What is xeroderma in babies?

If you have a baby, you may have noticed that their skin is sometimes dry and flaky. Dry skin in babies is also known as xeroderma, which means “dry skin” in Greek.

Xeroderma is not a disease, but a symptom of a lack of moisture in the outer layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum. The stratum corneum is made up of dead skin cells and lipids (fats) that help seal in water and protect the skin from external irritants.

When the stratum corneum is dry, it becomes rough, scaly, and prone to cracking and infection. There are many possible causes of xeroderma in babies, such as:

Environmental factors: Low humidity, cold weather, wind, air conditioning and heating can all dry out the skin. Excessive bathing, especially with hot water and harsh soaps, can also strip away the natural oils and moisture from the skin.

Genetic factors: Some babies may inherit a tendency to have dry skin from their parents. This may be due to variations in the genes that control the production and function of lipids and proteins in the skin. For example, some babies may have a condition called ichthyosis, which causes dry, scaly skin that resembles fish scales. Ichthyosis is rare and usually inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, meaning that both parents must carry a copy of the mutated gene for the baby to be affected.

Medical factors: Some health conditions or medications can affect the skin’s ability to retain moisture. For example, hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone levels), malnutrition, kidney disease, eczema, seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), contact dermatitis (allergic reaction to something that touches the skin) and certain drugs (such as retinoids, diuretics and chemotherapy) can all cause or worsen xeroderma in babies.