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| Baby Wipes, Creams & Powders |
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| CHEMICALS CONTAINED: |
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Conventional baby wipes, creams, and powders may contain tocopheryl acetate, mineral oil, talc, parabens for preservatives, propylene glycol, several different ingredients that are classified as “toxic,” and synthetic fragrances.
Synthetic fragrances are much less expensive than natural ones, and so are most commonly used. Most have not been tested for safety, or have undergone only minimal testing. Each individual fragrance may be made from up to 4,000 different chemical components. The chemical formulas of fragrances are considered trade secrets and so may be listed on labels only as “fragrance.” Most synthetic dyes and fragrances are made from petroleum by-products or coal tars (a carcinogenic liquid or semi-liquid from bituminous coal). Coal tars can contain benzene, xylene, naphthalene, phenol and creosol. |
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| HEALTH CONCERNS: |
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There are several ingredients in conventional baby wipes and creams that may be linked to cancer, hormone disruption, reproductive toxicity, and skin irritation.
Tocopheryl acetate can instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin.
Mineral oil can be drying to the skin and offers no nutritive value.
Talc may be contaminated with or breaks down into chemicals that are linked with cancer. It is also a respiratory toxicant.
Parabens (methyl, propyl, butyl, ethyl) may cause skin rashes and allergic reactions. Studies have shown that they are weakly estrongenic and can be absorbed through the skin. One study found parabens in tissue samples from human breast tumors.
Propylene glycol may be made from vegetable glycerin and grain alcohol, both of which are natural and relatively safe, but the propylene glycol that is often in conventional products is petroleum-based and may cause skin irritation, hives, and eczema. It may also be hazardous to the reproductive system, and can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat.
Synthetic fragrances may cause a wide range of acute and chronic effects such as respiratory irritation, headache, sneezing, watery eyes, other allergic symptoms, sensitization, nervous system depression and skin irritation. |
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| TIPS & ALTERNATIVES: |
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Look for baby wipes and creams that do not contain parabens, propylene glycol, or fragrances.
There are natural baby wipes on the market that contain minimal ingredients – not much more than water, natural preservatives (like Vitamin E), and aloe vera.
When buying diaper cream, look for products that contain similar ingredients as the lotions we recommend – beeswax, olive oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, etc.
For baby powder, look for products that use corn starch, natural clays, crushed flowers, or baking soda. Or you can just simply use straight cornstarch and skip the “powders” all together. |
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