Mom and baby skin care

Also known as the "mask of pregnancy."
Caused by an overproduction of melanin, a natural substance in the body that gives color to the hair, skin, and eyes, leading to dark patches on the face.
Makeup and concealers with white and yellow undertones can be used to cover up the darkness.
Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 30 or higher to prevent further darkening of the skin.
Treatment with topical prescriptions for hydroquinone, retinoids, azeleic acid or hydroxyacids.

Develop in more than 90 percent of women during the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy.
Caused by the pulling and stretching forces in the underlying layers of skin during pregnancy.
Appear as red or purple bands on the abdomen and sometimes on the breasts and thighs.
Moisturizer can improve the appearance and reduce itchiness, while sunless tanning products can hide the marks.
Treatment with prescription tretinoin cream or laser therapy.

Develops on the palms and soles during pregnancy.
Switch to a fragrance-free non-soap cleanser.
Store over-the-counter mentholated or oatmeal-based moisturizer in the refrigerator because the chilled product can help alleviate the itch.

Caused by persistent wet, soiled diapers and the use of unnecessary baby products, such as powders, creams, lotions and oils, on the bottom.
Recommended treatment options include change diapers frequently; use a warm washcloth, instead of pre-moistened wipes; apply a barrier cream with zinc oxide; keep the diaper area open to the air as long as possible before putting on a clean diaper.

Itchy, oozing, crusting rash.
Occurs most often on the face and scalp.
Can be confused with cradle cap, which is a red, scaly rash on the scalp, sides of the nose, eyebrows, eyelids and the skin behind the ears. Cradle cap clears on its own by 8 months.
Treatment options:
- Nonprescription corticosteroid creams and ointments
- Prescription topical, steroid-free medications
- Tacrolimus and pimecrolimus, which are prescription topical medications that belong to a class of drugs called calcineurin inhibitors and work by modulating the immune response
The 2004 total direct cost associated with the treatment of atopic dermatitis/eczema (in both children and adults) was $1 billion. The majority of the cost, $154 million, is attributed to spending on prescription drugs.¹

Pimples and whiteheads along the nose and cheeks.
Caused by hormones from the mother that increase oil production in an infant's skin clogging the immature oil glands.
The outbreak typically clears in a matter of weeks, without treatment.
If acne persists for more than several weeks, parents should consult the child's pediatrician or a dermatologist. If the acne persists or becomes severe, consultation with an endocrinologist and pediatric dermatologist is recommended.

Birthmarks can grow as a child grows.
Appear most often on the face, but can be present on any part of the body.
Two most common: hemangiomas and port-wine stains.
- Port-wine stains are present at birth.
- Hemangiomas may not immediately appear.
Treatment options:
- Laser treatment with pulsed-dye laser.
- Prescription oral corticosteroids or corticosteroid injections.

See your dermatologist for successful diagnosis and treatment of infant and mother skin conditions.