A growing number of studies question the safety of chemicals in skin care products. Two chemicals of concern--paraben preservatives, and phthalates, found in synthetic fragrance--are used extensively in baby lotions. Both parabens and phthalates are easily absorbed through thin infant skin. A study published in the Journal of Pediatrics found measurable levels of phthalates in the urine of 81% of the infants tested. The highest levels were found in babies whose caregivers used scented shampoos and lotions to bathe and moisturize their skin.
Phthalates adversely affect the developing hormonal system. They have been linked to early puberty in girls and genital defects in boys, and recently to insulin resistance and obesity.
Parabens are endocrine disruptors--chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of hormones that control growth and reproduction in people and animals. It is now known that parabens accumulate in fatty tissue such as breast tissue, where they have been found in breast cancer tumors.
Why are parabens and phthalates used in baby lotions?
Lotions and creams contain high percentages of water and must be preserved to prevent bacterial contamination. Parabens--methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isoparaben, and butylparaben--are very effective at preventing growth of bacteria, fungus and molds. Discovered in the 1930s, they are still used in hundreds of products despite numerous studies linking them to health problems and cancer. Today, safer alternatives exist.
Manufacturers add synthetic fragrance to mask the smell of other ingredients in a product. Phthalates are chemical "plasticizers," used to help the fragrance blend with other lotion ingredients and help the smell last longer.
Are natural fragrances safe for infants?
Natural fragrances made from essential oils don't contain phthalates. However, long-term effects of daily essential oil use haven't been studied. There is concern that some essential oils, particularly lavender, may affect a baby's immature endocrine system. And any essential oil may cause contact sensitivity or an allergic reaction on an infant's sensitive skin.
Fragrance-free baby oil--the safest way to moisturize your baby's skin
You can avoid exposing your baby to preservatives and fragrances by using a fragrance-free, vegetable-oil-based baby oil instead of a lotion or cream. Baby oil contains no water, so it doesn't need the host of preservatives, emulsifiers and other chemicals required in a water-based product.
But it's important to read the ingredients. Drugstore baby oils are made entirely from mineral oil--distilled from petroleum as a by-product of gasoline refining--and synthetic fragrance.
Unlike mineral oil, natural vegetable oils provide important fat-soluble vitamins and fatty acids that help your baby's skin stay healthy. Look for sunflower oil or safflower oil--both high in vitamin E and considered excellent for preventing water loss in infant skin--in a baby oil's ingredient list. In several studies, sunflower oil has been shown to reduce bacterial infections in premature infants. A high-quality oil should also contain antioxidants such as vitamin C and vitamin E, to keep the oil from becoming rancid. It's a safe and effective way to keep your baby's skin soft and moisturized, without chemicals.
References
1. "Phthalates Overview." Environment California. http://www.environmentcalifornia.org/environmental-health/stop-toxic-toys/phthalates-overview.
2. Stahlhut, R, van Wijngaarden, E, Dye, T et al: Concentrations of Urinary Phthalate Metabolites Are Associated with Increased Waist Circumference and Insulin Resistance in Adult U.S. Males. Environ Health Perspect. 2007;115(6):876-882. On Medscape.com http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/558240
3. Sathyanarayana, S, Karr, CJ, Lozano, P et al: Baby care products: possible sources of infant phthalate exposure. Pediatrics. 2008 Feb;121(2):e260-8. Full text at http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/121/2/e260
4. Darmstadt GL, Badrawi N, Law PA et al: Topically applied sunflower seed oil prevents invasive bacterial infections in preterm infants in Egypt. A randomized, controlled clinical trial. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, 2004;23:719-725. [http://www.popline.org/docs/1508/273776.html].
