Skincare for Newborns
Scenario: The massage of newborns has
been practised since time immemorial. It is believed that massage
helps strength of muscles and bones. This wrong belief led to
mushrooming of tens of brands of baby oils and baby cosmetics. To the
contrary, in tropical countries, pediatricians have been observing
more and more allergic dermatitis and seborrhoeic dermatitis.
Fact: A multicentric review article on
neonatal skincare published Indian Pediatrics July 2010 issue clearly
states that neonatal skin should not be rubbed at all because of
loose connection between upper layer of skin (epidermis) and the
lower layer of skin (dermis), as friction can cause blisters. Oil
application on scalp can lead to blockage and hence swelling and
infection of natural oil glands (sebaceous glands) and lead to
seborrhoeic dermatitis. The crusty itchy deposit that you may have
noticed on an infant's head is a result of excessive oiling of
scalp. All baby soaps or shampoos are synthetic detergents,
disguised under the label 'syndets'. But the consumer should notice that they
claim only about having a pH matching that of human skin (balanced
pH). They don't at all mention allergenic potential of all the
chemicals in the ingredients.
For the consumer's interest, an MLA of
Maharashtra, many years ago, had admitted a single line PIL against a
big MNC asking “please tell us as to what is 'baby' in your
product”? (http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2005-03-16/news/27489620_1_fda-commissioner-the-fda-baby-product) Till today, there has been no answer. Recently
Maharashtra FDA terminated the license of a famous company as
carcinogens and allergens were found in its baby talc. (http://www.mumbaimirror.com/mumbai/others/Johnson-Johnsons-licence-for-cosmetics-cancelled/articleshow/19760664.cms). The aforementioned article in Indian Pediatrics concluded by cautioning against
the use of any synthetic detergents or baby oils. Only coconut oil is
recommended, that too, only in winter, never in hot and humid weather
(which prevails for a long time in a large part of our country). It
is sad that even this very scientific article was supported by a
grant from Johnson and Johnson. No funding was received for writing
this blogpost though!
In summary, neonates need to be bathed
(splashed) only with plain clean water. No rubbing should be done on
skin. Wrap and dry them in plain cotton sheets (preferable over rough
towels). No soap, detergent, talc or oil should ever be used during
first couple of months. Skin health is maintained by internal
nutrition, i.e. Exclusive breastfeeding for first six months and thereafter adequate complementary feeding with home cooked foods.
Benefit of “kinesthetic stimulation” can be achieved by gently
pressing leg and arm muscles while feeding.
Baby oils, talc, soaps and other
cosmetic products are wasteful expenditure worth thousands of rupees.
They cause discomfort to the newborn and take another couple of
thousand rupees for treatment, all of which is completely avoidable.
