melanin and haemoglobin mean skin colour may darken or become more yellowish with age	 Complexion remains fair with age
 Higher level of melanin, slower aging process	 Lower level of melanin, faster aging process
 Oil glands are more active due to warmer climate	 Oil glands are less active due to cooler climate
 Tendency for hyperpigmentation (dark spots) and laxity (loss of firmness)	 Tendency for laxity (loss of firmness)

Adult VS Baby Skin

A baby's skin is tender and delicate unlike adult skin which has undergone repeated wear and tear from climate change, environmental irritants, harsh chemicals, and so forth. An infant's skin is still at a developing stage, making it more vulnerable to damage and requiring more protection.

Compared to adult skin, the epidermis of baby's skin is about a-third thinner. The protective barrier is relatively immature thus allowing for the easy penetration of dirt and bacteria.

On top of that, baby skin also produces less sebum and melanin. Having a set of less effective sweat glands also means that babies have difficulty regulating their body temperature because the skin absorbs and loses moisture more readily.

Fun Trivia About The Skin

Fun facts about the largest organ of our body!

1. Skin is the largest organ in the body.

2. An adult's skin weighs about 3kg.

3. New skin cells take up to a month to regenerate and replace dead cells on the epidermis.

4. We shed up to 40,000 skin cells every minute - that's an equivalent of about 4kg of skin per annum!

5. Our skin looks and feels different on different parts of the body. The thickest skin layers are found on our palms and soles of our feet.

6. The dermis layer of our skin thins out as we age, thus the skin on older folks looks as though it is semi-transparent.

7. Men's skin is 25 per cent thicker than women's. They produce more sebum than women and they also have fewer sweat glands.

8. Skin cancer can occur even in parts of the body where the skin does not even receive sunlight.

Refer :

• 10 Tips For Breastfeeding Parents
• Baby`s Daily Massage
• Bathing Your Baby
• Switching From Breast To Cow Milk
• Baby Sleep Tips
• Breastfeeding FAQs