06/05/2026
That white creamy stuff all over a newborn baby?
📸 by the amazing
That’s called vernix, and it really is amazing.
Vernix is a protective coating made during pregnancy that helps protect your baby’s skin while they’re in the womb. It helps with temperature regulation after birth, keeps their skin moisturised, and contains antimicrobial properties that help protect against infection. It’s also thought to support the development of your baby’s microbiome.
Some babies are born absolutely covered in vernix, while others have barely any at all. Both are completely normal. Babies born earlier often tend to have more of it, while babies born later may have less because it’s already started absorbing into the skin before birth.
A lot of vernix gets wiped away straight after birth because people think it looks messy or dirty, but leaving it to absorb naturally into your baby’s skin can actually have loads of benefits.
The human body is pretty incredible sometimes.