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Atopic dermatitis, also known as eczema, is a chronic condition that causes dry, red, itchy skin.

This condition can affect any part of your body, such as the inside of your elbows and behind your knees. But it typically appears on your face.

Some people may develop irritation on their forehead or cheeks, while others have a rash around their eyes or behind the ears.

Learn some tips for identifying atopic dermatitis on your face, plus find out what commonly causes this condition and how to treat it.

The most common symptoms of atopic dermatitis on the face include:

Keep in mind that symptoms can differ from person to person. While many people experience skin dryness and discoloration, others might also feel a stinging, burning sensation.

Atopic dermatitis might first appear on the cheeks and forehead, then gradually spread to other parts of the face or body.

Atopic dermatitis symptoms can range from mild to severe:

Sometimes, repeated scratching can also cause skin thickening. And if your skin cracks, theres a risk of infection.

You can also develop other types of dermatitis, including:

The following gallery includes pictures of atopic dermatitis on various parts of the face and on different skin colors.

The exact cause of atopic dermatitis is unknown, but its believed to result from an overactive immune system.

Your immune system triggers an inflammatory response that affects the skin. This causes irritation, dryness, itchiness, and a rash.

According to a 2019 review, a gene mutation makes some people susceptible to atopic dermatitis. But this isnt the only factor.

Other external factors that can trigger facial eczema include:

One effective method to manage your symptoms at home is to identify your triggers. Keep a record of your activity, emotions, and foods eaten prior to a flare to help pinpoint your triggers.

Reducing your stress level can also help. Getting enough quality sleep can lower stress, as can knowing your limitations and eating a healthy, balanced diet.

Other tips to soothe skin irritation include:

You may also want to try limiting sun exposure. But keep in mind that sunlight affects people with eczema differently. You might notice an improvement in skin after exposure to sunlight, but others may experience more severe symptoms.

Theres no cure for eczema, so you might have periodic flares that youll need to manage as they arise. Treatment and other remedies can reduce the frequency of flares.

Over-the-counter topical steroid creams can relieve symptoms of atopic dermatitis like itchiness, redness, and dryness. For severe symptoms, you might need prescription-strength treatment, such as:

If your skin doesnt respond to these treatments, you may want to ask about biologics. These medications work by targeting specific parts of your immune system to reduce inflammation and ease skin irritation.

Other conditions can mimic atopic dermatitis on the face. If your symptoms dont improve or worsen, a doctor can take a biopsy of your skin to confirm a diagnosis or rule out other skin conditions.

Conditions that have similar symptoms to atopic dermatitis include:

Theres no cure for atopic dermatitis, so the condition can start in childhood and continue through adulthood. Some people may outgrow it, but other people experience symptoms of atopic dermatitis throughout their lives unless its treated or managed.

For those who experience frequent symptoms, identifying and minimizing triggers can result in less skin irritation. Try to control the sources of your stress, and keep a journal to see whether certain foods or skin care products worsen symptoms. If they do, eliminate those triggers from your life, if possible.

Practicing good skin hygiene can also help reduce symptoms. This can involve bathing regularly in warm water with fragrance-free and dye-free cosmetics, as well as keeping your skin regularly moisturized with topical gels and creams.

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How to Spot Atopic Dermatitis on the Face - Healthline

Youre determined to get to the bottom of that itch, even if you have to scratch your way through every potential trigger. People with eczema go through periods of remission and flare-ups. One of the best ways to manage eczema is to figure out what your triggers are so you can spend more time in remission.

Its possible that your eczema symptoms get worse after you eat gluten. Heres how to figure out if gluten is behind your eczema flare-ups and what to do about it.

Gluten is made up of many proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. It provides structure for bread and baked goods and is added to processed foods for better texture, moisture, and flavor.

While wheat-based products are an obvious source of gluten, it may also be hiding in processed meat and meat substitutes, condiments, seasonings, sweets, and other products.

Oats dont naturally contain gluten, but they can become contaminated with it during processing, so its important to buy oats that are labeled gluten-free if you need to avoid it.

The pervasive presence of gluten can be a real problem if youre allergic or sensitive to it.

There seems to be a relationship between food allergy and skin problems. About one-third of children with atopic dermatitis (another name for eczema) have food allergies too. Allergies to peanuts, eggs, and milk are the most common.

Both atopic dermatitis (AD) and food allergies are associated with skin barrier dysfunction. Researchers have observed that the skin of children with AD and food allergies is different from the skin of children who just have AD.

