According to Dr Liew Hui Min, a fully accredited Specialist Consultant in Dermatology with the Ministry of Health in Singapore and the General Medical Council (UK), who specialises in paediatric dermatology, seborrheic dermatitis and atopic dermatitis are very common in babies.
In other words, skin conditions such as eczema and cradle cap are becoming more common in our precious babies. Angry red patches can appear on our babies’ skin mere months after birth and it is one of the first signs to alert us to our child’s condition.
Eczema TRIGGERS and what you can do
Dr Liew emphasises that “using suitable moisturiser is important. It is important parents to purchase a fragrance-free moisturiser that is affordable so that sufficient amount is applied onto the baby’s skin to prevent these skin conditions. In seborrheic dermatitis, the choice of moisturiser is important, it shouldn’t be too greasy and there are specific moisturisers for this skin condition.”
Eczema in babies could be a result of environmental factors. Unfortunately, Singapore’s hot and humid weather can’t exactly be changed. What you can do is to reduce the amount of dust mites, pollen, mould and pet fur in your home. Keep your baby cool because sweat is also a factor that irritates the skin.
Another major factor is the irritants found in your baby’s soap, shampoo and even detergent! Dr Liew advises, ‘Fragrance is considered a contact allergen which can irritate and may also cause allergy contact dermatitis’, causing your baby’s sensitive skin to develop those red, crusty patches we want to avoid. We suggest swapping out these potentially harmful products with fragrance-free alternatives.
Rebecca’s story
Mother of two, Rebecca and her husband, James McLeod, were extremely concerned about the immense amount of chemicals found in our daily skin care products. Working at OECD – Organisation for Economic and Co-Operative Development opened her eyes to how these harsh chemicals could subtly affect us.
With the birth of her first baby, her desire for an organic option to protect her baby’s fragile skin kickstarted the Made4Baby brand, one that is made from pure resources and safe to be used from birth.
She wanted all moms like her to feel secure in the knowledge that their babies are using the most healthy and safe option for their skin. She uses pure natural resources from New Zealand, even the water sourced from the famous One Tree Hill Natural Spring!
No harsh detergents, no petrochemicals, no artificial fragrances, no parabens
Typically…
Baby care products we see in the market have TONS of chemicals such as preservatives, artificial fragrances, and foaming agents. These causes dryness, chafing and rashes in a baby’s delicate skin. Baby’s need products without these harsh components.
For babies, less is more
- There is no need to bathe your baby too often as this dries their skin and makes them more vulnerable to eczema and rashes.
- Go fragrance-free! One of the strongest irritants to a baby’s skin is the prevalence of artificial fragrances. Rebecca’s brand, Made4Baby, has a fragrance-free range that we recommend to babies and kids with sensitive skin such as eczema and dry skin.
A safer choice for your baby
If you want to find out more about Made4Baby’s natural skincare products, head over to their website at https://www.made4baby.co.nz
Dr Liew Hui Min, Specialist Consultant in Dermatology
SOG – HM Liew Skin and Laser Clinic at Gleneagles Medical Centre
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Enjoy 15% off any Made4Baby products on https://wowmom.com.sg.
Enter “M4B15” at checkout. Offer is valid till 30 September.
Moving forward
Not all of our babies’ skin conditions can be prevented and there is a limit to what we can do to help. However, we can do our best to care for our babies’ sensitive skin in a way that’s within our means. Clean environments, consulting the doctors, organic baby care products…
Small changes can have a large impact, so start now.
