No loving parent
would use a stripping agent to bathe their baby, yet every day millions
of parents unknowingly do just that. They wash babies with products containing
sodium lauryl sulfate or sodium laureth sulfate, corrosive detergents found
in most shampoos, baby washes -- and car washes.
Commonly listed
in the first five ingredients of baby cleansing products, sodium lauryl
sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are synthetic chemical detergents that
clean by corrosion, are known skin irritants and dry skin by stripping
its protective lipids so it can’t regulate moisture.
Sodium lauryl
sulfates are proven to be primary skin irritants in clinical tests. In
higher concentrations, sodium lauryl sulfates remove grease spots from
garage floors and degrease vehicle engines.
“Skin is the
largest organ in the body, and babies especially need and deserve the most
gentle, natural touch, whether from a product or a parent,” says Eric Altschul,
CEO of BabySpa, a leader in natural baby care products designed to promote
wellness and bonding between parents and babies. “Sodium lauryl sulfate
can irritate skin, eyes and the urinary tract and contains trace amounts
of sulfuric acid.
Baby’s skin
is more sensitive than an adult’s; it reacts in a more pronounced way.
Sodium lauryl sulfate and even the less irritating but related sodium laureth
sulfate can cause rashes, dryness and irritated redness. They are not suitable
baby cleansers.”
A recent study
at the University of Georgia Medical College indicated that sodium lauryl
sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate penetrated into the eyes, brain, heart
and liver and exhibited long-term retention in tissues. The study also
indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate penetration kept young children’s
eyes from developing properly and caused cataract development in adults.
In her book, Beauty to Die For, Judi Vance mentions Japanese studies showing
that sodium lauryl sulfate damages the DNA (the genetic codes) within cells.
Some baby product
brands incorporate anti-irritant ingredients into their formulations to
reduce the irritation sensitivity potential of sodium lauryl sulfate, but
not the other side effects.
“These products
offer two ingredients: one to clean, the other to ensure that the first
is not irritating your child, or at least irritating him or her less. Why
would we as parents use such ingredient combinations?” asks Altschul.
What is the
alternative to using sodium lauryl sulfates?
Use natural
cleaning agents instead of detergent. Natural cleansing agents are the
purest cleansing choice next to using soapy herbs such as soapbark.
For example,
BabySpa cleansing products use coco-betaine, derived from coconut oil,
as an emulsifier (soap). It is non-irritating, extremely gentle and does
not strip and dry the skin. It rinses easily and truly does not cause tears.
Some “no-tear” formulas contain numbing chemicals that dull eye membrane
pain as harsher chemicals burn them. These products are not gentle; their
harshness is simply camouflaged.
“There is a
growing trend of Moms and Dads looking for better ingredients,” offers
Altschul. “Every parent can do better for their kids and buy better products.
As with healthy food, infant skin care is not a place to cut back.”
Obtaining knowledge
of ingredients can be an overwhelming task for parents, especially first-time
ones.
Many upscale
product lines contain the same potentially harmful ingredients used by
cheaper brands. “Upscale does not mean natural. Read and understand all
ingredient labels to ensure that you are buying the best,” emphasizes Altschul
who is dedicated to enhancing the lives of babies and promoting parental
bonds.
“Quite simply,
if you can’t understand or pronounce ingredients’ names, they are suspect
and you need to find out how they are derived,” continues Altschul. The
word “natural” is overused to inspire confidence and trust, but even many
naturally derived ingredients are harsh and can irritate baby or adult
skin.
Aligning with
a trustworthy baby product company whose principles and intent match parents’
simplifies ingredient research. Knowledgeable guidelines and explanations
like those detailed on BabySpa’s website, BabySpa.com, provide authoritative
answers to skin care ingredient questions. BabySpa’s ingredient philosophy
guarantees avoidance of harmful substances by ruling them out completely.
