The cosmetologist spoke about the dangers of using care cosmetics for children

Excessive baby skin care can lead to long-term problems. On April 3, Rita Shaikhalieva, cosmetologist, dermatologist, chief physician of the Romanov Center for Health and Beauty, assistant professor of the Department of FGBI DPO TSMA, told Izvestia about how to properly care for children's skin and why it is worth avoiding the use of strong cosmetics at an early age.

As the expert noted, the skin of children differs significantly from the skin of adults. It is 3-5 times thinner, loses moisture faster, and its pH, which is just forming, makes children's skin more vulnerable to external influences. Therefore, any cosmetic products, especially those that are used without medical indications, can disrupt the normal processes of skin protection.

"Regular use of cosmetics unnecessarily can interfere with the natural formation of the skin barrier. The child's own skin's ability to retain moisture and protect itself from external factors decreases. In the future, this may be manifested by increased skin reactivity, a tendency to dryness, irritation, allergic reactions, as well as the formation of chronic dermatoses," the doctor noted.

In addition, too early training in multi-stage skin care creates a false impression of the "necessity" of such procedures. In fact, healthy children's skin usually does not need frequent external interventions, the doctor added.

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According to the expert, some cosmetics, such as retinoids, acids, alcohols and aggressive surfactants, can cause significant harm. For example, retinoids, which are often used to treat skin in adults, can excessively thin children's skin and cause severe irritation. Regular use of such products can lead to microinflammations, which eventually disrupt the structure of the skin and increase its sensitivity. It can also contribute to the development of chronic inflammation, including atopic dermatitis.

As the doctor emphasized, proper care for children's skin is taking care of its natural defense mechanisms. A few simple rules must be followed: avoid overloading the skin with products, limit the use of soaps and cleansers (no more than once a day), maintain normal indoor humidity, protect the skin from ultraviolet radiation and avoid overheating or excessive wrapping.

For most children, basic care is sufficient, including gentle cleansing with a neutral pH and moisturizing with light creams that do not contain active ingredients. If the child has skin problems, such as dryness or dermatoses, the care should be selected individually with the participation of a doctor.

"Viral videos where a lot of drugs are applied to babies are not related to medical recommendations. When choosing, it is important to focus on evidence—based criteria," the doctor noted.

When choosing baby skin care products, it is important to focus on several criteria. You should choose products labeled "for newborns" or "0+", paying attention to the composition: the fewer the components, the lower the risk of allergic reactions. It is also important that the product does not contain irritating substances such as alcohol, acids or strong perfumes. Funds that have passed clinical trials and dermatological control should be a priority, Shaikhalieva concluded.

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Alexandra Kamyshnikova, a cosmetologist at the Geltek Aesthetic Medicine clinic, said on March 20 that Russians continue to use winter thick creams, although self-care should be changed in the spring. According to her, it's worth switching to softer textures in the spring.

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