A Diaper Guide for Babies with Sensitive Skin
Did you know that a newborn’s skin is 20% to 30% thinner than an adult’s? This delicate barrier absorbs everything it touches, making the quest for the perfect diaper more than just a matter of convenience but also a matter of health.
Currently, safety regulations haven’t quite caught up with science. Even officials, such as KPDN Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh, have acknowledged that existing diaper standards contain “overlaps and gaps.”
Understanding Your Baby’s Sensitive Skin
Before choosing a brand, it’s important to identify what your baby’s skin is telling you. Common conditions include:
Dry skin: If your baby has flaky patches, their skin is losing moisture. The best defense is staying hydrated and using fragrance-free products to prevent further irritation.
Eczema: This appears as itchy, rough patches. It occurs when the skin lacks ceramides, causing it to lose water. Eczema is frequently triggered by harsh chemicals in everyday products.
Contact dermatitis: This is a red, itchy rash that flares up the moment your baby’s skin touches an irritant.
The Red Flag List: Ingredients to Avoid
To protect your baby, you need to look past the cute packaging and read the fine print. Here are top three common irritants to avoid:
- Fragrances
Synthetic fragrances are a leading cause of irritation. Studies done by National Eczema Association says 1% to 4% of the general population has a fragrance sensitivity. Fragrance can trigger allergic reactions such as asthma attacks, headaches, respiratory difficulties and contact dermatitis. Be wary of products marketed as ‘unscented’ because manufacturer may have added fragrances to mask the smell.
- PFAS (The ‘forever chemicals’)
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals that are nearly indestructible. Even at extremely low levels, these toxins pose significant health risks. Because they don’t’ break down, they can linger in the body and the environment indefinitely.
- Chlorine bleach
Manufacturers use chlorine bleaching to give diapers their bright white colour. Unfortunately, this process can emit toxic chemicals known as dioxins that cause severe skin irritation.
You shouldn’t have to be a chemist to buy a safe diaper. At MILK™, we’ve done the hard work for parents. We have proactively eliminated 728 harmful chemicals to ensure your baby stays comfortable, safe and rash-free.
