As we head into the cold winter months, we’ll explain how to protect your baby’s skin—with a special focus on caring for dry skin.

It cannot retain moisture and tends to dry out easilyBaby's Skin

Let's review the characteristics of a baby's skin.

• ● The stratum corneum, which is the outermost layer of the skin, is thin.
• ● The cells of the stratum corneum are small.
• ● The skin's barrier function is weak, making it susceptible to external irritants.
• ● Around 2 to 3 months after birth, sebum production begins to decrease.
• ● Prone to sweating.

A baby's skin has the following characteristics.

《 What Is Dry Skin? 》 Dry skin refers to a condition in which the skin's moisture content is low, causing it to feel rough and flaky.
When your skin becomes dry, it can no longer protect your body from external irritants and foreign substances, making it more prone to skin problems.
Although a baby’s skin may appear moist, it is actually prone to dryness, and it’s not uncommon for babies to develop dry skin. This is because their skin is thinner than an adult’s and produces less sebum, making it difficult to retain moisture and leaving it prone to dryness. As dryness progresses, the skin may feel rough to the touch or even appear flaky. This occurs because sebum production drops sharply around 2 to 3 months after birth; this period marks the lowest level of sebum production until puberty, resulting in skin that is extremely prone to dryness.

《 Symptoms of Dry Skin 》 Itching and eczema can also be caused by external irritants, such as dry, flaky skin. Since babies cannot tolerate the itching, they may scratch themselves, which can lead to inflammation.
It is important to avoid dry skin, as when allergens—substances that cause allergies—come into contact with skin that is dry and has a compromised barrier function, this can lead to atopic dermatitis and other allergic conditions.

Moisturize regularlyHome Care for Dry Skin

1. Bath

• ● Temperature：If you set the water temperature too high (40 degrees or higher) when bathing your baby, it will strip away even the natural oils that the skin needs. Also, be careful not to bathe your baby for too long, as this can cause dry skin.
• ● How to Wash：Scrubbing too hard can damage your skin. Wash by gently spreading the lather over your skin with the palms of your hands. Simply washing gently with plenty of lather is enough to thoroughly remove dirt. Be sure to choose mild body wash or soap.(Recommended：Betta Baby Soap)
  After washing, rinse thoroughly to ensure no detergent remains.
• ● After a bath：After bathing, be sure to thoroughly dry off, and then apply moisturizer within 5 minutes.（Recommended：Betta Baby First Gel Lotion ）After a bath, moisture evaporates quickly, so it’s important to act fast. By choosing a moisturizer that absorbs easily and spreads well, you can moisturize your skin in a flash.（Recommended：Betta Maternity First Cream）

2. Daily Moisturizing Routine For moisturizing, use a baby moisturizer that is additive-free, fragrance-free, and dye-free, and apply it frequently—about twice a day.（Recommended：Betta Maternity First Cream）In addition to after a bath, we recommend doing this when you get dressed in the morning.
Warm the moisturizer in the palm of your hand, then gently apply it to your baby’s skin. Starting from the head and working your way down, apply the moisturizer thoroughly all over the body—including the scalp, around the mouth, around the ears, the creases on the neck, the armpits, and the groin—while checking the condition of the skin as you go. Pay special attention to the area around the mouth, which is prone to drool rash, and the bottom, which is prone to diaper rash.

3. Other In addition to when you’re changing clothes or after a bath, other great times to moisturize include after a diaper change, after being out and about, and after wiping away sweat. Before moisturizing, be sure to remove any dirt from the skin’s surface—such as dust, sebum, sweat, and allergens—before applying moisturizer.

Various Skin ProblemsWhat You Need to Do to Prevent Drying Out

《 If you leave dry skin untreated... 》 ○ Dry Eczema This is a condition in which eczema develops because dryness weakens the skin's barrier function.
As the condition progresses, cracks may form and the itching may become more severe, causing the skin to become even drier. Once it develops into dry eczema, it is difficult to treat with moisturizers alone.
That’s why daily home care is important, but if you find it difficult to manage your care at home, be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible.

○ Atopic dermatitis, allergic diseases If allergens come into contact with areas of skin that have been scratched due to dryness, this can lead to atopic dermatitis or other allergic conditions. Babies’ skin is very sensitive, and even friction from clothing can cause dryness and itching; therefore, if you are concerned about dry skin, please consult a pediatrician.

《 Treatments for Dry Skin 》 If your skin becomes dry even when using moisturizers, or if severe itching caused by dryness leads you to scratch your skin excessively, please see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Especially if the itching is severe, there may be a cause other than dry skin. At a pediatrician’s office, you can not only have the cause of the itching investigated but also receive advice on appropriate moisturizing care.


To prevent your baby’s skin from drying out, the key is keeping it clean and moisturized.
Taking thorough measures against dryness and preventing a decline in the skin’s barrier function is believed to help avoid various skin problems, so a mom’s daily care is essential.