- Artificial
Fragrance is
one of the highest known causes of skin
irritation as it typically
contains
alcohols and can leave babies with dry
and irritated skin.
Be aware that some products may state
that they contain “calming lavender or chamomile” and
you may very well find that it is lavender
or chamomile fragrance that may cause dryness
or irritation. These are synthetic copies
of the scent found in nature as it is
cheap replica
of pure essential oils.
- Soap can be very drying, particularly
for babies and those with sensitive skin.
Look for a moisturising soap free bath
wash to use on your little one that is pH
neutral.
- Petrochemicals can
cause irritation; an example is mineral
oil, which has been
well
documented as leaving a layer like gladwrap
on the skin. Research has shown prolonged
contact with mineral oil has the associated
risk of developing skin conditions**.
Moisturising vegetable oils such as avocado
oil, evening
primrose oil and wheat germ oil are all
very effective in keeping your baby’s
skin nicely soft and supple.
- Some Preservatives, like propyl paraben,
are known to cause skin irritations.
- Many researches have linked talc to pulmonary
issues, ovarian cancer and lung cancer.
- Harsh detergents are
used to make a product foam to give you
bubbles. For some reason
we are falsely led to believe that we
need bubbles to be clean. Some researchers
believe that detergents such as sodium
lauryth sulphate (including its sulphate
cousins) and propylene glycol can strip
your baby’s natural protective oils
and they can be quite harmful, even carcinogenic.
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* 2002, Department of Dermatology,
St. Vincent’s
Hospital Melbourne, Victoria Parade, Fitzroy,
Victoria 3065 Australia.
**
Rivoire J et al, "Skin diseases produced
by cutting oils", Revue Lyonnaise Medicine,
11-13, 1970. NIOSH, Research Triangle Institute,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health,
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1976 |