By Gary Wikholm, M.D., from Healthy Living
My infant daughter Kathy has never suffered from diaper rash-in fact, she's never had skin irritation of any kind. I truly believe that her healthy skin and scalp are the result of our family avoiding the many supermarket and drug store infant and children's skin lotions, cleaning wipes, and shampoos that are so heavily marketed to parents. As more and more parents are discovering, these convenience products often contain substances that upset the natural balance of a baby's skin, which can lead to recurring problems.
A recent report in Clinical Paediatrics reveals that more than 75 percent of newborns suffer rashes within the first few months of birth, and researchers suspect that contributing factors include the very products that promise to soften, clean, and moisturize children's skin. As they note in their research, "Newborn skin is relatively more permeable to topically applied agents than adult skin. Therefore, the risk of systemic toxicity is must greater in newborns."
What's more, say these researchers from the Department of Paediatrics at Loyola University in Chicago, "The safety and efficacy of over-the-counter skincare products are not supported by well-controlled scientific studies."
Advice from the Experts
The average one-month-old baby is bathed four times and shampooed three times every week, according to the Loyola University researchers. "Yet newborn skin is slow to mature, and the outer layer is highly permeable and sensitive to chemicals," says Uwe Stave, M.D., formerly of the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Miami.
If you have to bathe your baby during the first year, it should only be occasionally-with a little warm water. More likely, you'll only have to wipe your baby's genitals and buttocks with a soft cotton moistened cloth.
Five kinds of skin-care products are used most frequently. Here is what you need to know about each of them:
Bubble Baths - Many bubble bath products for young children are based on detergents that destroy beneficial bacteria and harm the baby's acid mantle. Furthermore, bubble baths are a leading cause of vaginitis and urinary tract infections in infants. This problem has become so prevalent that the Food and Drug Administration has ruled that bubble baths for children must carry warning labels advising parents against excess bathing of their children. If you wish to scent your baby's bath, add a bit of lavender oil to the water. (Lavender oil should not be taken internally.) The only bubble bath that I recommend to my patients isAubrey Organics Natural Baby Bath Soap. It is one of the few great baby bath products today. It contains only natural and safe ingredients.
If you read the labels of supermarket and drug store baby bath products as I have in researching this report, you will soon see that they contain ingredients likely to be contaminated with formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, and possibly even nitrosamines, all of which are cancer-causing, highly irritating or both. You can get this product at your local health food store. After the bath,Weleda Calendula Baby Oil can be used to help guard against chills from winter or air. Soap Though plain water usually does the job, occasionally a small amount of soap may be required. If so, use a mild soap containing olive, coconut, or palm oil and possibly herbal extracts such as calendula. (All paediatricians recommend avoiding antibacterial soaps.) After soaping, replenish the skin's oils by using a soothing oil or lotion containing herbs such as calendula or arnica.
Baby Powder - Talc-based powders contain tiny particles that irritate the skin and may contain fragrance, a leading cause of allergy and irritation. Under all circumstances, avoid baby powders containing talc.
Several studies have linked talc to ovarian cancer.
The only places you might need to use a little powder (never talc) are in the creases of the baby's skin-the underarms, genital area, and neck.
I recommend scent-free powders made with cornstarch or bentonite clay. These are available in health food stores.
Powders, of course, are most frequently used to "treat" diaper rash, but there may be better ways. Allowing fresh air to get to your baby's bottom whenever you can may reduce the likelihood of diaper rash. Zinc oxide and chamomile, applied to the inflamed area, will help dry and soothe the skin. Most paediatricians specializing in natural skin care warn parents to avoid petroleum jelly, which traps moisture against the skin and is also a common allergen.
Shampoos - Shampooing schedules should be determined by the amount of hair your baby has and how oily it is. Most babies with thin hair don't need to be shampooed all that often during their first year. (Only do so as needed.) When you do shampoo, a mild shampoo is best; you can recognize them by what they don't contain: synthetic fragrances, artificial colors, or highly allergenic and irritating preservatives including quaternium 15, imidazolidinyl urea, and parabens. Aubrey Organics has come to the rescue with their excellent Natural Baby Shampoo with its mild coconut oil and soya protein base with herbs and mild plant preservatives. This product is much safer than other supermarket or drug store products. Lotions and Oils - Massaging lotions and oils into your baby's skin can relieve irritation. But anything you use should be free of petrochemicals, which are themselves irritants. Also, look for healing herbs in your baby's lotion or oil. Chamomile and aloe have a long history as soothing and moisturizing ingredients and have a good record of safe use in cosmetics. Other healing herbs to look for in lotions and oils (and other baby products) include calendula, marigold, and arnica. The same guidelines for finding gentle shampoos apply to lotions: Avoid artificial colours, synthetic fragrances, and seek out products that use gentle preservatives.
I completely trust Aubrey's Natural Baby Body Lotion which is free of cancer-causing chemicals and irritants and creates a soothing layer of protection for baby's tender skin. A tender massage with Natural Baby Body Lotion can be a beautiful experience for both of you.
I have been blessed in my professional career to have delivered so many beautiful babies, and I want you to know that they do not need to suffer from skin irritation or lose that beautiful natural glow with which they are born. You are their protector and guardian. I urge you to seek safe and healthy baby products.
Gary Wikholm is a family practice physician and ER specialist.
Tell Me More...
We have investigated baby skin care products for several years now. The only two widely available lines that meet our criteria for safe and healthy products, avoiding toxic preservatives, foaming agents and other potentially hazardous ingredients, are Aubrey Organics andWeleda.
Their products may be a little more expensive than the drug or supermarket brands, but they are also completely safe, and truly natural and non toxic.
Source:
Article by: Gary Wikholm, M.D
Baby Skin Care for Healthy Living
* References taken directly from Aubrey Organics
