Alternate Names : Infant Skin Characteristics, Newborn Skin Characteristics

Definition

Appearance and texture of the newborn infant's skin.

Information

Typical findings in a healthy newborn at birth is smooth, puffy skin between pink and red (coloring varies with racial background). By the 2nd or 3rd day, his skin will become pink, dry, and flaky.

Fine, soft, light-colored hair (lanugo) covers his forehead, cheeks, shoulders, and back. Milia (enlarged sebaceous glands), which look like little yellow dots, may appear on his cheeks, chin, and nose and will disappear in a few weeks. His skin becomes more red when he cries.

His lips, hands, and feet may turn somewhat cyanotic (bluish, mottled) when he is cold. Maternal hormones may cause mild neonatal acne that also usually clears in a few weeks. Erythema toxicum is a benign rash that looks like little pustules on a red base. It is usually located on areas of contact, like the back and buttocks, and should clear in a few days.

Less typical or uncommon findings in a healthy newborn:
Other findings may be present on the newborn's skin. Congenital nevi are "moles" (darkly pigmented skin lesions) that are present at birth. These may range in size from that of a BB to the giant congenital nevus that can cover an entire extremity, back or large portions of the trunk.

Portwine stains are vascular lesions that produce a red to purplish discoloration. These are frequently seen on the face but may occur on any area of the body. Hemangiomas are also vascular lesions, but often are raised above the surface of the skin.