12/09/2026
Dry or peeling skin is very common in newborns, especially in the first 1–3 weeks. It’s often just the outer layer of skin shedding after being in amniotic fluid, and babies born after their due date can peel even more.
Other things that can make it worse include frequent bathing, hot water, soaps or fragranced products, dry air, and eczema or other skin conditions. To help prevent and manage it, keep baths short and lukewarm, bathe only a few times a week unless needed, use a gentle fragrance-free baby wash sparingly, and apply a plain fragrance-free moisturiser or ointment straight after bathing while the skin is still slightly damp.
Try to avoid perfumed lotions, essential oils, bubble baths, and over-washing. A little peeling on the hands, feet, ankles and wrists is usually normal and doesn’t need to be scrubbed off.
Have the baby reviewed if the skin is very red, cracked, weeping, blistering, infected-looking, associated with fever, or if the dryness is severe or not improving over the first few weeks.
