Summary
– Baby creams: beware of toxic products
– How to take care of children’s and babies’ skin without risk?
This post takes a closer look at cosmetics for babies! There are many brands and ranges of cosmetic products dedicated to babies. But what exactly is the purpose of these products? Are they different from other skincare creams? Are they less toxic? Not so sure…
Baby creams: beware of toxic products
Chemical products and baby cosmetics
Read the labels of creams and other cosmetics carefully. You will see that many creams for babies contain the same toxic substances as other creams. For example:
– Parabens:
◦ they are endocrine disruptors (they disturb the proper functioning of hormones);
◦ they can thus cause cancers and infertility.
– Ethylene diamine tetra acetic:
◦ this substance contains heavy metals and is difficult for the body to eliminate;
◦ it is particularly harmful to the kidneys and fertility.
– Polyethylene glycol, obtained through extremely dangerous chemical manipulations and reactions.
– Bisphenol A, also an endocrine disruptor.
– Phthalates, carcinogenic and mutagenic.
– Butylated hydroxyanisole and butylated hydroxytoluene, endocrine disruptors.
– p-Phenylenediamine, carcinogenic.
– Phenoxyethanol, dangerous to:
◦ the nervous system;
◦ the hematopoietic system (blood system);
◦ a lesser extent, for fertility, etc.
Be careful with essential oils.
It is recommended to manufacturers to no longer incorporate in cosmetics for children under three years three natural products that are often hidden under the name “essential oils“:
– camphor;
– eucalyptol;
– menthol.
Indeed, these products’ neurotoxicity (toxicity for the nervous system) can be significant in young children.
Baby cosmetics: why is it dangerous for children?
Even at low doses, the toxic substances contained in cosmetics can have significant harmful effects, especially when exposure is permanent or repetitive:
– This is true for everyone, but babies and children are even more sensitive and vulnerable because they are still developing.
– Up to age 3, toddlers’ skin is incredibly fragile:
◦ it is thinner and more porous than that of an adult;
◦ thus, it absorbs everything and defends itself less well.
– In addition, regardless of age, the skin does not know how to detoxify: it eliminates toxic products poorly. Hence, it is the pathway that allows the most significant disruption of the body, compared to the respiratory or food routes.
Studies on these toxic substances link their increase in certain cancers, obesity, congenital disabilities, sterility, nervous system diseases, and allergies.
While many consider this definition too lax, as it only covers proven and suspected endocrine disruptors and not just suspected endocrine disruptors (the means of proof being too tricky), it will nevertheless allow certain active substances harmful to humans and animals to be withdrawn from the market. These criteria will serve as a basis for regulating cosmetics, biocides, packaging, and other industrial products.
How to care for the skin of children and babies without risk?
If you use ecological products (certified organic) for yourself, you can use them without risk for your baby:
– However, remain vigilant about the presence of essential oils unsuitable for babies:
◦ some essential oils such as lavender are not toxic for babies;
◦ others are not toxic as long as their presence does not exceed 1% of the content.
– Also, consider that babies, for the most part, do not need moisturizer.
– You can clean them:
◦ with water;
◦ with Aleppo soap;
– Finally, many brands specializing in the ecological field offer products that are really healthy and perfectly suited to the very young.
Please note: If you want to ensure that you are not making a mistake, go to an organic store, which will typically only sell truly ecological products. In supermarkets, you will often find only partially ecological products, which may contain some toxic substances.
