The skin of children is tender and vulnerable, it can actively resorb (carry inside the body, into the bloodstream) dangerous substances that have got on it. In addition, household chemicals and powder particles used for washing children’s clothes can be factors in the development of allergies or contact dermatitis. Especially carefully it is necessary to approach to washing of reusable diapers and loose leaves to them, as they are long and actively in contact with the skin. Therefore, parents should know about the rules of washing: what tools, and how to apply?
Allergy to powders: what is dangerous
Today, allergies are among the most common childhood diseases, it can have a wide variety of manifestations. Often, allergic manifestations provoke substances that are alien to the child’s body, which are contained in household chemicals and powders, conditioners for washing and softening linen. This is due to the fact that the components of the powder can enter the body, where they enter into reactions with plasma or tissue proteins, forming foreign and dangerous complexes for the body. They form the reactions of the immune system, and allergies occur. It can have not only local manifestations in the form of dermatitis and skin irritation in places of direct contact, but also reactions from the respiratory tract or eyes. This is because fragrance particles and incompletely rinsed products can be inhaled from the clothing surface, getting on the mucous eyes or the respiratory tract. As a result, the allergy manifests itself in the form of lacrimation or redness of the eyes, sneezing or coughing, and sometimes even attacks of bronchial asthma. But the most frequent variant of an allergy at contact to means for washing, becomes a dermatitis.
Development of dermatitis: features of the skin of children
Most often in places of contact of clothes, washed with potentially dangerous means, contact dermatitis occurs. It is redness and burning, itching of the skin, rashes in the form of small bubbles or even erosion, if it is a perineal zone that contacts a reusable diaper.
This phenomenon is associated with the characteristics of the baby’s skin:
It is very thin and easily permeable for creams, soaps and various other products related to cosmetics and household chemicals.
Skin covers are hydrophilic, because of what they easily form edema and inflammation, giving rise to dermatitis. Especially strong irritation is given by flavors or surfactants, chlorine compounds, perfumes and phosphates, sulfates and antimicrobial additives.
The lipid protective layer of the skin, protecting from irritation and aggression of microbes, under the influence of powders easily collapses, which leads to dryness, peeling and irritation.
Usually, dermatitis occurs in places where clothing is tightly fitting its friction, where the skin sweats more (rubber, seams, collars, a zone where a reusable diaper is attached). It begins with dryness or peeling, small bubbles that look like a chalk, or with redness and swelling of the skin. Without treatment, dermatitis can pass into more common and severe forms up to wetness and erosion, infection with dangerous microbes and suppuration.
Washing of children’s clothing: general rules
Up to three years, all children’s clothing is erased strictly apart from the adult, and only with a special powder for children. Such a powder should be certified, odorless and dangerous components, labeled “from birth” or “0+”. If the child is prone to allergies, his children’s clothing is washed with a soap solution with hypoallergenic properties. When washing, no additional components are used – bleaches, conditioners, softeners, etc. The amount of surfactants in powders for children’s clothing should not exceed 5%, and phosphates and various similar compounds should not be.
In addition, to wash children’s clothes was safer, you need to increase the number of rinses of linen so that all the powder is completely rinsed. For some situations, if these are infants, children with infectious diseases, worms or parasitosis (lice, scabies), baby clothes and bed linen are still boiling, and after washing they are ironed with a hot iron on both sides.
If clothes are washed for children suffering from allergies or dermatitis, in some cases (exacerbation, severe course of the disease), hand washing with child’s or household soap is shown, followed by a thorough rinse.
Separately about washing reusable nappies
The diaper contacts the baby’s skin for a long time, so its washing should be special. Inserts and the soiled diaper should be soaked, if they are heavily soiled, and then washed in intensive mode in hot water with the use of special tools or soap powder, mortar. You should not save on washing by picking up a whole mountain of soiled liners and diapers: urine and feces can be absorbed and eaten in the fabric, and in combination with detergents such particles form irritating skin connections. In addition, dried diapers are poorly washed, which shortens their shelf life. It is important to thoroughly rinse the product so that the powder or soap does not remain on the fabric. Sweating in the perineal zone, getting urine and stools can lead to irritation and allergies in the places where the diaper is snug.
What do parents need to know?
Washing children’s clothes – this is an important issue, do not neglect the safety of children. Often parents do not immediately recognize allergies to powders and detergents, taking phenomena on the skin for reactions to food or other substances. But there are signs that parents may suspect such symptoms – this irritation immediately after putting on clean things, reactions in the area of close contact with clothing, sneezing children after dressing, rubbing the body against the surface in an attempt to scratch the itchy skin. If parents doubt the origin of the allergy, it is necessary to temporarily remove the powder from use, following the reaction of the body to laundry washed with soap. This will help in identifying allergies. Often, after replacing the powder, parents immediately note the improvement or complete disappearance of all manifestations.
Image Credit: Kaz