However, in a 2020 analysis of studies totaling more than 63,000 participants, researchers found no relationship between amount of gluten eaten and risk of AD.

Only small, uncontrolled studies have found a link between gluten consumption and eczema. That doesnt mean theres not a connection, just that theres not enough research to support the theory.

Eczema is a chronic condition that makes your skin irritated, inflamed, and itchy. Your skin may also be red, swollen, cracked, weeping, crusty, or scaly.

The condition often begins in childhood. The cause is unknown, but skin care, stress management, medical treatment, and cool temperatures can help reduce your symptoms.

People with eczema will often have other health problems such as other skin conditions, asthma, environmental allergies, food allergies, depression, anxiety, or sleep issues.

Triggers of eczema flares can differ from person to person. Some common triggers are:

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disease. Folks who live with this condition experience intestinal damage when they eat gluten. Symptoms include:

Some studies have found that celiac disease is more common in people with psoriasis and eczema. Theres also a known association between celiac disease and a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH).

DH causes itchy bumps or blisters, most often on the elbows, knees, or butt. DH can be misdiagnosed as eczema. A gluten-free diet will improve symptoms. An estimated 10 to 15 percent of people with celiac disease also have DH.

Some people have a condition called non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). They have intestinal or other reactions to eating gluten but dont have celiac disease or a wheat allergy. You can become more or less sensitive to gluten over your lifetime.

You may realize you have NCGS by paying attention to your reaction to eating gluten. Some typical symptoms are:

In one small 2015 study of 17 people with a diagnosis of NCGS, participants had rashes similar to those seen in eczema and psoriasis, and their skin condition improved with a gluten-free diet.

The researchers behind the study advocate for gastroenterologists and dermatologists to work together to examine links between digestion and skin problems. They also recommend following a gluten-free diet for at least 3 months to see if it helps with rashes.

Theres no solid evidence that giving up gluten will put your eczema flare into remission, but there could be a link, especially if youre sensitive to gluten.

Heres how to approach the gluten-free lifestyle:

Without question, people with celiac disease or wheat allergy should eliminate gluten from their diets. But fewer than 1 percent of people in the United States have celiac disease or wheat allergy.

If you dont have celiac disease, the decision is more complicated. Going gluten-free does come with some potential risks, such as:

Your gut and your skin definitely affect each other in mysterious ways. Its possible that a sensitivity to gluten could be impacting your eczema.

Theres some evidence that adopting a gluten-free diet could help, but its important to talk with a medical professional about it and follow their treatment plan for managing your eczema.

The rest is here:
Eczema from Gluten: What's the Connection? - Greatist

TEEN Mom 2 Kailyn Lowry shared her fears for baby Creed, 11 months.

Her youngest son has been suffering hives and eczema from a mystery allergy.

Follow all our latest news & stories on Teen Mom.

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Kailyn told her co-host Lindsey Chrisley on their podcast Coffee Convos: "I've been really really weird about certain pictures that I post where people can be like is that a shadow? Or what is that?

"...Creed is allergic to something or somethings. We have not figured out what it is exactly, but basically, I've taken him to the allergist before we left for our trip. And he said the eczema that he had is an underlying sign that he is allergic to other things.

"And basically, it's a double edge sword because he has the eczema, and obviously, that makes him more prone to worse reactions. The skin doesn't know how to handle the allergins, and it makes it worse because it's hives on top of his eczema.

Kailyn shared how Creed will soon go for allergy testing to rule out certain food intolerances and she confirmed: "He's definitely allergic to something. We just haven't figured it out."

The mom-of-four also recently told Lindsie on the podcast she had to rush Creed to the emergency room during their Punta Cana vacation after the child injured his head.

TheTeen Mom 2star flew to the tropical location with family and friends for what she hoped would be a relaxing vacation with her four sons.

Kailyn shared: "Let me just say, Creed is fine. He's perfectly fine. But he's scaling things. I went to put him down and he went to go grab the edge of the table to like scale it," she explained.

"The table caught the corner of his eyebrow and they did take him up at the emergency room. They put little butterfly stitches on him.

"He's good, he's fine, but what an amazing trip so far," the reality star added sarcastically.

Kailyn also recently discussed the guestlist for Creed's upcoming first birthday on herBaby Mamas No Dramapodcast with co-host Vee Rivera: "I invited you, and I did invite Javi. And I invited a couple members of Chris' family but I did not invite Chris.

