Baby It’s Cold Outside: 5 Tips For Cold-Weather Skincare

How Winter Could Affect Baby’s Skin

Baby skin is structurally different than adult skin. It takes between two to four years for an infant’s skin barrier, the outermost layer, to fully develop.⁵ That layer, made up of skin cells and lipids, is responsible for keeping moisture locked in and helps defend skin’s surface from irritants, allergens, and germs. The skin barrier is 30% thinner in a baby than it is an adult. That means infant skin is more prone to transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the process by which water escapes from the skin, which may lead to noticeably dry, flaky skin at the surface.⁶

Add in winter-weather factors: cold temperatures, wind, dry air both inside and outside, and baby skin has an even tougher time maintaining its hydration levels. Your baby’s dry skin may get rough, scaly, and chapped.⁷ An impaired skin barrier is associated with eczema⁸, which commonly flares up in winter, causing dry skin patches and rashes to appear on skin’s surface⁹.

5 Ways to Help Keep Baby’s Skin Hydrated

1. Bathe Better

Some babies love baths, but too much of a good thing can dry out skin. Long soaks, especially in water that’s too warm, can remove protective lipids from skin’s surface, allowing moisture to escape more readily. Wash baby two to three times a week max, for no more than 10 minutes at a time.¹⁰  Keep the water lukewarm and comfortable. Use a mild cleanser such as CeraVe Baby Wash & Shampoo, which contains 3 essential ceramides and vitamin E to gently cleanse without drying. 

2. Use the Right Type of Moisturizer

While baby is still damp from the bath, slather on a moisturizer to help seal in hydration. Ideally, you want one that helps maintain the moisture barrier. In winter, consider a rich cream, especially if skin is moisture deprived. CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Cream is free of potentially irritating fragrance and parabens and contains three essential ceramides to help maintain the barrier of baby’s delicate skin and lock in moisture to provide all-day hydration.

3. Put Moisture in the Room

Adding moisture to the air via a cool-mist humidifier can help keep baby’s skin supple¹¹. Place the humidifier on an elevated surface away from baby and clean it regularly so it won't grow mold.

4. Eliminate Irritants

Parched skin and an impaired skin barrier can lead to irritation. Keep baby’s products and environment free of common skin irritants: fragrance (even the one you wear), harsh laundry detergents and soaps, and itchy and scratchy fabrics. Stick to soft cotton against baby’s skin.¹² That’s good advice to follow year round, but especially in winter.

5. Bundle Up

Whether you’re taking a brisk walk with the stroller or running errands, keep your little one’s skin protected from the elements. Cover baby’s hands with mittens and their head with a hat. Use a skin-protecting ointment or rich cream moisturizer on exposed skin that’s prone to chapping, such as cheeks. And take heart—spring will be here soon!