How to Care for Your Newborn's Peeling Skin, According to Experts

Baby’s skin always looks so soft and smooth in those airbrushed “Welcome to the world!” birth announcements. But in the real world, newborn skin peeling and dryness is very common. “Elliot is 8 days old today, and I noticed the skin on his body is peeling the way it would after a suntan comes off. It doesn’t look red, irritated, rashy or anything—just white skin peeling off, a bit like a lizard,” shares The Bump community member divakotka. Unfortunately, newborns do tend to molt like a reptile in those first few weeks of life, so if you notice dry patches on baby’s skin, don’t panic or assume something’s wrong. Here, experts explain what causes newborn dry skin and how to treat it at home.

Key Takeaways

• Newborn skin peeling is most common the first month of life as baby adjusts to the outside environment and lack of amniotic fluid.
• You might notice peeling, cracking, flaking and slight redness around baby’s hands, feet, ankles, face and other areas of the body.
• The best way to treat a newborn’s dry and peeling skin is to leave it alone. It should clear up on its own.
• If you do opt to use a moisturizer or lotion, look for one that’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and recommended by your pediatrician.

Is It Normal for a Newborn or Baby to Have Dry Skin?

It can be concerning to notice dry patches on baby’s skin, but doctors say it’s totally normal. “Newborns are adjusting to the outside environment after spending months in amniotic fluid, and their delicate skin can easily lose moisture,” says Gary Reschak, MD, a pediatrician at Northwestern Medicine Regional Medical Group.

Baby’s skin likely won’t be peeling and flaky for long: Reschak says the condition is most common during baby’s first month.

What Does Newborn or Baby Dry Skin Look Like?

There are a few clues that you’re dealing with baby dry skin, says Daniel Ganjian, MD, a pediatrician at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. They include:

• Flakiness
• Cracking
• Ashiness
• Dry, rough patches
• Slight redness

These symptoms are most common around the hands, feet and ankles, but can show up anywhere, says Liz May, MD, a pediatrician at Texas Children’s Pediatrics. “The skin may also look a bit wrinkled, and peeling can be seen along those [wrinkle] lines,” she says.

Causes of Newborn or Baby Dry Skin

There are a few potential causes of baby dry skin. A major factor is the vernix caseosa, a waxy and oily substance that coats baby’s skin in the womb and protects, insulates and moisturizes the skin, May says. “Some of this stays on and you will see it flake off later, but some is washed off with infant bathing,” she explains. Baby skin peeling may start within a week or two after birth, she adds. “The closer an infant is born to 40 weeks or after, the sooner they’ll peel and flake,” May says.

Other factors that can lead to newborn and baby dry skin include dry weather, frequent baths, and harsh soaps or detergents, Ganjian says. “Babies are more susceptible to these issues as their skin is more sensitive and brand-new,” Reschak adds.

In older babies, May says she usually sees dry, flaking skin due to chemical irritation, like fragrances, dyes and other additives in skin-care and common household products.

Medical Conditions that Cause Newborn or Baby Skin Peeling

While newborn and baby skin peeling is expected to some degree, certain conditions raise the risk of it happening, experts say. Those include:

• Baby eczema. Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a condition that causes skin inflammation, redness and irritation, notes the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).
• Cradle cap. Cradle cap, also called seborrheic dermatitis, can cause redness, yellowish spots with greasy patches or crust, and scaly, flaky skin, according to Nemours KidsHealth. It’s most common on the scalp.
• Contact dermatitis. This reaction happens when “something that comes in contact with the skin causes inflammation,” often certain fragrances, dyes or soaps, May says.
• Ichthyosis. This is a group of skin disorders that cause dry, itchy skin that looks scaly, rough and red, according to NIAMS.

How to Treat Baby Dry Skin at Home

If baby’s suffering from peeling, patchy skin, the experts recommend the following treatments:

• Bathe baby no more than two to three times a week
• Keep baths lukewarm and short
• Use cleaners instead of soap—soap can disrupt skin’s natural oils, May says
• Choose products that are free of fragrance, dyes and additives
• Pat baby dry after bathing and immediately apply a moisturizer (look for products labeled “ointment” or “cream”)
• Use a laundry detergent without dyes or fragrances
• Avoid fabric softeners
• Avoid dryer sheets not labeled “free,” or use dryer balls
• Use a cool-mist humidifier
• Dress baby in soft, breathable fabrics like cotton and bamboo

How to get rid of dry skin on baby’s face

While your gut reaction may be to treat the dry skin on baby’s face, it’s actually not something to worry about. Instead, Rebekah Mustaleski, CPM-TN, a certified professional midwife and compression director with Motif Medical, suggests leaving your newborn’s dry and peeling skin alone. “A newborn baby will basically shed their top layer of skin in the first few days after birth—this is a normal process that all humans do every 2 to 4 weeks, it’s just more noticeable in newborns because they do it all at once after they are born,” she explains. Plus, any new moisturizers or creams you use on your newborn will be an added thing for their body to adapt to.

What to do for dry chapped lips on a newborn

Similar to baby’s skin, a newborn’s lips may also become dry as they adjust to the environment outside the womb. Plus, newborns’ lips are working hard as they feed for those first few weeks, which could lead to increased dryness. “Their lips are particularly sensitive, as they have fewer oil glands, and they’re doing a lot of work while baby is feeding and suckling,” Mustaleski explains. “Both behaviors can create a lot of friction on the lips, especially if baby is still figuring out how to have an optimal latch and maintain suction while eating.”

Similar to dry skin, it’s best not to put anything on a newborn’s dry lips. “Putting anything on their lips just gives their skin one more thing to figure out and can prolong the body’s ability to find balance,” Mustaleski explains. However, if you need to—or if baby’s lips are severely chapped and bleeding—she advises using breast milk to treat them. “Breastmilk has antibodies that can help keep the tissues healthy, and coconut oil also has antimicrobial properties to keep the tissues healthy and promote healing,” she says.

When to Reach Out to Baby’s Pediatrician

In some cases, baby might need more intense treatment for dry skin. Ganjian recommends reaching out to baby’s pediatrician if:

• The dryness is severe or worsens
• There are signs of infection like redness, swelling or pus
• Your little one seems particularly uncomfortable

If baby has dry, peeling skin, know you’re not the only one dealing with this itchy situation. But if things don’t get better by the time baby’s a month old—or even seem to be getting worse—it’s time to contact your pediatrician.

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.