"But things are not good. So it's to be expected I feel like... He'll do his own situation, which is fine."

The TV personality is also the mother to sons Isaac, 11, with ex Jo Rivera and Lux, three, and Creed, 11 months, with ex Chris Lopez.

On last week's episode of Teen Mom 2, Kailyn refused to discuss her explosive custody battle with Chris.

Early on in the episode,Kailynand Chris got into an argument that took place off-camera.

Chrisargued he wanted 50/50 custody of their sons, Lux, three, and Creed, 11 months, while Kailyn insisted he negotiate with the lawyers so they can settle the matter out of court.

However, the exes ultimately ended up fighting it out in court.

Following the virtual hearing, theMTVstar told a producer: The judge made a ruling and I just dont want to talk about it. It just is what is it.

Kailyn further explained that the judge stated in the court documents that this is not to be discussed or shared on social media or the TV show.

She continued: I definitely think Im trying to handle things better now.

I think it wouldve been much more explosive if this was five years ago or ten years ago, but Im able to kind of deal with my emotions differently and navigate through tough things like this a lot differently with the help of therapy and really committing to that

The custody battle between Kailyn and Chris is not the only drama between the exes.

Last year, Kailyn wasarrestedafter "punching Chris several times with a closed fist"over their eldest child's haircut.

The Sun revealedin February that the charges against the MTV star were dropped.

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Teen Mom Kailyn Lowry fears for youngest son Creed, 11 months, while he suffers hives and eczema from... - The US Sun

Sunburn, scratched by a cat and itchy eczema are just some of the unbelievable 999 calls to ambulance service during its busiest ever week.

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has highlighted that demand for the 999 service has risen by more than 50 per cent compared to levels that would normally be expected at this time of year.

In fact, last week WMAS saw a 57.9 per cent rise in emergency calls, with 40,839 emergency calls made compared to 25,870 for the same week in 2019 before the pandemic.

READ MORE: Mapped: The areas in Coventry and Warwickshire with the highest Covid rates

Call handlers have reported some extraordinary 999 calls for non-emergency issues such as sunburn, someone who had been scratched by a cat and a case of someone whose eczema that was particularly itchy.

It has been stressed that while all may have needed clinical help, they were not appropriate for a 999 call and bosses have urged people to use the 111 online service.

WMAS chief executive Anthony Marsh said: We are rightly prioritising those patients that are the sickest or most severely injured; everyone who needs an ambulance will get one, but in some cases there are some patients who could access the care they need using other options other than dialling 999.

"Our ambulance crews, 999 and 111 call handlers, volunteers and the many other teams who ensure we can respond to patients as quickly as possible, are working flat out as we see increase demand for our services.

"As has been the case throughout the pandemic, the public can play their part by using 111 online for urgent advice but calling 999 in life threatening cases."

He went on: "I would also ask that patients and their loved ones also only call us back if the patients condition worsens, not to check what time their ambulance will arrive. We simply cant tell you the answer and while we are answering that call it may delay us answering a call such as a cardiac arrest where every second counts."

WMAS urges that people contact 999 if they experience:

WMAS say a number of factors are behind the rise in calls including the warmer weather, an increase in Covid transmission rates in the community, an increase in the public spending time outside as restrictions ease.

Also more demand on hospitals mean its crews cannot offload patients quickly which has a knock-on effect on the Trusts ability to get to patients quickly.

"This is a really tough time for ambulance staff and the volunteers who support us, who are working round the clock to deal with the huge increase in call numbers, and Id like to pay tribute to their continued efforts to ensure patients get the care they need," the WMAS chief said.

"With pressure on services still high, the public can help us to help them by using 111 online to get medical advice, and of course the most important thing we can all do at the moment is get the COVID-19 vaccine - both doses - which protects us, our families and friends and will help to reduce pressure on the NHS as well."

People can access 111 online here.

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Scratched by a cat, sunburn and itchy eczema: Some of the unbelievable 999 calls to ambulance service - Coventry Live

A meta-analysis by Australian researchers found no link between childhood vaccinations and an increase in allergies and asthma. In fact, children who received the BCG vaccine actually had a lesser incidence of eczema than other children, but there was no difference shown in any of the allergies or asthma.

The researchers, in a report published in the journal Allergy, said, "we have found no evidence that childhood vaccination with commonly administered vaccines was associated with increased risk of later allergic diseases."

