Gaga trend baby cosmetics on social media
Facial care for toddlers? Yes, there really is
They press, stroke and knead – mothers present on Tiktok how they want to improve their babies’ skin. That can damage the skin, says Valérie Enderlin. The dermatologist knows which products are really necessary for baby skin.
Published: 13 minutes ago
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Ice cream for swollen cheeks? The little girl looks very skeptical.
The mother cleans her little daughter’s face with a wet cotton pad. Then she takes so-called “Ice Globes” – ice-cold balls made of glass or plastic – and rolls them from the corners of her mouth over her cheeks to her daughter’s ears. This is said to be soothing and reduce swelling. But the skin is pulled in all directions and the little girl looks anything but relaxed.
Videos are piling up on Tiktok in which mothers show step by step how to care for the skin of their babies and toddlers. The pushing, stroking and pulling seems rough and almost like an ordeal. Valérie Enderlin, head of the Decamed skin and laser center in Zurich, also finds the treatments nonsensical. “Especially the massage with ice is exaggerated,” says the doctor. “Cold objects can relieve sore spots in the mouth when teething, but they’re overkill on the skin.”
Too many products damage the skin barrier
What the mothers may mean well is rather counterproductive: Since the skin of babies and children is much thinner than that of adults, intensive and excessive facial care can even be harmful to the skin’s protective barrier – this is the top layer of the epidermis, according to the expert. which fights bad bacteria or allergens like a natural protection.
“Basically, healthy baby skin does not need any special treatment,” says Enderlin. The face does not have to be cleaned with cotton pads and any products.
Proper baby care is simple
The expert recommends a lukewarm bath with a little almond oil every other day. Creaming is not absolutely necessary. Except for children who are prone to skin diseases such as eczema. “In winter, it also makes sense to protect your cheeks with a fat cream before long walks in the cold air.” Creams with ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin, zinc or almond oil are well tolerated.
Certain additives such as antibacterial substances or certain preservatives should be avoided, says the dermatologist. “Even perfumed creams are unnecessary and can irritate the skin or even trigger allergies.” So when it comes to caring for baby and children’s skin, less is definitely more.