The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-04-03

only, and then only through
his column.
as many sensory end organs for
temperature, touch and pain as
the adult. The baby is therefore
very much more sensitive and re-
sponslve TO temperature changes
and skin discomforts from clothes,
etc. than the adult.
The baby is more sensitive to
hot and cold contacts than the
adult, and this may explain why
although the bath water may seem
satisfactory TO the adult-the
baby's reaction indicates discom-
fort. that II is too hot or too cold.
Evaporation Of moisture from a
baby's skin is more rapid, or
rather the baby's skin is con-
stantly moister and heat loss is
greater than with adults. Babies
really feel hot weather less than
adults, but they feel cold weather
more. They can stand exposure
far less than adults. and this de-
termincs the different standards
in selecting clothes for babies.
Every year the child's skin be-
comes thicker in texture and less
sensitive. The baby, however, re-
quires the rlost careful and SYM
pathetic attention TO its skin, espe-
cially as to scrupulous cleanliness.
The diaper rash is the reaction and
sign Of the sensitiveness of the
baby's skin to small amounts of
irritating substances that would
not result in any irritation in later
years. Diaper rash may be due to
coarse laundry soap. but is more
likely TO be due to dirt. The but
tocks and creases between the fat
folds in the baby's skin should re-
ceive daily attention, or oftener,
to see that they are free from any
irritating matter Keep the but
tocks well oiled or powdered to
avoid a diaper rash. The baby
may clench its hands so tightly
that the moisture in the palms
causes a softening Of the skin
there. Open the fingers and let
the air reach the palms and, if the
condition increases, place a soft
fold Of linen-too large to be lost
within the fingers. replacing it
when it becomes moist.
Fat babies, or those who gain
weight rapidly, are especially
liable to skin rashes.
With its excessive perspiration
and sensitiveness to temperature,
the baby's skin is especially liable
to heat rashes. The cure and pre-
vention of heat rashes is simpl;
to allow the baby to. cool off. I
saw a terrible case Of heat rash
last summer in a baby whose
mother thought it broke out be-
cause it perspired so much. To
absorb the perspiration and to
keep it comfortable while travel
ling, she had pinned it in a huge
feather pillow. Tepid sponge
baths also help--in hot weather
they prevent. The skin should be
most exactingly dried after the
bath and talcum powder used
freely to prevent prickly heat.
Eczema, which is a scaly, itchy
eruption, is almost certain to be
due to an allergic reaction to some
common food or to soap, clothes
or anything else which comes in
contact with the skin. The cure
is difficult and requires infinite
patience to discover just the COM
bination Of causes responsible. In
the course of time, and usually
without regard to treatment or
diet, it goes away as suddenly and
mysteriously as it came.
lmpetigo is skin eruption
peculiar to childhood. 1t is a pus
infection which appears especially
on the face, and is serious to the
extent that it is facilitating and
uncomfortable. 1t usually re-
quires professional attention from
physician rather than home
remedies.
Ringworm is another skin curse
Of the early years. Wool socks,
contrary to general belief, cause
excessive perspiration and this
provides an ideal condition for
such infections 10 occur.