"The epidemic was first noted in developed countries, but developing countries are catching up,"said Caroline J. Lodge, PhD, principal research fellow at the University of Melbourne inAustralia, and one of the authors, in an interview with Medscape Medical News. "In developing countries, it is still a crisis." No one knows why, and that was the reason for the recent study, she said.

Allergic diseases such as allergic rhinitis and food allergies have a serious influence on quality of life, and the incidence is growing. According to the Global Asthma Network, there are 334 million people living with asthma. Between 2% and 10% of adults have atopic eczema, and more than a quarter of a million people have food allergies. This coincides temporally with an increase in mass vaccination of children. "This is especially true of asthma and to a lesser extent, food allergies," Lodge said.

Unlike the controversy surrounding vaccinations and autism, which has long been debunked as baseless, a hygiene hypothesis postulates that vaccination may influence children's immune responses to become more allergic.

That immunity leads to suppression of a major antibody response, increasing sensitivity to allergens and allergic disease. Suspicions of a link with childhood vaccinations has been used by opponents of vaccines in lobbying campaigns jeopardizing the sustainability of vaccine programs. In recent days, for example, Tennessee has halted a program to encourage vaccination for COVID-19 as well as all other vaccinations, the result of pressure on the state by antivaccination lobbying.

But the Melbourne researchers reported that the systematic review of 42 published research studies doesn't support the vaccine-allergy hypothesis. Using PubMed and EMBASE records between January 1946 and January 2018, researchers selected studies to be included in the analysis, looking for allergic outcomes in children given BCG, or vaccines for measles or pertussis. Thirty-five publications reported cohort studies, and seven were based on randomized, controlled trials.

Vaccination was compared with placebo or with no vaccination. "These represent the best objective evidence," Lodge said. "They showed no increase in allergic disease and suggested protection from eczema."

The Australian study is not the only one showing the same lack of linkage between vaccination and allergy. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood found no association between mass vaccination and atopic disease. A Swedish study of 669 children found no differences in the incidence of allergic diseases between those who received pertussis vaccine and those who did not.

"The bottom line is that vaccines prevent infectious diseases," said Matthew B. Laurens, MD, associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, in an interview with Medscape Medical News. Laurens was not part of the Australian study. "Large-scale epidemiological studies do not support the theory that vaccines are associated with an increased risk of allergy or asthma. Parents should not be deterred from vaccinating their children because of fears that this would increase risks of allergy and/or asthma."

Allergy. Published online March 20, 2021. Abstract

Lodge and Laurens report no relevant financial relationships.

Joel Shurkin was a national reporter for Reuters in New York and covered the space program. He was science editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer and science writer and instructor in science journalism at Stanford University, the University of California Santa Cruz, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He was part of the team that won a Pulitzer Prize at the Inquirer. He is the author of 10 books on science and the history of science.

For more news, follow Medscape on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

The rest is here:
No Link Between Childhood Vaccinations and Allergies or Asthma - Medscape

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants that can cause an allergic skin reaction. These poisonous plants contain an oil that can trigger the bodys immune system and produce a rash. Becoming familiar with the appearance of these plants can help a person identify and prevent an allergic rash from exposure.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) note that while the expression leaves of three, let it be can be helpful for identifying poison ivy and poison oak, this is not true for poison sumac, as this plant usually has clusters of 713 leaves. Additionally, some species of poison ivy and oak may also have more than 3 leaves.

If a person suspects contact with one of these plants, the CDC recommends they wash the exposed skin and scrub their nails. When a rash appears, applying wet compresses or hydrocortisone cream can help reduce itching and blistering. However, if the rash is severe or if someone is having trouble breathing, they should get immediate medical attention.

In this article, we discuss how a person can identify poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac, as well as symptoms, treatment, and prevention of the rash.

Toxicodendron is a group, or genus, of woody plants belonging to the Anacardiaceae family. The name derives from the Greek words for toxic tree. The Toxicodendron genus includes a number of plants known for their toxicity that grow throughout the United States.

The key to avoiding exposure to poison oak, ivy, and sumac is being able to recognize them. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides the below information on how to identify the plants:

Poison oak grows in long vines or tall clumps on the Pacific Coast. It is also present in the southern and eastern United States as a low shrub. The plant has fuzzy green leaves, usually in groupings of three. The leaves of poison oak are typically either deeply toothed or lobed with rounded tips. Yellow-white berries may be present.

