- Lanugo, very fine body hair, may be present and will disappear. Usually lanugo is present in preterm infants.
- Vernix caseosa is a white cheesy substance found on baby’s skin. Vernix protects the baby’s skin in utero. Vernix will wash off after one or more baths.
- “Stork bites” (nevus simplex) are small pink or red patches caused by broken capillaries which fade over time. Often seen on a newborn’s eyelids, between the eyes, upper lip, and back of the neck.
- Nevus flammeus (port wine stain or capillary malformation) is a flat reddish-purplish colored birthmark caused by swollen blood vessels.
- Hemangiomas, a collection of blood vessels in the skin, are common, especially in premature babies and female babies. Some babies are born with them while others arise within the baby’s first four weeks of life. They can grow anywhere on the body but tend to grow mostly on the face. Hemangiomas tend to grow most during the first six months of life and growth slows between 12 and 18 months of age. After that period, they naturally start shrinking. About 90 % disappear by the age of 9. Hemangiomas may disappear completely or may leave some floppy skin, a slightly veiny appearance or scarring. Depending on the location of the hemangioma, it may or may not need medical treatment.
- A Mongolian spots is a bluish discoloration usually seen above the buttocks but may occur anywhere on the skin. These spots will fade over time.
- Dry, peeling and flaking skin is common especially after the first couple of weeks after birth.
- Bluish discoloration of the hands and feet (acrocyanosis) is normal after birth. It is a result of baby’s body adjusting to life outside of the womb.
- According to the CDC, 60% of all newborn babies become jaundice. Jaundice is the yellow discoloration of the skin which starts in the face and moves down the body. The whites of the eyes may also become yellow. Jaundice occurs due to the build up of bilirubin in the blood and the inability of the baby’s immature liver to breakdown the bilirubin. Bilirubin is the by-product of red blood cell breakdown. In the term newborn, bilirubin levels peak in 3-5 days of life and then begin to drop rapidly. In the preterm newborn, bilirubin levels may take up to 2 weeks of life to peak. High levels of jaundice can cause brain damage if not treated. Bilirubin is excreted through urine and stool. Therefore, encourage adequate formula/breastmilk intake to promote voiding and stooling to help decrease bilirubin levels. If the bilirubin is above a certain level, your doctor may recommend phototherapy in the hospital. Phototherapy uses a special light which helps bilirubin excretion.
- An umbilical hernia occurs when intestines protrude through an open umbilical ring. Normally, the umbilical ring closes to make a belly button after the cord has fallen off. Most hernias close by 1 year of age while others can take up to 5 years to close. If a hernia is still present at 5 years of age, surgery is generally recommended. Surgery is also necessary if the hernia becomes incarcerated. An incarceration occurs when the intestines get stuck and cannot be pushed back into the abdominal cavity. A hernia may or may not become strangulated. A strangulated hernia means that the blood supply is cut off from the hernia contents. This is a very rare event, but is very dangerous because the bowel will lose blood supply and begin to die.
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