European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 31, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                S of infant skin care by Jane e. Brody the new York times Newborn babies Are routinely exposed to skin care products containing chemicals of questionable safety according to a study by a Loyola University paediatrician. Studying reports gathered from 45 mothers. Or. Frank Cetta the researcher concluded that the delicate skin of their newborns was anointed with an average of eight different skin care products containing 48 different identifiable chemicals at least 12 percent of which Are rated As Quot moderately Quot or Quot very Quot toxic. The babies exposure to hazardous chemicals May be far worse Cetta and his colleagues said in a report in the journal clinical paediatrics because not All ingredients in every product Are listed on the Label and some ingredients Are a mix of several compounds some of which May be harmful. In addition toxicologic information was lacking for 64 percent of the chemicals found in the products used. The problem was complicated by the fact that the diligent mothers bathed and shampooed their babies twice As often As recommended. Cetta noted that nearly All the products the mothers used were specifically marketed for use on babies though few had been tested for possible toxicity when applied to an infant s skin. Quot the safety and Efficacy of Over the counter Newborn skin care products Are not supported by Well controlled scientific studies Quot the researchers said in their report. In addition nearly half the mothers reported using baby powder with talc which has been repeatedly cited As potentially dangerous to infants. Babies can develop live threatening respiratory problems if they accidentally inhale powdered talc. In the first months of life babies Are especially susceptible to anything applied to their delicate skin which is thinner and therefore More permeable to substances applied to it. In addition babies have a larger surface area relative to their weight so that the dose of absorbed chemicals is proportionately larger than what an adult might experience. The ability of a baby s body to break Down potentially hazardous chemicals is less Well developed than an adults which could mean that some substances that Are harmless for grownups Are dangerous to the infants. The product does not even have to be applied directly to the skin to cause trouble. Babies have been poisoned because they absorbed certain chemicals in laundry products through their skin. Before they begin to crawl babies need to be bathed Only two or three times a week and shampooed once or twice a week said Cetta who specializes in paediatric emergency Medicine. Most of the time Only tepid water without soap is needed to clean a Young infant. If soap is used it should be As mild As possible not Ivory which is pure Strong soap like Dove or Neu Rogena. Better yet or. Nelson Lee Novic a dermatologist at the mount Sinai school of Medicine in new York recommends Lowilla cake a soap less soap or moisture sensitive skin Cleanser which can be used on the baby s body and Scalp. Babies Are Likely to be exposed to More than their fair share of skin care products in part because a Large percentage of them develop rashes irritations or skin infections in the first year of life. Rather than waiting a week or two to see if the rash goes away those who care for babies typically smear them with creams and lotions Sprinkle them with powders or Bathe them More often than usual in the Hope of relieving the eruptions. In the Loyola study Only 14 of the 35 parents whose babies had skin problems sought the advice of a doctor before treating the infant with an Over the counter product. Thirteen of the mothers said they responded to the problem by bathing the baby More often or by switching to another skin care product. Nearly half of Newborn babies have tiny White raised dots on their Cheeks nose Chin or forehead. The condition known As Milia is caused by hormones from the Mother that overstimulated the baby s Oil glands. Left alone these harmless pimples usually Clear up within three or four weeks said Novic who is the author of baby skin a guide to keeping children s skin healthy just published by Clarkson Potter. Newborn babies May also develop an oily pimply facial rash that resembles acne. It typically disappears on its own in a few weeks. Cradle Cap also common in the first months of life is a form of Dandruff a scaly crusty Yellowish Scalp rash. Although it does not seem to itch or otherwise bother the baby and typically clears on its own by the time the baby is 1, parents often want to hasten its disappearance. Try gently rubbing the baby s Scalp with baby Oil then covering it with a warm Towel for 15 minutes before using a soft Brush or Fine toothed comb to remove the Scales. If the problem is severe the Scalp can be shampooed with an anti Dandruff shampoo like Capitol or Sebu Lex Novick said. Take care to keep the shampoo out of the baby s eyes. About 3 percent of babies develop an intensely itchy rash called eczema often an allergic sensitivity. Red scaly patches sometimes with tiny blisters and oozing appear at first around the baby s face and later on the Torso arms and legs. Most children eventually outgrow it. Water and soap make this problem worse. So does sweating so be sure not to Over dress the baby. Bathe the baby less often using a mild soap followed by a moisturizing lotion like Lac Hydric. Do not however put Oil in the Bath water. Severe cases of eczema should be treated by a doctor. Sooner or later most babies develop diaper rash. It is typically caused by excess moisture infrequent changing of diapers is the usual initial culprit. Or. Alfred t. Lane an expert in paediatric dermatology from Rochester ., said the problem was often made worse by aggressive and frequent cleansing of the diaper area with detergents or soap. Among the Many causes of diaper rash Are friction allergic reactions blocked Oil glands and yeast and bacterial infections. Simple uninfected diaper rashes respond to efforts to keep the baby s Bottom As dry As possible. Change diapers often during the Day and if possible several times at night avoid using plastic pants or disposable diapers that Are tight fitting or that have heavy plastic covers and leave the baby a diapered for As Long As possible. Avoid using Ordinary toilet soaps diaper wipes or solutions of boric acid. In a report in patient care Magazin Lane recommended cleaning the baby with a moistened cloth after Bowel movements then patting dry with a soft Towel. At each diaper change apply cornstarch to help keep the area dry. Potential hazards to a baby a skin baby powder can Causa Lumpy growths when applied to broken skin and Lead to serious respiratory problems if inhaled. Shampoo with chemicals that eliminate of stand oils can irritate and Overly dry the skin of infants whose of glands Are less Wett developed than adults4. Laundry products typically contain Dye perfume and other irritation Ting chemicals and their residue on doth diapers and other clothing can be absorbed through the skin. Bubble Bath contains detergent Deanseris which can cause Low Grade skin Burns and have been associated with severe skin and mucous membrane irritations particularly of the urinary tract  Timm a i service ass Susan Harris readers action line Lan Stuhl High rises leased through 1993 a we live in the Lan Stuhl High rises on Berliner Strasse. People All the Way Down to the Hau Meister and his wife confirm the Rumor that everyone in these three buildings will soon be moved out and replaced with germans and or Eastern germans the Rumor is that the teases will not be renewed because of the Way a few families chose to live . Trash thrown everywhere like they live in slums reckless use of common areas Etc. Is there any truth to this Many families Are highly concerned about this. Tarasa Tschopp Lan Stuhl Germany if Brig. Gan. Richard t. Swopa commander 86th fighter Wing replies the lease for the High Rise buildings in Lan Stuhl at Berliner Strasse 36, 38 and 40 has not been scheduled for termination at this time or in the near future. The current lease is until dec. 31.1993. However building 27 on Berliner Strasse terminated on sept. 30, 1991, due to the owner s request. This is probably where the Rumor started. There Are no other leased units scheduled to be terminated in the Kaiserslautern Community at this tin to write us readers action line is the readers a court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t know where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes Apo a 09211. All letters must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers Page 16 the stars and stripes tuesday december 31,1991