Babies spend a lot of time on their backs, rubbing their heads on their bedding, which causes knotting, thinning, and ugly bald spots. Hormones can have a significant impact on baby hair loss after birth. However, the most common cause of infant bald spots is the length of time the baby spends on their back. Babies constantly brush the backsides of their heads on crib bedding, bassinets, pods, and other similar surfaces, causing their thin hair to the coil and break off or be torn out by friction. Crib cap, newborn eczema, and baby bald patches are often transient and can be treated or outgrown in the event of a bald spot.
A bald patch on the back of your baby's head can be avoided by following a few basic procedures, which you should take anyway to avoid "positional molding," or the formation of flat places on a baby's soft, pliable head.
What causes baby bald spots
Hair loss in newborns is entirely normal and causes no concern. During the first six months of life, babies frequently lose their hair. Telogen effluvium is the medical term for this type of hair loss. This is why it occurs: Hair has two stages: growing and resting. The growing period lasts around three years, whereas the resting stage lasts approximately three months. The hair remains in the follicle during the resting period until new hair grows in.
The same hormones that were surging through your body throughout pregnancy and giving you that supermodel head of hair were also pulsing through your baby's body thanks to the umbilical cord. However, the same hormones decline after birth, causing hair loss in both the baby and yourself.
If your infant has bald spots, pay attention to how he sits and sleeps. He may lose hair in that area if he always sleeps in the same position or models with the back of his head against a baby seat. He may get a bald spot if he brushes his head against his mattress.
What to do to prevent bald spots on your baby
• By decreasing friction on the baby's head, Silky crib Sheets help reduce and prevent infant bald patches. Matting, knotting, frizz, and eventually, the dreaded infant bald patch are all caused by friction. Silk is ideal for eczema, asthma, and allergies since it provides a lush, frictionless environment for baby's hair to grow in and is hypoallergenic and dust-mites inhospitable.
• Every day, place your baby's head on the other end of the crib. To see the room and other people, babies typically turn their heads at least slightly. By shifting his head position in this way, your infant helps avoid the development of a bald spot by changing where the pressure is given to his head.• Avoid shampooing your baby's hair too frequently. You don't have to wash your baby's hair every day, even if you bathe him every day. You should also reconsider the baby shampoo and conditioner. Shampoo and conditioner are unnecessary for a baby's hair because it is self-cleaning.• More time spent on the baby's tummy will assist in lessening the amount of time she spends on her back and pressing her head into the surface below, in addition to fostering good neck strength and muscle development.• Brushing a baby's hair gently before bed reduces knots that become matts and gradually rub off while they sleep. You'll be one step ahead of the game if you can make sure there are no knots before the baby falls asleep!• Mention your baby's hair loss to his doctor, especially once he reaches the age of six months. The hair loss is most likely natural, but his doctor can make sure there isn't an underlying medical disease and help with therapy. For example, if your child has ringworm, an antifungal treatment will be administered.
What causes eczema
Eczema can manifest as dry, flaky areas on your baby's skin, especially during the first few months of life. It's a common and treatable condition. Many babies outgrow it. Eczema does not appear the same way on every newborn. It frequently manifests itself as patches of red skin in babies with fair complexion. The rash in darker-skinned babies may appear purplish, brownish, or grayish. Eczema can be difficult to detect in babies with dark skin.
Almost always, these patches are dry, itchy, and rough. Babies can contract the illness almost anywhere on their bodies. It usually affects their cheeks and the joints in their arms and legs.
• Causes• It has the potential to run in families. If a parent has eczema, the infant is far more likely to develop it.• Problems with the skin's barrier, which allows moisture to escape and pathogens to enter, could also be blamed.• Eczema develops when the body produces insufficient ceramides, which are fatty cells. If you don't get enough of them, your skin will dry up and lose water.
What to do to prevent eczema
• There is no definite technique to keep newborn eczema at bay. Even if there is no visible rash, it does good to keep your baby's skin hydrated. Apply a cream, ointment, or lotion twice a day, preferably when changing diapers. When introducing a new moisturizer to a child, test it on a small skin area to ensure that it is well-tolerated.• Cotton draws moisture away from the skin, whereas silk does the opposite. Silk is a protein-based fiber that contains essential amino acids that aid in the moisture retention of your baby's skin—this aids in the healing of eczema and the prevention of other skin irritations. Silk is also inherently hypoallergenic and mild on even the most sensitive skin, making it ideal for your child's sleep environment.
Point to note, never put your infant on a pillow or other soft item to prevent a bald spot because this might lead to suffocation. Also, while hair loss and bald spots are usually not a cause for concern, tell your pediatrician about them.