Caring for Your Child’s Skin Naturally

We are lead to believe that our children require all sorts of products to keep their skin and hair clean, when in actual fact a couple of basic items are all you need.  Using gentle, natural products is an ideal way to avoid the harsh chemicals and synthetic perfumes found in the majority of products intended for children.  

Babies do not really need any soap or detergents (body wash, bubble bath) to clean their delicate skin.  These products can easily upset the skins natural pH balance, and cause dryness, itching, skin rashes and allergies. Nor do they need moisturisers.  Commercial Baby Oil is a mineral oil made from crude petrol (!).  It forms a layer over the skin which actually stops the skin breathing, and inhibits natural cell growth.  It is also dangerous when accidentally ingested as it contains hydrocarbons which can stop the heart and lungs working.  In the US Baby Oil is now required to have a child-proof lid. When you think of how little kids suck their hands and swallow bath water, this is a really good reason to use a safe vegetable oil instead.

Vegetable oils such as sweet almond oil, coconut oil or grapeseed oil are fantastic natural cleansers.  Use a few drops in the bath with a facecloth or sea sponge (available at chemists and health food stores) to gently cleanse and protect baby’s skin.  As the kids get older, goats milk soap is great as it doesn’t dry the skin out like regular soaps. If you really want to use a body wash or bubble bath, make sure it is free from SLS (Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulphate) and Paraben preservatives.

Calendula Baby Oil is an alternative to plain vegetable oil (available online or at health food stores).  Calendula has the added benefit of being anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and calming to the skin.  It is wonderful for preventing and healing any skin rashes, nappy rash, dry skin and eczema.  You can use it to help lift and prevent cradle cap by massaging gently onto the scalp.

Nappy Change time is an easy place to introduce natural options to your routine.  When my kids were babies I bought cheap chux-style wipes (from Aldi) and used them in in a bowl of warm water with a few drops of calendula oil to make my own disposable wipes. Not only is it much cheaper, it prevents nappy rash, and you avoid the chemicals that some nappy wipes contain.

Talcum powder is a product that is best avoided.  It has been linked in a number of studies with ovarian cancer (when used in the genital area of girls) and respiratory disorders. A great alternative is cornflour.  Just fill a large salt shaker and away you go!

Essential Oils can be used in very dilute amounts for children to assist with a variety of skin complaints.  They should never be used internally, or undiluted. Oils which are safe to use on babies and small children are mandarin, lavender and chamomile.  A maximum of 5 drops of essential oil mixed into 50ml vegetable carrier oil (such as sweet almond oil) is a safe guide.

This is a great blend to use as a massage oil, or in the bath (add 1 tsp of prepared mix to the bath):

50ml sweet almond oil

2 drops lavender essential oil*

2 drops roman chamomile essential oil*

*It is important to use pure essential oils, never fragrant oils which are synthetic

This will assist with encouraging sleep, and help to calm children down. It relieves dry and itchy skin and rashes, and is a good way to prevent nappy rash, as the oils are not only soothing but naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. For colic, mix a tsp of the above mix in a bowl of warm water, soak a facecloth and use as a compress around baby’s tummy.  

A lovely bath routine is to make up a pot of chamomile tea and add it to your child’s bathwater (before they get in of course!).  This is a very calming herbal bath, and will benefit babies skin, mood and digestion.

What’s In Your Skincare Products?

With the rapidly escalating rates of cancer and allergies in the western world, a big question mark is being raised about the safety of some of the products most people use on a daily basis, from shampoo to deodorant to moisturisers.

Unlike the food industry, the cosmetic industry is not regulated by a body such as the American FDA (Food & Drug Administration).  The justification for this being ‘the skin is a protective barrier that doesn’t absorb anything into the body’.  This is now proven to be wrong - think of how many medicines are applied via skin patches, not to mention allergy testing which is mostly done via skin prick testing.

With this knowledge, it is a good idea to be aware of what you are putting on your skin.  Pharmaceutical companies use a lot of potentially harmful ingredients in their products for the simple reason that they are cheap.  If you are wondering why the latest research into the health risks of these ingredients is not reported in the mainstream media – just think about who is paying for the ads in the glossy magazines!

Here is a list of just a few common ingredients that have potential health risks, and are best avoided:

SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate or Sodium Laureth Sulphate) is a foaming agent found in shampoo, soap, detergent, liquid cleansers, body washes and toothpaste. SLS can cause skin inflammation and drying, hair loss, dermatitis and eczema. It has been linked to immune system damage, and is a potential carcinogen. SLS can be stored in the liver, heart, lungs and brain.

Parabens are the most widely used preservatives in skincare products. They are a common cause of allergic reactions and rashes, especially in children and anyone prone eczema. They have been found to mimic oestrogen, which is a major breast cancer risk, and are linked with reduced fertility in men.  They may also affect a developing foetus when absorbed though a pregnant woman’s skin.

Mineral Oils are made from crude petrol and form the base of most baby oils and Sorbelene creams. They suffocate the skin by creating an oil film that stops the skin taking in oxygen. They are thought to be carcinogenic. (Pure Almond Oil or Grapeseed Oil are great alternatives)

Talc is used in talcum & baby powders and many cosmetics. Latest medical research has linked talc with ovarian cancer and lung disease. (Cornflour is a safe & effective alternative)

Propylene Glycol is an antifreeze solvent, found in brake and hydraulic fluid, paint, floor wax, and tobacco. It is also a common ingredient in almost every mainstream moisturiser, deodorant, shaving gel, conditioner, shampoo, toothpaste and is even in baby wipes. Propylene glycol causes dermatitis, kidney and liver damage and inhibits skin cell growth. It can be absorbed by the skin and is stored throughout the body.

It does seem scary that there are so many harmful chemicals out there, but natural alternatives are thankfully becoming much cheaper and easier to find.  All the major supermarkets and chemists now stock affordable, organic skincare and baby ranges, or you can find products online.  Just check the label first and you can rest easy!

For more information on skincare ingredients, check out  Campaign For Safe Cosmetics or find them on Facebook.