Poison ivy grows throughout the 48 contiguous states except for parts of the West Coast. It grows as a small shrub or vine trailing along the ground. The plant may also grow on low plants, poles, and trees.

Every leaf has three glossy leaflets that have toothed or smooth edges. The leaves are green in summer, reddish in the spring, and red, orange, or yellow in the fall. Whitish-yellow berries and greenish-white flowers may be present.

Poison sumac grows as a small tree or tall shrub in swamps or bogs in the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the Southeast. The leaves consist of clusters of 713 leaflets with smooth edges, which are green in summer, orange in the spring, and red, orange, or yellow in the fall. Yellow-greenish flowers and clusters of whitish-green berries may be present.

When poison oak, ivy, and sumac are damaged, bruised, or burned, they release an oil called urushiol. If it gets on a pesons skin, most people experience an allergic reaction that manifests as an itchy, red rash with blisters or bumps. Exposure to just 50 micrograms, which is less than one grain of table salt, can trigger a rash in 8090% of adults.

Exposure may result from:

Following exposure, the time it takes for a rash to appear depends on whether a person has had a prior rash from poison ivy, oak, or sumac. Typically, if an individual has not had a previous rash from the plants, the rash usually appears within 23 weeks. In someone who has experienced a previous rash from the plants, the rash may manifest within 448 hours.

Symptoms may include:

Most people who get the rash experience the following course:

The CDC recommend these measures if a person is exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac:

If a rash appears, take the following steps:

A person can do several things to try and prevent a rash. The FDA advises the below practices:

The FDA recommends seeing a doctor if:

Sometimes a person may need more urgent care. The CDC advise immediate medical attention if the rash is severe or if it is on the face or genitals.

If a person has a severe allergic reaction, such as difficulty breathing or swelling, or if they have had a severe allergic reaction in the past, they require immediate help. Call 911 or take them to a hospital emergency room.

Toxicodendron plants, such as poison oak, ivy, and sumac are poisonous plants that can secrete a toxic oil called urushiol. Learning to identify these plants and being able to differentiate them from similar plants is the most important way to prevent exposure. It is also important to remember that exposure can be indirect, such as touching garden tools and pets that have had contact with the plants, or from inhaling smoke from burning plants.

Following contact, a rash may appear within a few hours to 23 weeks. The rash will typically go away without treatment, but medications, such as hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, and antihistamine tablets, can relieve itching and make a person feel more comfortable.

If a person has an extreme reaction to these plants, it is advisable they receive immediate medical attention if an exposure occurs.

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How to identify and treat poison oak, ivy, and sumac rashes - Medical News Today

Beauty is a full-blown obsession for Charlene Ng, who admits to having spent a substantial part of her youth in Watsons stores poring over the labels of skincare and haircare products as a hobby.

It comes as no surprise, then, that the communications graduate headed straight for the beauty industry upon completing her studies working in various beauty-related professions, including as an aesthetician, beauty consultant and skincare trainer and later went on to acquire a diploma in beauty therapy.

The idea of starting a skincare brand had quietly sat in the back of her mind since those years. Its the ultimate dream for any beauty junkie an aspiration that Ng realised as she became a mother of two, and discovered how she could finally apply her passion and knowledge to solving a personal issue.

When her baby son had bad skin reactions to the products she was using on him, she realised how young childrens skin had very specific needs that were still not being fully addressed by existing products in the current market.

My son had an eczema flare-up due to two different brands of organic skincare. They are very well-loved brands, but unfortunately, just not suitable for him. There could be many reasons for it for example, the combination of essential oils. Not all natural, organic ingredients are always suitable for everyone they can cause skin irritation in some, said Ng.

My son had an eczema flare-up due to two different brands of organic skincare.

The only thing that worked for her son were dermatologist-prescribed products, which were costly, especially with high-frequency usage. Ng felt that theres a market for more-sophisticated formulations gentle enough for newborns skin which are easier on the wallet at that. This spurred her to start her own skincare brand, A Tapirs Tale.

MAKING SKINCARE BETTER FOR BABIES

Just recently launched online, her line of gentle skincare formulations currently consists of four products designed to cover an infants essential skincare needs.

ButA Tapirs Tale is far from being basic Ng raised the game by also utilising premium ingredients that will benefit babies delicate skin, but are uncommonly found in other childrens skincare brands in the market.

We are applying the innovation that you are seeing in premium womens skincare to baby and family skincare, which is a rarity.

