Dry Skin Management in Newborns

Initial Care and Drying Protocol

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends specific drying procedures immediately after delivery that contribute to the dry appearance of newborn skin but serve important physiological purposes 1, 2
• Newborns should be dried and stimulated for first breath/cry immediately after delivery, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 1
• A selective drying technique should be used, where the entire newborn is dried except for the hands, allowing the infant to suckle hands bathed in amniotic fluid, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1, 2
• The dried body should be covered with prewarmed blankets to prevent hypothermia while the skin adjusts, as suggested by the American Academy of Pediatrics 1