Children are being subjected to perfume and hair dye, while kids as young as six are getting temporary tattoos, risking serious skin issues, according to a new study
A new study has revealed that parents are applying bronzer, nail polish, and lip gloss on babies as young as six months old, leading to “blistering skin reactions”.
Infants are being subjected to perfume and hair dye, while six-year-old children are getting temporary tattoos, risking serious skin issues.
Dr Sharizan Abdul Ghaffar, a dermatologist at NHS Tayside and the senior author of the research, said doctors were “seeing more cases of allergic contact dermatitis, which is a red, itchy and sometimes blistering skin reaction, in children attending allergy patch-test clinics.”
The investigation spanned 12 months starting from January last year at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, examining more than 60 children and their parents.
Despite some children visiting for different medical concerns, one-third were discovered to have had adverse reactions to products applied to their skin.
Remarkably, the study found that even six-month-old baby boys had eye make-up, foundation, and lip gloss put on their faces.
Among the youngest children, aged just one, three “atypical” items including blusher, bronzer, and nail polish were noted, with 31 out of the 64 participants having used them, predominantly girls, who accounted for 19 of the 31 cases. The research also considered the use of sunscreen and shower gel alongside makeup.
These alarming results were shared at the British Association of Dermatologists’ annual conference held in Glasgow this month.
A recent study, yet to be peer-reviewed but shared in the British Journal of Dermatology, has sparked a health alert for parents over children’s skincare.
Dr Deirdre Buckley, from the British Association of Dermatologists, has warned of the risks to babies skin.
She told The Mirror: “It is generally best to keep things simple when it comes to children’s skin care, and only use products that are necessary. Personal hygiene products like toothpaste and shampoo need to be used even in young children. Nappy rash and rough dry skin can be treated with petroleum jelly.
“There is no reason for infants and children to come into deliberate contact with items such as make-up, hair dye, perfume, and nail polish. Some of the active ingredients in these products could cause adverse reactions including irritation and allergic contact dermatitis.
“Such reactions can occur in children with normal skin or those with pre-existing conditions, such as eczema. Fragrance allergy can be seen in infants and in small children.
“Babies and children have thinner skin than adults and absorb substances more easily, so they are more likely to be irritated by cosmetic products than an adult.
“The skin of small children and infants should be protected from sun exposure. Using products that are not suitable for children’s skin, like anti-ageing products, is inappropriate.”