One InfantSkin is delicate, sensitive and easily irritated if exposed in the wrong way Skin Care Cosmetics. As a result, babies need a delicate skin care treatment to nourish their soft and supple skin and for today’s new age parents, understanding the ingredients used in these products. baby care products become imperative. Babies have very delicate skin that needs extra care and attention because their skin is more susceptible to infection and irritation than adult skin, and the harsh chemicals in baby products can be harmful to them. Younger skin than we think.
They demand high-quality, chemical-free baby products to help them grow and nurture. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Akanksha Sharma, CEO and Co-Founder of CITTA, advises: “We need to be extra careful to avoid certain chemicals when it comes to skin care and bath products. for children – such as parabens, sulfates, silicones, mineral oils. , toxins and allergens. The effects of these chemicals range from irritating baby’s skin to causing severe respiratory and reproductive organ dysfunction and fertility problems! You also need to choose products that are mildly scented or unscented when used on babies. Make sure the product uses a certified safe fragrance.”
She adds, “When it comes to specific products like baby powder, the avoidance of talc is indisputable. Instead of talcum powder, using natural ingredients like oats, corn starch and kaolin clay can actually make the product safe for babies. Fortunately, people are now aware of the harmful effects of talcum powder but I think people still need to be educated about the many other chemicals that can get into baby products if they’re not careful enough. kidney. With proper research, we can find more effective natural alternatives to harsh chemicals and every brand should strive to do that.”
Dr Kashish Kalra, MD, Dermatologist, HOD of the Max Smart Superspeciality Hospital of Dermatology and Trichology at Saket of New Delhi, recommends keeping the following in mind when purchasing baby care products:
1. pH – Our skin has a pH of 5.5 so make sure products have the same pH that is often mentioned in the batch.
2. Fragrance – It’s no surprise that scented products are always irresistible, but they’re mostly allergenic and carcinogenic aldehydes, so the ideal baby shower or moisturizer should be fragrance-free. fragrant.
3. SLS – The sodium lauryl sulphate that foams any soap is a very harmful chemical, so use soap-free laundry detergents.
4. Parabens – Almost banned in the Western world, the use of parabens is quite common in our country, added to increase the shelf life of products and is a common skin irritant.
5. Talc Powder – A lot of talcum powder has asbestos impurities, so you’re better off using a talc-free powder or not using talc at all. A lot of talcum powder contains carcinogenic asbestos, so you’re better off using a talc-free powder with an organic content like cornstarch.
6. Chemical sunscreen (oxybenzone) – Sunscreen is just as important for babies as it is for adults, but for children, sunscreen must be chemical-free. Use a physical sunscreen that contains zinc oxide. Chemical sunscreens should be avoided as they contain oxybenzone, avobenzones, paba etc which have a hormonal effect on children as they can be absorbed through the skin so it is better to use physical sunscreen.
Drawing on his expertise, Rajesh Vohra, Managing Director of Artsana India (Chicco), Assistant to the Chicco Research Center, emphasizes: “There is a wide range of baby care products available. on the market. To choose the right one for your baby, you first need to know and understand the effects of the ingredients used in the product. Now, let’s find out what ingredients to avoid in baby products. Phenoxyethanol is widely used as a preservative in children’s cosmetic products, however, it is increasingly becoming an ingredient of concern in many countries because of its potential allergy risk to baby’s skin.”
The European Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (under the European Medicines Agency) allows use at concentrations up to 1%. Similarly, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan defines it as a “restricted ingredient” and limits its use to 1%. “You can always check the product label to see if it contains Phenoxyethanol,” suggests Rajesh Vohra. Common names used for Phenoxyethanol on product labels are phenoxyethanol, ethylene glycolmonophenyl ether, 2-Phenoxyethanol, rose ether, phenoxyethyl alcohol, beta-hydroxyethyl phenyl ether. However, Ayurvedic products may use several other names. In addition to Phenoxyethanol, avoid products with parabens, tropolones, SLES, alcohol, and dyes. A product without EDTA and phthalates is safer and more suitable for babies’ sensitive skin.”
