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Skin care products are deeper than skin – Part 1

Posted on by admin

The skin is the largest organ of our body. Ingredients from products that are applied to its surface can penetrate through the small blood vessels located just below, and eventually circulate throughout the body. Just as vitamins and minerals can enter our bodies in this way, so can harmful materials. Skin care products are something most people use on a daily basis, increasing the potential for exposure to any harmful ingredients. This is especially true of children: the ratio of skin surface area to body volume is higher than in adults, which means that any harmful chemicals applied to the skin, once inside of the body, it will have a more significant impact.

As parents, we want our children to live happy, healthy, and carefree lives. For most moms, that means getting the best of everything for their little angels. When it comes to skin protection, cleansing and care, this means using premium baby skin care products.

What separates a premium skincare product from the rest? The main definition would be that of a product that contains only healthy and safe ingredients and is therefore free from skin irritants or harmful ingredients. Some of these potential irritants, allergens, or safety-related chemicals, which appear quite frequently in various baby skin care products currently on the market, include the following:

  • Fragrances (perfumes)
  • IM/ICM
  • parabens
  • SLS/SLES
  • Formaldehyde
  • phthalates

In the first part of this series, our discussion focuses on fragrances.

Why should premium baby skin care products be fragrance free?

Fragrance formulas are considered trade secrets and their components are not disclosed on labels. Fragrances are increasingly cited as triggers for health problems like asthma, allergies and migraines [ref1]. Furthermore, some fragrance materials have been found to accumulate in adipose tissue and are present in breast milk. [ref2].

We are exposed to many scented (fragrance-containing) products or materials on a daily basis, such as toiletries, skin care products, household products, laundry products, or certain packaging materials, etc. These products are one of the sources of chemicals that have a diverse spectrum of health effects, including endocrine disruption. Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) are chemicals that can disrupt hormone signaling, influence our metabolism, and affect the development of the nervous and reproductive systems.

Having a “synthetic fragrance-free” product may not be enough for people with sensitive skin or certain skin problems like eczema, hives, contact dermatitis, or other types of dermatitis. Natural scents (fragrances) from flowers and plants, including certain essential oils, may cause skin sensitization or an adverse reaction, as they may contain substances that are irritating or sensitizing to the skin. In this case, being natural or organic does not guarantee that it will be gentle on your skin; in fact, it could cause allergic reactions or trigger a flare-up of a pre-existing condition. For use on babies or anyone else with sensitive skin, we always suggest fragrance-free skin care products.

References:

1. Fragrance: emerging health and environmental concerns, Flavor and Fragrance Magazine, 2002, Vol17(5), 361-371.

2. Fragrances of synthetic musk in human milk from the United States, About. Science. Technology, 2007, 41(11), 3815-3820

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