How Safe Is Your Baby's Bubble Bath?

The disturbing increases in childhood illnesses in America cannot be ignored! So what is causing so many of these illnesses? Research shows that everyday chemicals may be putting our children at risk. One factor is that children are being affected by their exposure to chemicals in many skin care products on the market. If you read the ingredients, you will find many baby bubble bath products contain potentially harmful ingredients. From head to toe, the skin is our body's largest organ and it is extremely sensitive to whatever it comes in contact with.  We tend to think of our skin only as a barrier, our body's first line of defense.  Yet it is to realize that our skin is also very "thirsty."  Whatever touches the skin is absorbed to some degree directly into our body.  Think about how medicines are now commonly given through the use of a patch applied directly to the skin. This simple external exposure allows the medicine to be taken in and produce its affect on our entire body. This example dramatically illustrates that what we put on our body inevitably ends up in our body!

What factors increase toxicity and how can parents protect children from harm? Our children’s skin is delicate and sensitive. One ingredient to avoid in skin care products is DEA or diethanolamine. DEA is currently being used in hundreds of home and personal care products including bubble baths, soaps, cosmetics, lotions, shampoos, conditioners and dishwashing and laundry detergents. DEA belongs to a class of chemicals known as alkanolamines and has been linked with kidney, liver, and other organ damage according to several government-funded research studies. DEA has been proven to cause cancer in rats when applied to the skin. Research has found that DEA has low acute toxicity but significant cumulative toxicity.  It cannot be easily excreted from the body but instead builds up in the fatty tissues of the liver, brain, kidneys, and spleen with repeated dermal exposure. The topical application of DEA collects in the tissues in rodents, which resulted in anemia, kidney degeneration, and nerve damage to the brain and spinal cord. Even more disturbing was that several animals died before the study ended.

What Parents Can Do

DEA is but one of many ingredients used in personal skin care products suspected of causing or contributing to cancer. So what can parents do? Start by investigating and educating yourself about the ingredients in the products that you use. ONLY purchase baby skin care products for your babies, children, as well as yourself that are “chemical free.” Choose not to wait for the FDA to provide you with scientific, conclusive proof that can only be obtained through lengthy studies. Do you want to risk your baby's or your health waiting for the conclusions of studies? Take self-responsibility! Be an active, aware and educated consumer that shops for products with SAFE ingredients in baby skin care products. Buy from green companies that are interested in people and the planet’s welfare.

Here’s to your family’s good health!

Diane Cuesta
Owner of SkinCareBaby.com