Adults have a deep-seated instinct that makes them want to care for and protect babies and children. Even though your little one’s skin is still delicate and sensitive, there's no need to panic immediately about minor changes in the skin in the first few weeks after birth. In many cases, the skin is just learning. There are a wealth of skin care products available.

So far, we’ve focused on adults in our skincare cosmos. On the needs and wishes of grown-ups. But what we regard as our target group also includes babies and toddlers. Their skin also needs care and, like mom and dad, tailored personal care products are available to meet the requirements of their age group. 

When it comes to skin care for children, it is not always a good idea to just reach for your own skincare products, i.e. products for adults. Because the saying "If it’s good enough for me, it's good enough for you" often does not apply in this context. But why is this? 

To put it simply: not all skin is the same. Take a look at the products on offer. Products are available for a wide range of different skin and hair types. And babies and toddlers have skin that needs special attention – just because it is still very tender. And baby skin is still learning and adapting to a new environment. Their surroundings are have suddenly changed dramatically: From the moist environment of the uterus, to a relatively dry new environment. The skin needs time to get used to and adapt to this change.

After birth, the physiological properties and associated capabilities of the skin are not yet fully present. It takes some time for the skin’s self-protection functions to fully develop and become the same as those in adult skin. In general, however, we can say that baby skin develops quite quickly, a lot is achieved even within the first month, and it is similar to adult skin after 1-2 years. As outlined in "Skin Barrier Function in Infants: Update and Outlook (nih.gov)", the differences between infant skin and adult skin are limited from a purely anatomical perspective. A thinner stratum corneum and the thinner epidermis are among the distinguishing features. 

The pH value of the skin plays a major role in its development. Shortly after birth, infants have a neutral to slightly alkaline pH value on the surface of their skin. Normally, this value moves into the acidic range within the first month of life, which is important for the development of the skin barrier. Skin rashes and irritation can occur until the acid protective layer and the other defenses of the infant skin are strong enough. 

Particularly around the bottom, when wearing diapers. The humid, warm climate created here, contact with feces and urine and constant friction causes damage to the skin. This can be counteracted by regularly changing diapers, washing with lukewarm water and ensuring that the skin is kept as dry as possible. Gently rubbing in special baby lotions can also protect the skin and relieve skin irritation and the itching it causes. Bacteria and fungi can also cause diaper rash. You should talk to your doctor about how best to treat this.

Proper care is therefore very important. For manufacturers, this means that they must develop specific formulations tailored to provide the best baby care, which need first and foremost to address the subject of "safety under conditions of use" as the most important claim. For this reason, particular care must be taken with the use of preservatives or fragrances containing known allergens, and similar. Important to know: Protection against microbial contamination is essential. Dermatological test series are typically used to confirm the mildness and tolerance of the products. 

• Creams for distressed skin in the diaper area
• Baby bath products
• Shampoos
• Powders
• Baby wipes
• Skin oils
• Creams + lotions
• Sunscreen

One of the most prominent requirements for these products is the topic of skin moisturising or moisture uptake. As we outlined above: this does not necessarily apply in the diaper area due to the factors listed. 

Prevention is also an important part of caring for a baby's skin. Avoid using too many unnecessary products and too frequent use of harmful products, and avoid direct sunlight. One thing is especially important to say here. You will often read that your baby or toddler is safe in the shade. However, this alone is not enough. Almost half of the UV radiation will penetrate the shade as deflected radiation. This is too much for sensitive baby skin. However, it should be taken into account that the strength of the reflection depends on the surface in question. The reflected portion of UV radiation is generally between 3–15%. However, snow can reflect up to 80–90% of UV rays (Ref.: „2018, Turner and Parsis. Ultraviolet Radiation Albedo and Reflectance in Review: The Influence to Ultraviolet Exposure in Occupational Settings.“). Always use suitable clothing, such as head coverings, as well as sun protection products suitable for infants.

If you are wondering which product to choose next time you go shopping: look for products that match your age and skin type. Treat yourself to something good and your skin will appreciate it.