Skin Care for Babies

Your baby’s skin is highly sensitive. Before using any skin care product, be sure it is formulated for babies with as few chemical ingredients as possible.  Natural and organic baby products are preferable, as they use little to no man-made chemicals that your baby can have a harsh reaction to.
Organic baby skin care products are made from things that come from the earth, such as herbal plants and natural oils. Because there are no chemicals in organic skin care products there is less chance of your baby having a skin reaction when using the products

The best way to avoid chemicals is to choose pure and natural toiletries for babies and question which products you actually need at all. Yet when you read the list of ingredients listed on baby products they look much the same as those listed on standard family toiletries. Look at the chemicals listed in your child’s toiletry products; commonly SLS or sodium lauryl sulfate is used in baby wipes and shampoo’s it has been linked to skin irritations, diarrhea, breathing problems and eye damage particularly in small children. In higher concentrations, this same chemical is used in household cleaning products. Another item to consider when you purchase baby clothes or baby linens for the very first time, make sure to wash the baby items in a hypoallergenic soap formulated for babies.

Avoid products containing potentially irritating or harmful ingredients. Unscented, all-natural products are the safest things to use on our children. Making your own all-natural powders, salves, and bath products is a wonderful way to care for your children. Research organic baby skin care and learn what is best for your baby’s soft and delicate skin. As a caring parent, you want your baby to have the best health possible – that includes their skin care as their tiny body can absorb every chemical of a lotion or skin care product you apply.

Organic baby skin care products today include a full range of baby lotions, baby creams, balms, baby oils, salves and baby powders to soothe, moisturize and protect. Refrain from using products designed for adults as they are usually too harsh and contain irritants and allergens.

Speak to your pediatrician for organic products he/she may recommend. If you live in a small town and don’t have access to specialty stores, check online. There are now many sites linking you to stores across the country that can ship products for little to no additional cost of driving to a nearby store.

Sensitive Skin Reactions & Allergens

Sensitive skin care is more than just choosing the right sensitive skin care product. Sensitive skin has a low tolerance level to certain products or environmental conditions. People with sensitive skin may react quickly to chemicals, heat or wind by developing red, blotchy and irritated skin. The four most common reactions tend to be acne, rosacea, stinging or burning reactions and allergies or redness.

Acne

Between 40 and 50 million Americans are troubled by acne, with eleven-to twenty-five-year-olds accounting for 70 to 80 percent of acne sufferers. While many adult women have acne resulting from hormonal imbalance, adults are often more perturbed by acne than teens. Three main factors contribute to acne: increased oil production, clogged pores, and a bacteria called P acnes. First, oil causes the dead skin cells to stick together, leading to a clogged pore, which is called a blackhead or a whitehead. Bacteria then moves into the pore, producing inflammation, which manifests as redness and pus. Addressing acne requires medications or treatments that decrease oil secretion, unclog pores, and kill bacteria.

Rosacea

Affecting tens of millions of Americans, rosacea typically begins in adults over twenty-five years old. Its symptoms are facial redness, flushing, pimples, and the formation of prominent blood vessels in the face. Prior to age twenty-five, people prone to rosacea may experience frequent blushing and facial redness with strong emotion. The same bacteria that causes ulcers (H. pylori) may contribute to rosacea, some studies show. Rosacea sufferers with inflammatory bumps and facial redness should be tested for H. pylori,which can be treated with oral antibiotics. If you suffer from rosacea, please see your dermatologist for the many effective prescriptive treatments.

Stinging / Burning / Redness

Stinging in response to products and ingredients is not due to allergies, but to more sensitive nerve endings. In dermatology, tests (like the lactic acid stinging test) can determine whether or not your skin has this sensitivity. If you do, you may experience terrible stinging in response to benzoic acid, present in many products such as vaginal yeast infection creams. Stinging skin is not necessarily accompanied by redness or irritation, although it’s more common in people who experience facial flushing as well. If you notice these responses to your skin care products, you should avoid products that contain the following ingredients:

Alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic acid)

Benzoic acid

Bronopol

Cinnamic acid compounds

Dowicil200

Formaldehyde

Lactic acid

Propylene glycol

Quaternary ammonium compounds

Sodium lauryl sulfate

Sorbic acid

Urea

Vitamin C

Allergies

Allergies are most common in those with dry, sensitive skin. Allergic reactions happen when the protective outermost layer of the skin breaks down or weakens, skin care ingredients can seep around the skin cells and penetrate to deeper layers of the skin. Through these gaps, allergens, chemicals, and other irritants invade the inner levels of the skin tissue and bloodstream, creating an inflammatory response. While this is the mechanism for topical skin allergies, there can also be internal allergies to foods or other substances that trigger an inflammatory response via the skin.

While stinging is the most common reaction, allergies to cosmetic ingredients also occur. To identify cosmetic ingredient allergies, dermatologists perform patch tests, where twenty to one hundred potentially harmful ingredients are taped to a person’s back. Twenty-four to forty-eight hours later, the tape is removed and the skin is examined for reddened or swollen areas, indicating an allergic reaction.

Up to 10 percent of patients test allergic to at least one cosmetic-product ingredient, according to various studies. But many more may be allergic and unaware of which product it could be as they simply discontinued use without medical testing.

The most common allergens are fragrances and preservatives. People who use a variety of skin care products are more likely to develop allergies as they have been exposed to more ingredients. If you tend to have dry skin (indicating an impaired skin barrier) you may tend to have more topical skin allergies.

However, whatever your type, due to the high rate of people who experience these allergies, there is no way to be absolutely certain that a product is right for you, without patch testing. It is always recommended that those with sensitive skin test a product sample, prior to purchase, if possible. If your skin reacts to many ingredients, you should consult a dermatologist to identify the specific offending substance in order to avoid them.

Your Organic Skin

Skin is the armor of the body. It is the outside waterproofing, element-fighting surface that protects our internal organs and skeletal structure from the harsh outside elements. Yet skin, overall is ignored most of the time. Healthy skin is important for a glowing completion of course, but if your body is unhealthy – your skin will be also.

The toxic world of industrialization has finally caught up with us. Producing toxic waste disasters, disease and tons of garbage buried so deep it can never breakdown. All these “modern advancements” have left our food supply as little more than a chemical compound in itself. If you can do ONE thing to give your skin and your body a fighting chance, you would be wise to choose as organic a diet as possible. To maintain a healthy skin, organically grown food is must.

In light of recent organic trends in our food, organic skin care products are also gaining popularity. For healthy lifestyle and healthy skin, limiting the amount of toxins and chemicals you put in your body is a must. If the environment or living “green” is important to you, you should also be aware of companies that produce the products you buy and their manufacturing practices.

Organic Skin Care is the most rapidly developing field in the beauty industry. Now what does Organic mean? Organic refers to anything grown or raised naturally. But more specifically, it means plants are grown on certified natural land without the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetic modification or irradiation. In many cases, these organic farms are highly regulated by the Federal Food Safety Commission. Organic skin care means protecting your skin from harmful chemicals and using organic products whenever possible.

There are many organic products available on the market today. Most can be found at a local organic specialty stores, food suppliers or a national health food chain like Whole Foods. As organic products become more and more popular, many standard food stores, Like Safeway or Albertsons’ are also providing these products on their shelves. There are also plenty of websites offering organic skin or beauty care products online.

An organic product is preferable for natural skin care balance as it will generally contain far fewer chemical properties then it’s drugstore counterparts and thus have less possibility to cause inflammation or irritation. Of course, even an herbal product can have side effects as they are “chemicals” in their own right, so always be aware of the list if ingredients in the products you buy and the reactions your skin personally has to allergens.