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Title: Natural Skin Care for Infants
Article Summary: Caring for baby's skin is an important part of overall baby health. Today's environmental influences add an extra layer of complexity that our mothers and grandmothers did not have to cope with.
Word Count: 935
First Published: 2003

Contact Info:
Paula Polman
paula@TheLearningCenterForEntrepreneurs.com
780-270-8146 MST
Edmonton AB Canada


Skin is our protection; a breathing organ that selectively absorbs and repels chemicals that are exposed and applied to it. Infants, whether in the womb or newly born have the most delicate skin in our life cycle. Without a doubt it needs special care and attention during this important growth period.

Briefly, skin is a multi layer organ that allows us to excrete waste products through gaseous exchange and sweat, absorbs water & nutrients, acts as a thermal tool for helping to keeping us cool and has sensory receptors for touch and pain, to name a few important functions.

When we develop in the womb our only environment is the fluid that surrounds us, provided to us by our mother's bodies. Once we're born, however, the range of new things thrown at the body and skin can be literally overwhelming. Many babies develop rashes, acne and dry skin patches during the first few months as the body learns to cope with this new environment. These reactions usually settle down and disappear once the skin has adjusted.

Unfortunately we also live in a time where the levels of synthetics and chemicals are omnipresent in everything we touch, eat and breathe. The alarming trend of increasing rates of severe childhood allergies and asthma are partially due to the increasing levels of chemical exposures.

The sense of smell is also an area that is easily overwhelmed in babies. With so many new things to smell and record, it is easy for the brain to become overwhelmed. The result is babies can become irritable, upset or just plain cranky. Some scents/perfumes may also cause a skin reaction of rash or allergy if exposed for too long. If you love to wear perfume and are around babies, think twice about wearing it. Look for baby care products that are unscented or fragrance-free. Babies have a wonderful smell of their own, so why hide it with scented products?

Other sources of potential irritants:
Lotions. Many babies really don't need lotions unless they have noticeably dry skin. If you practise baby massage, be sure to use a simple vegetable oil or a blend of oils mixed specifically for infant skin.
Powders. While dusting powders have their place in diapering, overuse or misuse can be a problem. When applying powder to the diaper area, lightly sprinkle the powder on your hand, turned away from baby's face. Then rub the powder on baby. Shaking the powder from the bottle directly on baby causes a lot of powder to disperse in the air and baby then breathes it in.
Soap. There is a great deal of information and mis-information about soap. In general, newborns rarely need the application of soap or any kind of cleanser. When they do, select a bar that is as natural, chemical-free and perfume free as possible. Castile or other soaps formulated to be gentle for baby are a good choice. Often these soaps can be used for shampoos in the first few months as well.
Laundry Soap. When washing baby clothes, especially newborns, be aware of the type of soap you are using and be sure the clothes are rinsed well. Always wash new clothes before putting them on baby. Many fabrics are sprayed with chemicals to help them keep their form/shape/colour while on the racks. You also don't know who has handled the clothing, sneezed on it or had an infectious hand injury while handling the clothes.


The diaper area is another big concern for skin care in infants. Disposable vs cloth, wipes vs washcloths. What keeps the incidence of rash down is keeping the skin dry and free from prolonged contact with waste products like urine and faeces. The more you can let babies ‘air dry' the healthier their skin will be. The use of a barrier product like petroleum jelly or beeswax products can help while the skin remains diapered. Frequent changes of disposable diapers are just as important as with cloth, something that is easy to overlook with all the hype. The gel absorbs the moisture but doesn't completely rid the surface from the irritation.

Diaper wipes are a wonderful tool in the diaper war. These are handy and clean, easy to dispose of. But not all wipes are created equal. Watch out for ones containing alcohol which are very drying. Don't get caught in marketing hype either. Many commercial wipes feature Aloe Vera for an increased price. Unless the Aloe is present as 10% or better in the formulation it isn't doing much else besides label claim (and thus pricing). Wipes can also contain lotions, antibacterial components, emollients, etc. Ultimately you need something moist that is a mild cleanser. The commercial wipes have made for convenience but can also generate quite a bit of waste (selling over-large wipes for example) too.

Lastly, just as with adults, what we eat is reflected by our skin. Breastmilk has great advantages in helping baby develop resistance to pathogens and allergens both inside and out. Plenty of fluids, and appropriate skin protection in the sun are also very important.

So how can we help give our children the best start? By keeping things simple. Don't overwhelm babies with lotions and potions, cleaners and powders, scents or perfumes. Learn to read product labels and understand what you are putting on your baby's skin. Products made for adults are generally too harsh or strong for babies; look for products developed specifically for infants. By paying attention to the little things and keeping your baby's skin care regime as simple and basic as possible your child will have the best start to life.

Paula Polman, B.Sc. ran a natural cosmetics and toiletries company for 6 years and has been an entrepreneur for over 20 years. She is now involved in offering online instructional courses for small business at The Learning Center for Entrepreneurs, supporting the growth of small business thorugh extended learning. Email her at paula [at] TheLearningCenterForEntrepreneurs [dot] com or visit http://www.TheLearningCenterForEntrepreneurs.com

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