AskMeDoctor! S3 Ep18: Tips for Families: Choosing Safer Personal Care Products For Children

As we bathe every day to stay clean, have you ever thought that the personal care products that both you and your children are using might be harmful? If that is the case, it is time for you to learn about the ingredients that you should avoid in personal care products. With this, you do not only protect your children from skin conditions, you can even moisturise your children's skin. In this episode of the third season of AskMeDoctor!, we are here with Dr JoAnn Rajah, a paediatrician from FirstStep Child Specialist Clinic. We are going to walk you through some common skin problems suffered by children and how you can protect your children's skin with suitable bath products. Q1: What are some of the most common skin problems that you usually see in children? Dr JoAnn Rajah: Some of the common skin conditions among children include eczema, allergic contact dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. Some might also suffer from diaper rash, dry skin and bacterial, viral or fungal infection. Speaking of children developing these skin conditions, skin products actually play a role to some extent. Here's why: Certain fragrances in skincare products are one of the main causes leading to allergic contact dermatitis. Consequently, a child who suffers from allergic contact dermatitis can develop red, itchy and blistered skin at the point of contacting with the skincare product. Q2: What is the first step for parents in selecting bath products for their kids? Opting for combination products can be a great choice for children who have just started the process of showering. (Image credit: Canva) Dr JoAnn Rajah: For your reference, you can adhere to the following steps during your purchase of any personal care or bath products for your kids. Step 1: Check your children's skin conditions As parents, we should first determine if our children have any underlying skin conditions such as dry skin, eczema or sensitive skin. Step 2: Choose safe and gentle products for kids Besides taking extra care for children who suffer from underlying skin conditions, we should opt for personal care products that are free from chemicals for every child. If you are uncertain of which chemical to avoid, read on where we would cover you with a detailed section of harmful ingredients present in your children's personal care products. Step 3: Go for fewer products As opposed to the variety of personal care products available in the market, it is great to actually opt for combination products or 2 in 1 products like head to toe in bathing your child. This is in fact, easier for both you and your child in the beginning stages of showering. On top of this, you can actually limit the exposure of your child's skin to the potentially harmful chemicals in the products by using fewer products. Sometimes, less is really more! Then, as our children become more independent and aware of the showering process, you can then gradually introduce them to specific personal care products such as shampoos and body bath gels. Q3: What are some harmful ingredients that parents should avoid? Though coloured bath gels might look attractive to your children, it is detrimental to them. (Image credit: Canva) Dr JoAnn Rajah: One of the harmful ingredients to avoid in personal care products includes Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS). Though it is a cleansing and foaming agent, it would irritate the skin of our children who suffer from underlying skin conditions. We should also avoid Parabens, a common preservative used in preserving the shelf life of cosmetic products. This is due to some issues raised whether parabens could cause certain health conditions and disrupt hormones in the body. The list does not stop here. We should avoid Triclosan too. Though Triclosan has been added to many consumer products to reduce or prevent bacterial contamination, there have been concerns of the potential health risks caused. Here's why. It is worth worrying that using triclosan in skincare products might lead to the development of antibiotic-resistant germs. While taking notes on these chemicals, we should refrain from using soap-based products with our children too. They do not only dry out our child’s skin, but they might also irritate and aggravate the skin of children with sensitive or dry skin. Lastly, do try to avoid personal care products with colourants and perfumes. These are just meant to enhance the appearance and the scent of the products. With the knowledge that you have just learnt about harmful ingredients, try to pay more attention to the product descriptions before buying them. Q4: What kind of personal care products can parents choose for their children? Your child can enjoy a wonderful bath time with products that are gentle and free from chemicals. (Image credit: Canva) Dr JoAnn Rajah: Always look out for bath products that have been dermatologically tested to be mild and gentle to the skin. As our children's skin is more fragile than us, try to purchase products that come with the following features: dermatologically tested to be mild and gentle to the skin closer to our natural skin pH (close to 5 and 6) free from triclosan soap and colourant free Learn how to transition your little one from showers to baths smoothly with our article. Q5: Are there any other ways for parents to protect their children? Help your children to stay clean and safe with consistent baths and dermatologically-tested products. (Image credit: Canva) Dr JoAnn Rajah: In order to reduce the spread of bacteria and viruses, both parents and children should always practise the recommended SOPs such as washing hands regularly and taking a bath upon returning home. On top of this, it is always great to do some research on the ingredients of your children's personal care products. As mentioned before, avoid harmful ingredients in your children's bath products. Always remember that our children's skin is different as compared to our skin. You can also read through honest reviews about each product to ease you through the process of choosing suitable personal care products for your children. https://youtu.be/8Y0iREpVIdI Stay Clean With Hydrated Skin Using The Follow Me Anti-Bacterial Kids Head to Toe Wash Image credit: Follow Me As we know that most children come with smooth and naturally-glowing skin, it is then our responsibility as parents, to help them to protect their delicate skin. The easiest way would be to use suitable personal care products during their bath time. While it helps to protect your children from harmful bacteria up to 99.99%, the Follow Me Antibacterial Kids Head To Toe wash is also dermatologically tested to be mild and gentle to their skin. What's more? Your children will never have to suffer from dry and itchy skin as it is free from skin-irritating and harmful chemicals like triclosan, parabens and colourants. We hope this sharing by Dr JoAnn Rajah is beneficial for you and your little ones. For more information about pregnancy, child care essentials and parenting from our group of experts, stay tuned to our next episode of AskMeDoctor!. Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner. 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