Baby wipes are proven baby products that are designed to wipe away dirt from your baby’s bottom. They are cheap, handy, and can be easily grasped with a single hand. They may be convenient to use, but did you know that baby wipes contain chemicals such as polyester? Many users are concerned if, “Can baby wipes cause infection to the skin?”
In reality, baby wipes have tons of uses, especially for women, and these are the better alternatives for removing makeup. Wipes for babies are made with polyester, and polyester does not disintegrate in a short amount of time. In this article, we’ll discuss what purposes of baby wipes and can baby wipes cause yeast infection and other infections. Pay attention to important matters, because these could help you.
What Are Baby Wipes?
Wipes for baby are cloth-like products that are used repeatedly to wipe away dirt and poop from your baby’s diaper region. But what are baby wipes truly are? What are they made of? Can baby wipes cause infection?
Disposable baby wipes are mostly comprised of two components, the cloth, and the cleansing solution. Know more about these two to understand if can baby wipes cause infection fully.
What Cloth Are Baby Wipes Made Of?
Almost all baby wipes are made with various types of fiber, from cotton fiber, bamboo fiber, and the more popular choice, the non-woven fiber. The most used fiber is the non-woven, and it is polyester made, but it can also be made through the wood pulp.
The most environment friendly between those three is bamboo fiber. They are harvested through a maintainable resource such as the bamboo tree because it doesn’t need fertilizers nor cotton-like pesticides.
Unlike cotton and wood pulp, bamboo fiber will break into pieces. Non-woven polyester fiber is made through petrochemicals that don’t disintegrate. So, if by chance, you can find bamboo-based baby wipes or organic wipes, grab those.
What Is Inside the Cleansing Solution?
To keep the baby wipes moist and wet, a cleansing solution is needed. Usually, baby wipes are made using a combination of the following ingredients.
Water
It is the majority component of all baby wipes. Water helps in keeping the baby wipes moisturized and wet all the time. Also, it helps you have an easier time wiping away poop or dirt from your baby’s diaper region.
Surfactants
They are the responsible cleaning agents or form of detergent that helps your baby’s bottom free from the muck.
Preservatives
They are needed for water not to get molds and increase bacteria. To name a few, here are some of the preservatives used in baby wipes. These are sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, parabens, phenoxyethanol, and methylisothiazolinone.
Emulsifiers
The emulsifier is the key ingredient in mixing the water-based ingredients and the oil-based ingredients properly. One of the most popular emulsifiers used is Polyethylene Glycols.
Humectants
It helps the baby wipes retain its moisture. It can also help moisturize the skin. Humectants are often propylene glycols, glycerin. It may also be composed of natural oils such as lanolin, or silicones to help make skin softer.
Perfume
It helps make the baby wipes a whole better.
Stabilizers
It is the best way to keep the pH balance right. Not too acidic and not alkaline for your baby’s skin. Examples of stabilizers used are citric acid, sodium citrate, malic acid.
Some additional ingredients are used to help soothe your skin, such as Oat Extracts and Aloe Vera.
What’s the Issue About Baby Wipes Causing Infection?
As you can see above, baby wipes are made with various chemical agents, from preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers, and surfactants. If you are a curious mom, you would immediately ask yourself if can baby wipes cause infection, and is it safe for your baby? Or worse, can baby wipes cause yeast infections to women?
Chemical compounds used in preservatives pose a greater danger of triggering allergic reactions when used regularly in contact with skin. A baby’s skin is quite delicate and sensitive to these chemical agents. Also, most moms read labels and do not know what those chemical names listed on the ingredients are and can be quite confusing for them.
Conditions such as eczema and respiratory problems are linked to exposure to phenoxyethanol, a known agent in preservatives. That’s why it is hard for Moms not to be worried about these products, as they may cause infection to their cute ones. While these common conditions are rare when using baby wipes, the levels of phenoxyethanol used in baby wipes are deemed safe for babies, children, and all sorts.
Baby wipes are marketed to give parents peace of mind, such as “mild” “gentle” that are often used in packaging, consumers, and parents might be forgiven thinking that these products have a little impact compared to using water.
There is also an ingredient in baby wipes that you should be wary of. This chemical is called Malic acid. They are chemical compounds used to regulate acidity and pH. As you may know, the skin is acidic, and cosmetics are naturally alkaline. These acids are added so that it is much closer to the pH level of the skin. However, it may cause irritation and redness of the skin when exposed to these acids for people with super sensitive skin.
Although can baby wipes cause infection remains to be a 50-50 instance, you need to avoid if you are too worried about your baby’s skin. Get more tips on baby wipes.
Conclusion
Baby wipes over the years are used by Moms worldwide to wipe away any dirt and muck lurking in their baby’s bottom. One good thing about baby wipes is that it can be easily used in a single hand and quite handy. Can baby wipes cause infection? This may need further investigation and research if baby wipes can cause infection. For you not to have any problems, it is important to select baby wipes that are organically-made or wiped with fewer ingredients than others.