You have now become the mother of a beautiful baby after nine long months. When you hold the baby in your arms for the first time, the feeling is magical and surreal. It is now that you notice his features and his skin. The skin is probably wrinkled, and there will be some body hair. However, these hair are a temporary phase which will soon pass off.
The hair that is found on a newborn baby’s body is known as lanugo. It is derived from the Latin word ‘Lana” which means wool. You can clearly see the hair though it has a fine texture. Most of this hair is seen on the baby’s back, ears, neck, face and shoulders. While some babies shed the body hair before they announce their arrival to the world, some infants are born with lanugo.
Yes! It is entirely normal to for babies to have body hair. It is natural insulation for babies while they are in the womb. Mothers often get stressed about this common phenomenon which will definitely disappear in a few weeks. Be assured that lanugo is normal and there is no need to remove it. Rubbing this hair will only irritate the baby’s sensitive skin. A premature baby is most likely to be a Lanugo, hair baby. The development of this body hair begins when the fetus is between 18 to 20 weeks old. This fine, wispy layer of hair is quite visible on babies with darker complexions.
Lanugo newborn hair or body hair on an infant has a specific role to play while the baby in the mother’s womb. This is how it helps the baby:
If the lanugo hair does not shed completely or in time, it becomes a cause of concern for parents. It could also develop into prominent hair as the baby grows. Lanugo hair could also lead to the following problems:
If you are worried about how to treat lanugo in newborn babies, try the following remedies to get quick and permanent results:
You should immediately consult your doctor if you see that your baby hasn’t shed its body hair in the first six months. Keep an eye if the hair is darker than when they first appeared. Waiting for the hair to shed naturally is the first option. If your child is suffering from CAH- Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia, it will need medical intervention at the earliest. Your baby will then need hormonal shots to maintain the right hormonal balance and avoid any further worsening of the condition.
While lanugo isn’t a major cause of concern in most cases, mothers should always voice any concerns to their doctors. They can address these concerns and suggest remedies if necessary. If the baby’s lanugo is growing darker by the day or shedding has stopped, call the paediatrician immediately. Also, if the lanugo persists till the child is a few years old, it could be due to an eating disorder and should not be ignored.