When Do Babies Get Their Skin Color?
At the beginning of six to eight weeks of pregnancy, the cells will start producing melanin. This substance is responsible for the skin color of the fetus. The production of melanin is entirely regulated by genes. The more melanin skin has, the darker will be the skin color. Moreover, it decides the color of the eyes and hair too. Until babies are 20 months old, the color of their skin changes over a period of time. The color of their skin is of a particular type, but if they are suffering from any birth defect, they might have a particular color of their skin too.
How Does the Skin Color of Babies Change Over Time?
A newborn’s skin changes over time with age. It shows changes such as red, purple, yellow, or blue. Not always do changes in skin color suggest the underlying condition. Sometimes babies have naturally different skin colors.
At the time of birth, babies have a naturally dark red or purple hue in their skin tone. With the passing of time, the red color gradually fades away. This naturally red-to-purple skin color has no ethical exception. Additionally, the color of hands and feet appears blue in color as their circulatory system adjusts after birth. Along with different skin colors, the skin of the baby might have redness, Millia (tiny bumps on the nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead), baby acne, and birthmarks. Melanin production increases the chances of skin protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The baby completely develops her skin tone around the age of six months.
What Are the Skin Color Changes Seen in the Babies?
There are multiple color changes seen in the newborns, such as
1. Bluish Skin: It is very normal for a newborn to have a bluish hue in the skin of hands and feet for a few days after birth. However, sometimes due to underlying health conditions or complications, newborns have blue skin all over their bodies or around their lips.
- Cyanosis: Cyanosis is the symptom associated with certain conditions. It is often associated with bluish skin or mucous membranes.
- The condition arises from a lack of oxygen in the blood supply of the heart, lungs, and central nervous system.
- If a baby’s skin appears bluish with difficulty in eating, breathing, or waking up, parents should immediately seek medical attention.
There are various conditions that cause cyanosis, such as
- Tetralogy of Fallot: Tetralogy Fallot is a condition in which there are many heart-related abnormalities seen. These abnormalities lead to oxygen deficient blood supply around the body.
- Tricuspid Atresia: Tricuspid atresia is a genetic abnormality associated with a missing valve in the heart. Owing to this abnormality, the baby’s heart cannot give enough oxygen-containing blood to the lungs. This causes cyanosis.
- Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return (TAPVR): TAPVR is an abnormality related to the heart. It is caused when oxygen-rich blood is mixed with oxygen-deficient blood.
- Methemoglobinemia: Methemoglobinemia occurs due to the overproduction of a protein called methemoglobin. Methemoglobin acts as a carrier of oxygen in the blood, but it does not release it. If there is an elevated level of methemoglobin seen in the blood, it suggests a lack of oxygen in the baby’s blood
2. Yellowish Skin:
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Yellow skin is usually associated with jaundice.
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Mild jaundice is very normal in newborns. However, if there are prolonged signs and symptoms seen, it indicates more complications.
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If a child seems reluctant to feed along with persistent symptoms for more than 72 hours, parents should immediately seek medical attention.
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More commonly, there is physiologic jaundice seen amongst newborns. Other than these factors, there are the following factors causing jaundice in children:
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If there is a mismatch in the blood type of the biological mother and the baby.
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An underactive thyroid.
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A blockage in the gallbladder and the bile duct.
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3. Pale Skin: There are the following conditions that show unusual paleness in children:
- Anemia: It is the condition where the body of the baby does not have enough red blood cell counts. Other than this, if red blood cells do not work properly, it causes anemia. Due to a lack of or defective red blood cells, the body of the newborn may not get enough oxygen in the bloodstream.
- Albinism: Albinism is a genetic condition caused by the low level of melanin pigments in the skin. Owing to this condition, the baby often has pale hair and skin.
- Phenylketonuria (PKU): It is an inherited disorder where the baby is unable to break down the amino acid phenylalanine. Amino acids work to make proteins in the body. Phenylalanine is produced in the blood after that, and it leads to complications such as seizures. PKU also interrupts the procedure of melanin production, which leads to pale skin and hair.
4. Reddish Skin: Typically, newborns are born with this type of skin. However, it should fade with increasing age and time.
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However, if the skin redness does not decrease with time, it means that a child might have health-related complications such as polycythemia vera.
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It is a rare blood disorder where the bone marrow of the baby produces too many red blood cells. It also causes the thickening of the blood and blood clots in the body.
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Excessive redness of the skin in children is often accompanied by difficulty in breathing and bleeding gums. In this situation, parents should immediately contact the caregiver.
Conclusion:
Skin color changes are very common in young ones. However, if the changes are abnormal and persistent, it is an indication of health-related complications. In any abnormal skin color conditions that arise, parents should immediately seek medical attention, as any of them can be a sign of a life-threatening disease.