We are applying the innovation that you are seeing in premium womens skincare to baby and family skincare, which is a rarity. I went in this direction because baby skincare is hardly innovated upon, and I wanted to bring something new to the table," explained Ng.

"A lot of brands do not use these ingredients as they can be expensive to procure and use in baby skincare, which is a market that tends to be sidelined in favour of the bigger adult skincare market."

A Tapirs Tale uses ingredients such as hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, soybean peptides, ceramides and squalane, which are more commonly found in adult skincare as they are lab-tested and have proven efficacies and benefits for the skin.

In addition, we use skin-comforting, nature-derived ingredients traditionally used in Japan and elsewhere to treat sensitive skin. For example, we have Prunus Yedonesis (cherry blossom leaf), Scutellaria Baicalensis, and Centella Asiatica, which are antioxidants that provide anti-inflammatory and skin-soothing properties," she said.

"I worked with a Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer to formulate them into a gentle skincare line suitable for the sensitive skin of newborns, even those with atopic conditions."

A BALANCE BETWEEN PRICE AND QUALITY

Skin issues, such as eczema, are getting very common in Singapore. Children, particularly, seem to be increasingly afflicted by them, while parents are also more aware of such conditions these days and actively search for products or treatments that help alleviate and prevent them.

As I did my market research, I was surprised to see that there isnt as much innovation in baby skincare as there is in adults, especially when baby skin is more delicate than adult skin," revealed Ng.

"Additionally, I found out some adults do want to use baby products as a gentler alternative, but feel that they will not be able to provide any additional benefits for the skin except for basic moisture. I wanted to try and create something new yet gentle and effective."

Many women (and even men) are using the latest and best skincare products. When they become mothers, they do not want to compromise that expectation of quality and efficacy for their children.

She pointed out the existence of a huge range of price points in the market, including mass-market and luxury brands.

These various brands do meet different needs and preferences. For A Tapirs Tale, I wanted to bring in innovation at what I call a premium but still affordable price point, which is below US$30 (about S$40), she shared.

A lot of consumers care about brand quality and innovation. You see brands such as The Ordinary and Drunk Elephant getting a lot of fanfare. A Tapirs Tale does not compete on price necessarily, but our value is in the quality and innovation in our products," she said.

"Many women (and even men) are using the latest and best skincare products. When they become mothers, they do not want to compromise that expectation of quality and efficacy for their children."

HANDLE WITH CARE, PLEASE

We all know that babies skin is delicate but did you know that it is physiologically different from that of older children and adults?

Babies skin is not yet fully developed and has a thinner skin structure, making it easier to get skin irritation. There are many causes and allergens, such as soaps, pollen, pet dander, foods, pollution and even the weather. Hence, sometimes parents might find their babies with an unexplained rash or skin irritation, Ng said.

Babies skin is not yet fully developed and has a thinner skin structure, making it easier to get skin irritation.

Because of its delicate nature, an infants skin will thus require regular but gentle cleansing and adequate care. The oil glands in babies skin are less developed than an adults and function poorly. Hence, their skin can get dry quite easily. Long baths, hot water and strong cleansers that degrease the skin are unnecessary and irritating to babies and younger children, she explained.

Ng also stressed the importance of putting sunscreen on babies and children.

Their skin has less melanin than adults. Melanin is the pigment that gives colour to the skin and protects against cellular damage from sunlight exposure. In addition, kids may spend large amounts of time outdoors playing, which means many of them may receive more than triple the UVB exposure, compared to the average adult.

This explains why A Tapirs Tale's initial launch has all the fundamentals babies and children need a hair and body cleanser, moisturisers in two different texturesand a sunblock.

We do not want to extend our product range too fast, preferring to just focus on releasing one or two products a year. I do have some ideas in mind, but more research is needed, shared Ng. Shes also had many requests to ship her products internationally, which she plans to do so in the near future.

A Tapirs Tale is among the first Singapore brands to offer baby skincare, but Ng believes it is the first that is formulated and manufactured in Japan. Starting up is not entirely a bed of roses but she takes comfort in the fact that she can finally accomplish what she hasalways wanted to do.

The tough part about starting your own brand is that you are a small fish in a big pond, and, because of that, it is not easy negotiating. Sometimes, youd also worry if your idea will be well received. However, every time I look at my kids, I am reminded of the fact that I am doing this because I wanted to create a skincare line that I would be happy to use on them, saidNg.

Available athttp://www.tapirstale.com/.

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The Singaporean mum who started a skincare brand that's safe for babies - CNA