Stop altering babies’ complexion, dermatologists tell parents

File photo of a baby.

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Senior skin experts have warned that altering newborns or infants’ complexion is dangerous, stressing that the practice is capable of causing lifelong skin complications for children.

The dermatologists said applying unregulated creams, soaps, and herbal mixture on newborns predisposes them to harmful chemicals and infections.

According to them, the newborn skin is extremely delicate and not designed to withstand bleaching agents or harsh cosmetic products.

They stressed that such substances could damage the skin barrier and trigger severe allergic reactions.

Speaking exclusively to PUNCH Healthwise, a Consultant Dermatologist at the Federal Medical Centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, Dr. Gboyega Olarinoye, said many parents now make mistakes in caring for their babies’ skin in a bid to achieve unnecessary cosmetic outcomes rather than supporting nature’s design.

According to him, newborn skin is naturally equipped to function without excessive products.

“It’s important to stress that nature has already engineered the newborn’s skin to function properly. Sometimes we overdo things and try to achieve results that are not necessary. There are different theories and ideas about what to do with newborn skin, but the basic principle is that a newborn’s skin does not require so much,” he said.

Olarinoye explained that babies are born with a natural protective layer that should not be scrubbed off or attacked with harsh products.

He added that simple moisturisers are usually all that is needed.

“When you give birth, there is a natural protective covering on the skin. For some babies, we call it the vernix caseosa, that white, creamy layer that coats the baby. There is no need to use harsh products on the skin. Soft moisturisers are usually sufficient.

“Some people even say you don’t need to moisturise your baby in the first few days; just let the child be. The general rule is: keep it gentle and simple. Use gentle moisturisers, gentle emollients, gentle soaps, nothing harsh,” he said.

He noted that bleaching culture, which was before now common among adults, is beginning to influence parents’ decisions for their newborns.

According to him, some parents are already worried about the complexion of their babies even before delivery.

“Unfortunately, especially now with this new bleaching craze, I have personally seen mothers become concerned about their babies being ‘too yellow’ or ‘too dark’ even before the child is born.

“So you see, parents or expecting parents are already planning to alter their children’s complexion before birth. After delivery, they go in search of products that promise to ‘tone,’ ‘brighten,’ or ‘maintain baby light’. All of that is wrong. The idea is to keep it simple and keep it gentle. Nature has already done most of the work. What we need to do is sustain what nature has put in place,” he said.

The dermatologist cautioned against the use of concoctions or homemade mixtures on newborns, stressing that the lack of regulation and inconsistency pose significant risks.

“First, we are not opposed to natural ingredients. Even major pharmaceuticals extract many components from natural sources: seeds, plants, oils. The challenge with concoctions is that they are not standardised, not regulated, and the person making them cannot clearly state what is inside,” he said.

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