BabySpa provides
its customers consistent safety and purity levels by adhering to these
standards: BabySpa does not use harsh chemicals, detergents, alcohol, mineral
oils, petroleum products, sodium lauryl sulfates, nut derivatives, animal
products, artificial fragrances or colors. All formulas are hypoallergenic
and cruelty-free. Babyspa uses only the highest quality natural ingredients,
ensuring the purest and safest baby products available anywhere in the
market today. All formulations are developed in consultation with a leading
pediatric specialist.
“Parents who
buy BabySpa products typically have knowledge of ingredients found in other
baby products and understand the harm some of them can cause young children,”
Altschul continues.
“BabySpa encourages
consumers to compare ingredients with other brands. Many upscale brands
do not give real value, and most are not natural.”
Leslie Kehoe,
a mother from Thomaston, Maine was using a top baby product to bathe her
newborn son, yet she suffered from contact dermatitis on her hands resulting
from constant immersion in water. She tried BabySpa bath products when
she purchased a BabySpa gift set for a friend. “Well, my hands started
clearing up right away and my son’s skin looks and feels wonderful,” reports
Kehoe. “…I was using [an upscale natural brand] on his skin, but that ruined
my hands. Although it, too, is made of natural ingredients, it’s not nearly
as gentle as BabySpa.”
We don’t normally
think of shampoo, lotion, bubble bath or massage oil as life-threatening,
but new parents using BabySpa products may be spared tragic consequences.
BabySpa is the
only baby product company that will absolutely not use nut oils such as
almond, peanut or hazelnut in its formulations (coconuts and palm nuts
are in a different family). Surely these sound like safe, pure, natural
ingredients. Why are they banned? Many babies have severe if not lethal
allergic reactions to nuts yet children are not tested for such sensitivities
until they are two years old. Almond and hazelnut oils are present in most
upscale and natural brands.
“We just will
not include nut oils,” states Altschul. “We strive to offer parents baby
products they can trust to be formulated based on authoritative ingredient
knowledge.”
Mineral oil
and petroleum products clog pores so that skin cannot breathe, therefore
it cannot heal. Rashes and irritation worsen as irritation is locked in.
Skin needs to be clean so pores can release and heal. Mineral oil and petroleum
products are also dangerous to ingest and environmentally unfriendly.
Creating a better
world for children is Altschul’s passion.
BabySpa’s upscale
natural line of bath and skincare products promotes health and wellness
by using only the safest, most natural ingredients in all its baby soaps,
washes, bubbles, lotions, oils and gels. Committed to promoting parental
bonding, BabySpa also developed a collection of nurturing care products,
infant massage oils, a soothing CD, luxury textiles and creative gift sets
designed to please both baby and parent and promote the most important
skin treatment of all—the human touch.
“Touch stimulates
hormones such as those for growth while reducing stress,” says
Dr. Tiffany
Field, Director of the Touch Research Institute in Miami. Infant massage
promotes digestion, relieves colic and gas discomfort and calms hyperactivity.
Calmer babies relieve parental stress, too – especially when the whole
family gets a full night’s sleep!
“Skin to skin
contact is the single most important thing that parents can give to their
babies,” Altschul emphasizes. “Our products and suggestions encourage parents
to take the time to touch and massage their baby. It is calming, healthy
and promotes a deep bond between parent and child. The value of touch cannot
be over-emphasized.”
BabySpa is initiating
a national infant massage program to instruct and support parents seeking
the health and bonding offered by infant massage. “We are about more than
cleansing babies,” says Altschul. “We are dedicated to enhancing babies’
lives.”
BabySpa also
helps less fortunate babies by actively contributing to infant HIV charities.
“As a father
and an entrepreneur, I feel good about what we are doing at BabySpa,” Altschul
concludes. “At the end of the day, I know that BabySpa products and programs
are improving babies’ lives.”
BabySpa products
are distributed internationally in juvenile, specialty gift, natural food
stores, pharmacies and better groceries.
BabySpa products
are also available for individual consumer purchase at www.BabySpa.com.
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Information Provided By
Christie Communications Inc.
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