2023-04-21 08:41:40
The said “less is more” It must be taken literally during the first days of the baby’s life, when the most appropriate product for skin care is plain water. Newborns have a whitish and somewhat greasy natural protective layer all over their bodies called Vernix Caseoso, a fatty layer that contains epithelial cells and oily secretions from the baby’s own sebaceous glands. This film protects the baby’s skin during pregnancy from the humidity of the amniotic fluid, as well as possible chafing and bacteria.
At birth, many doctors recommend not cleaning this protective layer with soap, but rather washing the baby with lukewarm water with extreme care to remove traces of blood, then carefully massaging this layer and allowing it to be absorbed carefully, leaving the Vernix intact. After the first month of life, their care needs change as they get older. The specific products to care for the skin of babies are those for cleaning, moisturizing and protecting the skin. There are more useful, more necessary products, and others that are more superfluous, but you must always try to use the specific ones for each case.
Shampoo
The use of shampoo in babies is determined by the amount of hair they have and how oily or dry it is. Most babies do not need a specific product until the first year of life, but in the case of using it, it is ideal that it be soft. The most suitable are those that do not contain artificial fragrances, artificial colors, irritating preservatives or allergens. Generally, on labels, preservatives appear as quaternium 15, imidazolidin urea and parabens, components that must be avoided.
It is also important avoid products containing triethanolamine and diethanolamine. These two products have recently been removed from the market as they interact with nitrites, forming cancer-causing nitrosamines that can quickly penetrate the skin. It is likely that they will be read on the labels with the name of TEA –sodium lauryl sulfate or cocamide-DEA.
The most effective and recommended shampoos are those that contain citrus seed extracts, phenoxyethanol or vitamins A, C and E, also known as retinyl palmitate, ascorbic acid and alpha-tocopherol as preservatives.
In babies, the appearance of the so-called ‘cradle cap’ is common, which has the appearance of fatty scales and usually appears on the head, although it can also appear on all parts of the body. To eliminate it, you can use a mild shampoo and a brush with soft nylon bristles, natural ones are not recommended as they tend to accumulate bacteria. It is not necessary to remove it in one wash, but it can be done progressively. And, although the causes of its appearance are not known, it seems that excess oil production has something to do with it. However, it is not an infection and does not cause itching or discomfort. Some specific baby shampoos contain a bit of salicylic acid to remove it more easily. M.T.T.(SyM)
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