According to Professor Michael Cork, Head of Academic Dermatology at University of Sheffield Medical School and world renowned expert on paediatric eczema and skin care, children's skin allergies have increased dramatically since the 1950s and now one in five children suffer from eczema. This has coincided with the rapid rise in baby skincare products.
So how can you protect your child from developing skin irritations or eczema? It all starts with your daily skin care routine - the right routine.
Walk down the aisle of any supermarket, chemist or baby boutique and the choice in skincare is overwhelming. You are inundated with soap, shampoo, moisturising lotions, creams, ointments, bubble bath, bath oil, powders and the list goes on. How do you choose?
For many parents the two most important factors behind their choices in skincare are performance and value for money. But there are points parents need to consider when choosing a product is their baby's skin.
Check list
-How much do you want to spend? Spending more doesn't necessarily mean a better product.
-Do you want to use synthetic or a natural, organic product? All products are potential irritants regardless of whether they are synthetic, natural or organic.
-Does your baby have any allergies to peanuts, soy, wheat or milk products? Some products contain these ingredients eg: Sweet Almond Oil, Soybean Oil, Cassein, Peanut Oil, Wheatgerm oil.
-Do you have a family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever? The chances of your child having eczema will increase by 30% if you do and 50% to 80% if both parents do.
When you have answered these questions you should have narrowed the field considerably. Where to now?
Causes of skin irritations
Fragrances - One of the biggest causes of skin irritations in babies is fragrance, they can be either synthetic or natural.
Essential oils - Natural, highly fragrant oils extracted from plants mainly used for its therapeutic properties but these oils are highly potent and can be irritating to a baby's skin.
Colours - Again natural or synthetic they are both potential irritants. Does baby really need bright pink bubble bath?
Soap and surfactants - are high foaming like bubble bath the higher the foam the more drying they can be to the skin. One common culprit is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. It receives a great deal of bad press but did you know it is actually derived from coconuts (remember what I said about natural and organic products being potential irritants)? Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is commonly used in bath wash and shampoo products for its cleansing action. As it is high foaming it has been associated with skin dryness and skin irritation.
Preservatives - products that combine water and oil need a preservative, without it various bacteria and fungus can pollute the product within months, but again preservatives can be potential skin irritants.
So armed with the correct information, shopping for your baby's skincare will no longer be a hassle.
Sidebar/Breakout Box
LOVE THE SKIN YOU'RE IN
Skin Make -up
Broadly speaking skin is made up of 3 layers, the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fatty layer. The epidermis is the top layer of skin which holds the stratum corneum and is the barrier to the outside world, the dermis is the middle layer that provides strength and structure and the subcutaneous fatty layer is the bottom layer which insulates the organs from heat and cold.
Differences between Adult and Baby Skin
A baby's epidermis and stratum corneum isn't fully developed which makes their skin 5 times thinner than an adults, it has some advantages but mostly disadvantages.
Advantages - a baby's skin can absorb and hold more water than an adult's skin
Disadvantages - baby's skin loses water faster than an adult's skin. Because their skin can absorb more water it also means they can absorb more potential irritants. When this occurs it can result in dryness, itching, burning, rashes and eczema.
Nadine Hall is an Aromatherapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Creator of Nature Within, Organic Skincare and Sleepwear for babies and mother of two.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/
So how can you protect your child from developing skin irritations or eczema? It all starts with your daily skin care routine - the right routine.
Walk down the aisle of any supermarket, chemist or baby boutique and the choice in skincare is overwhelming. You are inundated with soap, shampoo, moisturising lotions, creams, ointments, bubble bath, bath oil, powders and the list goes on. How do you choose?
For many parents the two most important factors behind their choices in skincare are performance and value for money. But there are points parents need to consider when choosing a product is their baby's skin.
Check list
-How much do you want to spend? Spending more doesn't necessarily mean a better product.
-Do you want to use synthetic or a natural, organic product? All products are potential irritants regardless of whether they are synthetic, natural or organic.
-Does your baby have any allergies to peanuts, soy, wheat or milk products? Some products contain these ingredients eg: Sweet Almond Oil, Soybean Oil, Cassein, Peanut Oil, Wheatgerm oil.
-Do you have a family history of eczema, asthma or hay fever? The chances of your child having eczema will increase by 30% if you do and 50% to 80% if both parents do.
When you have answered these questions you should have narrowed the field considerably. Where to now?
Causes of skin irritations
Fragrances - One of the biggest causes of skin irritations in babies is fragrance, they can be either synthetic or natural.
Essential oils - Natural, highly fragrant oils extracted from plants mainly used for its therapeutic properties but these oils are highly potent and can be irritating to a baby's skin.
Colours - Again natural or synthetic they are both potential irritants. Does baby really need bright pink bubble bath?
Soap and surfactants - are high foaming like bubble bath the higher the foam the more drying they can be to the skin. One common culprit is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. It receives a great deal of bad press but did you know it is actually derived from coconuts (remember what I said about natural and organic products being potential irritants)? Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is commonly used in bath wash and shampoo products for its cleansing action. As it is high foaming it has been associated with skin dryness and skin irritation.
Preservatives - products that combine water and oil need a preservative, without it various bacteria and fungus can pollute the product within months, but again preservatives can be potential skin irritants.
So armed with the correct information, shopping for your baby's skincare will no longer be a hassle.
Sidebar/Breakout Box
LOVE THE SKIN YOU'RE IN
Skin Make -up
Broadly speaking skin is made up of 3 layers, the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous fatty layer. The epidermis is the top layer of skin which holds the stratum corneum and is the barrier to the outside world, the dermis is the middle layer that provides strength and structure and the subcutaneous fatty layer is the bottom layer which insulates the organs from heat and cold.
Differences between Adult and Baby Skin
A baby's epidermis and stratum corneum isn't fully developed which makes their skin 5 times thinner than an adults, it has some advantages but mostly disadvantages.
Advantages - a baby's skin can absorb and hold more water than an adult's skin
Disadvantages - baby's skin loses water faster than an adult's skin. Because their skin can absorb more water it also means they can absorb more potential irritants. When this occurs it can result in dryness, itching, burning, rashes and eczema.
Nadine Hall is an Aromatherapist, Certified Infant Massage Instructor, Creator of Nature Within, Organic Skincare and Sleepwear for babies and mother of two.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/