Peeling skin on newborn

Xavier seems to be losing a layer of skin, kind of like after a sunburn and the skin peels. Some of the newly exposed skin in his genital area looks very sore (red and moist in parts).
I noticed it on his hands and feet at birth but has spread to face, belly and genitals in the last 2 days.

I have a few questions, has anyone experienced this before with their newborn? Does it take long to clear up?

And... I plan on giving him olive oil baths to help clear up the dry skin but I read that having a powdered milk bath is also good to moisturize. Is it okay to let a newborn soak in a powdered milk bath or could it pose an allergy risk?

if your going to use milk id just squirt him with breast milk!!

My DS2 peeled when he was a couple of weeks old. It was his hands, feet, under his neck and under his arms. I spoke to the Dr and she said that it is just where he is moist. It was mainly due to formula on his neck and underarms (he spat a lot of milk up for a couple of weeks) and his hands he kept clenched so they couldn't dry properly. His feet were always wet (they are frog feet I am sure LOL!).

I just made sure I dried the arms more thoroughly and more often and it went away.

I would try bathing him in your breastmilk if you can express a heapful of it over time..... and maybe try "Moogoo" cream? It's great stuff. You've probably heard of it in the nappy threads. Great for ezcema and skin conditions (not that he has one but just incase) very soothing, natural lotion.

Hey Sarah

My DS went all peely too!..we called him our little snake as he looked like he was shedding his skin :lol: . It stopped after about a week plus a few days I think.
I put moogoo on it, plus I also tried a bit of paw paw ointment but nothing made much of a difference, so we basically just waited until it went away by itself.

I think the powdered milk bath sounds good.

Hi Sarah,

Was he overdue? My ds was so dry and peely when he was born, the midwife at the hospital reckoned it was because he was a bit overcooked.

Olive oil worked well- if it gets bad, go to the chemist and ask for some emulsyfying (sp?) ointment. It doesn't come on the shelves but chemists use it as a base for creams. It has absolutley no perfumes or anything like, is very gentle and it works absolute wonders for dry skin on babies.

I've had peeling babies and the best way to help it is while you have bub in the bath just gently rub your fingers in circles over the dry skin to soften it. You can do the same with the towel after bath and then moisturize. Gaia or something gentle works wonders.

Our DS was terribly peely as a newborn and it went on for quite a few weeks. Like LoriRae says if your little guy was overdue that could be the reason. Our DS was 2 weeks overcooked.

Okay, done the olive oil bath, already see the dry skin on the feet as the oil soaks in but I am sure it will take more than one 5 minute bath.

LoriRae - going on the middle date he was a week early, would have been 4 days early on my LMP and 3 weeks early going on the 5 week ultrasound so more likely undercooked than overcooked although he did have a lot less vernix than Noah did when he was born which makes me wonder...

I am loving the sound of this moogoo and pawpaw seems to have many uses as well so I might pick up both thanks Lee and Ren.

CourtRach, I wish it was as simple as drying him properly but he came out with dry bits, might explain the neck though, such a hard area to get dry on a newborn.

AJP, I didn't think about BM :lol: Getting visions of giving him a milk shower :lol:

Thanks for the tips ladies!!!

Every time I read one of your posts I am thinking in my head ME TOO. Our children are so similar! The midwifes at the hospy told me to rub olive oil into her skin as it's the purest moisturiser around. So far it looks like it is helping.