Horrible nanny: Can adults use cosmetics for children?
It is believed that cosmetics created for children Safer and better: once the remedy helps the child, then it will help the adult, without causing any irritation. Is it really so, we understand together with the specialists: cosmetologist, dermatologist and venereologist of GMTClinic Clinic of German Medical Technologies Irina Kulakova, chief doctor of Dr. Shipkov’s Clinic and candidate of medical sciences, dermatovenerologist Maria Shirshakova.
Baby creams and shampoos
Any cosmetic product is designed to solve specific problems. For example, hoping to reduce wrinkles, swelling, or acne after using baby cream is a bad idea. Cosmetologist Irina Kulakova notes that children have a very active cellular metabolism, that is, cells are quickly updated. That is why the skin of the child is always gentle and smooth. However, its protective layer - a hydrolipidic film - is not fully formed at this age, which means that children's skin is very sensitive. For this reason, children's creams and soaps contain special substances (such as lanolin), which form a protective film.
For adult skin, these components are too dense, because its lipid film has already formed, so the need for additional protection disappears. Moreover, the double film, which is formed when applying baby cream to adult skin, often gives a "greenhouse effect": rashes, dermatitis or even demodex can appear on the face - microscopic mites that parasitize the sebaceous glands.
Of course, sometimes using baby cream is not prohibited, for example, if you want to soften very dry skin, and there is nothing else at hand, but this should not become a habit. The same rule - for baby milk for the body, soap and oil. Such tools will be "heavy" for adult skin, creating an extra protection. Adults should take care of body cosmetics taking into account the type of skin, so as not to disturb the lipid film and instead of the desired effect of velvet baby priests not to get dry and irritated skin.
Manufacturers of shampoos for children are trying to adapt the products to the soft, thin and fairly fluffy hair of the child, including oil and microelements to facilitate combing. An adult’s hair often has a different texture, so how to wash your hair with a child’s remedy is unlikely to work. In addition, the pH level (5.5-6) in children's shampoos is not always suitable for adults. If the hair, for example, is oily or colored, irritation and flaking of the scalp may appear or the effect of “dirty hair” will appear.
Children's toothpaste
The composition of children's pasta is significantly different from the adult. Doctor Vladimir Shipkov notes that children aged from zero to four years require paste, which will provide gentle cleansing of milk teeth and will not harm if swallowed. Although now there is evidence that for the best prevention of dental caries, children still need large doses of fluoride, most special pastes either do not contain fluorine, or contain it in small quantities. Such a paste will not provide a complete mineralization of enamel in an adult, and therefore, it will not protect against caries as well.
The abrasiveness of toothpastes (RDA) is also usually lower in children's products; good for sensitive teeth, but low-abrasive baby paste may not cope with the removal of dental plaque from an adult. When choosing a product, a lot of things should be taken into account: tooth sensitivity, predisposition to caries, gum condition; It is best to choose the most suitable together with the doctor. Baby pastes can be liked by those who do not like the traditional mint flavor, but now you can find adult products without mint, which will still do their tasks better than children’s. In addition, there are no components in the products for children (calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate, silicon dioxide), which contribute to a better cleansing of the teeth and the elimination of a greater number of microbes in the oral cavity during adulthood.
What tools can come up
First of all - bath foam and powder or diaper rash cream. Such cosmetics usually include herbal extracts (for example, chamomile), allowing to soothe and soften the skin - the main thing is that you do not have an allergy to them. In this case, in the foam, most likely, there will be no other potential allergens, including aromatic oils.
Wet wipes designed for children can also be used by adults - for example, to wipe hands when it is not possible to wash them. But removing their makeup is undesirable - it is better to use a special tool so as not to cause irritation of the mucous membrane of the eyes. At the same time, according to Maria Shirshakova, a dermatovenerologist, all products intended for children are hypoallergenic and undergo mandatory certification "Dermatological Control" - they do not contain dyes and surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate. Therefore, cosmetics for children, as well as children's washing powder may be relevant for allergies and people with atopy.
Cosmetics "for the whole family"
Experts agree that the funds "for the whole family" are a marketing ploy. Such lines are produced in order to save space on the shelves and reduce consumer spending. Products, as a rule, contain a certain average number of irritants - it is believed that this "compromise" should satisfy the needs of both children and adults. However, in practice, cosmetics "for the whole family" is useless: it does not irritate the skin, but does not give the result promised on the label.
Irina Kulakova explains that the skin condition and the need for certain care can be caused by age, sex (for women, skin is usually thinner and drier than men), seasonality (for example, in winter, preference is given to protective, nourishing creams, and in the summer - to opt for lighter textures, moisturizing fluids), so care products should be selected individually. Conscientious manufacturers of cosmetics take into account the age characteristics of the skin: the level of metabolism and the presence or absence of a hydrolipid film. For example, creams for mature skin almost always contain hyaluronic acid and retinol, accelerating cell metabolism, whereas children's skin does not need these preparations.
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