The appearance and texture of a newborn infant's skin goes through many changes.
See also: Changes in newborn at birth
A healthy newborn at birth typically has:
Newborn skin will vary, depending on the length of the pregnancy. Premature infants have thin, transparent skin. The skin of a full-term infant is thicker.
By the baby's 2nd or 3rd day, the skin lightens somewhat and may become dry and flaky. The skin still tends to turn red when the infant cries. The lips, hands, and feet may turn bluish or spotted (mottled) when the baby is cold.
Other changes may include:
Colored birthmarks or skin markings may include:
Red birthmarks may include:
Newborn skin characteristics; Infant skin characteristics
Olsson J. The newborn. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 7.
Sahin M. Neurocutaneous syndromes. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 589.
Updated by: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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