Which treatment should I choose for my child who is allergic to everything?

July 08, 2021

Very often, for allergic children, avoiding food allergens is not enough. Did you know that allergens are also hidden in lotions, creams, and washing products? Allergens are responsible for many skin reactions. We'll give you some tips to help you choose the right skincare product for your little allergic rascals.

First of all, what is a skin allergy?

A skin allergy is not a minor ailment; when a child has an allergy, it can show through very diverse pathological signs. From contact eczema, erythema, dermatitis, dermatosis, or, in the most severe cases, asthma or anaphylactic shock.

Technically, it is a clinical manifestation linked to an inappropriate immune response in the presence of an allergen.

To put it simply, an allergen, whether natural or synthetic, in shower gel or cream, penetrates the stratum corneum and is recognized by antibodies in the blood, which induces an immune response. Children's skin is ultra-thin compared to an adult's (article "The skin barrier of our children"). Allergens are more easily in contact with antibodies compared to an adult's immune system.

Many cosmetic substances that are part of our little rascal's daily life could be a source of allergy.

There are 26 known allergens in cosmetic regulations, as well as some preservatives, UV filters, and many essential oils.

5 Families of molecules in skincare to avoid for an allergic child.

The 26 known allergens

We can all be allergic to a particular substance, but for several years, we have known about some whose allergenic potential is particularly strong in cosmetics.

It is precisely with the aim of warning and protecting people sensitive to allergenic molecules that cosmetic regulations stipulate that 26 of them, derived from perfume, essential oils, and/or plant extracts, must be declared in the list of ingredients of a cosmetic product. As soon as they are present at more than 0.01% in rinse-off products (shower gel, shampoo, etc.) and more than 0.001% in leave-on products (lotion, cream, etc.), allergens are more often at the end of the ingredient list. The 3 most common and well-known among them are: Limonene, Linalool, and Benzyl alcohol.

Preservatives

In addition to these 26 'official' allergens, there are also powerful allergens in the preservative family. Such as methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and its cousin methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCIT) which are used to replace parabens. But, very quickly, dermatologists noticed that these are very powerful allergens, especially when mixing the two. In March 2014, the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS) banned MITs in rinse-off products.

There is also a preservative widely used in organic cosmetics, benzyl alcohol, which is itself an allergen (great).

Essential oils

It is forbidden to use essential oils for children under 7 years old. But we advise against using them before 18 years old. Essential oils are concentrated, ultra-powerful, and therapeutic natural compounds. But like all active substances, there are also harmful side effects. Essential oils are often photosensitizing, and their composition is often unstable. There is almost no essential oil without allergens. Essential oils and children, it's a big 'NO' for us.

Organic sunscreens

In other words, chemical sunscreens, especially benzophenone-1, 3 and 4. The benzophenone family are universal and effective sunscreens, but many people are allergic to benzophenone. Moreover, it is a molecule that is responsible for coral bleaching (1).

Sulfates

Yes, we don't like sulfates (see article) the sulfate family itself is not an allergen, but sulfates burn and disrupt the skin barrier of children and promote the penetration of allergens into the deeper layers of the skin. Flee as fast as you can!

If you have any questions, please feel free to send a message on our website or contact us by email at: coucou@lilikiwi.fr. We will be happy to answer you promptly!

Sources:
(1) Downs et al. Toxicopathological Effects of the Sunscreen UV Filter, Oxybenzone (Benzophenone-3), on Coral Planulae and Cultured Primary Cells and Its Environmental Contamination in Hawaii and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology volume 70, pages265–288 (2016)

July 08, 2021