Question
Our neighbor just had a baby boy, and the skin around his navel is red and swollen, and it’s even oozing. They went to the hospital for a check-up, and the doctor said he has umbilical inflammation. I want to know if hydrogen peroxide can be used for newborn umbilical inflammation?
Answer
Newborn umbilical inflammation should not be treated with hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can be quite irritating to the skin, and since a baby’s skin is very delicate, using hydrogen peroxide can easily irritate the baby’s skin, causing them to cry and fuss. If the baby’s navel shows signs of inflammation, it is essential to seek medical treatment. If there are any systemic symptoms such as fever, timely antibiotic treatment for infection should be administered.