Skincare Products Are More Than Skin Deep - Part 1: Fragrances

The skin is the largest organ in our bodies. Ingredients in products that are applied to its surface may penetrate through the small blood vessels located just below, eventually circulating through the entire body. Just as vitamins and minerals can enter our bodies in this way, so too can harmful materials. Skincare products are something most people use daily, which magnifies the potential for exposure to any harmful ingredients. This is especially true for children; the ratio of their skin surface area to their body volume is higher than for adults, meaning any harmful chemical applied to the skin, once inside the body, will have a more significant impact.

As parents, we want our kids to live happy, healthy, worry-free lives. To most moms, this means getting the best of everything for their little angels. When it comes to skin-protection, cleaning, and caring, this means using premium baby skincare products.

What separates a premium skincare product from the rest? The primary definition would be of a product that contains only healthy and safe ingredients and is, therefore, free of any skin irritants or harmful ingredients. Some of these potential irritants, allergens, or safety-concerning chemicals, which appear quite frequently in several popular baby skincare products currently on the market, include the following:

• Fragrances (Perfumes)

• MI/MCI

• Parabens

• SLS/SLES

• Formaldehyde

• Phthalates

In part one of this series, our discussion focuses on fragrances.

Why should premium baby skincare products be fragrance (perfume) free?

Fragrance formulas are considered trade secrets, and their components are not revealed on labels. Fragrance has been increasingly cited as a trigger in health conditions such as asthma, allergies, and migraine headaches [ref1,2,3,4]. Furthermore, some fragrance materials have been found to accumulate in adipose tissue and are present in breast milk [ref5]. Fragrance-containing products (toiletries, skincare, household, laundry products, or certain packaging materials, etc.) are one of the sources of chemicals that have a diverse spectrum of health effects, such as endocrine disruption.  Endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) are chemicals that can alter hormonal signaling and can potentially affect nervous and reproductive system development. They may also affect our metabolism and are linked to cancer [ref6].

Just having a "synthetic fragrance-free" product may not be enough for those with sensitive skin or certain skin disorders such as eczema or hives. Natural fragrances from flowers and plants, including certain essential oils, could potentially lead to skin sensitization or an adverse reaction, as they may contain skin irritants or skin sensitizing materials. In this case, being natural or organic does not guarantee it's gentle on your skin; in fact, it could cause allergic reactions or trigger a flare-up of a preexisting condition. For use on babies or anyone else with sensitive skin, we always suggest fragrance-free skincare products.

References:

1. Fragrance: emerging health and environmental concerns, Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 2002, Vol17 (5), 361-371.

2.Increased release of histamine in patients with respiratory symptoms related to perfume, Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 2007, Vol 37 (11), 1676-1680.

3. New contact allergens, Curr Opin Allergy Clin. Immunol. 2007, 7(5), 409-412.

4. Fragrances and health, Environ. Health Perspect., 1999, 107(7), A340.

5. Synthetic Musk Fragrances in Human Milk from the United States, Environ. Sci. Technol., 2007, 41 (11), 3815–3820

6. Cancer and developmental exposure to endocrine disruptors, Environ Health Perspect. Apr 2003; 111(4): 389–394.