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Besides the obvious change that occurs during pregnancy (hello bump!), hormones put a woman’s skin through its paces as it accommodates a growing belly. Likewise, a newborn baby boasts skin so soft and gentle that special attention should always be taken when caring for a little one.
Leading the charge for simple, gentle and effective skincare is . According to Dr. Kerryn Greive, Ego Pharmaceuticals’ scientific affairs manager, under its umbrella are brands that can be used by the whole family, throughout all stages of life.
From the Egozite range for newborn babies, the QV range as the children get older, and theQV Face range for use as facial care becomes a priority, through to the Pinetarsol range when dry itchy skin conditions such as chicken pox strike, to Elucent to help keep our skin looking young. The SunSense range of sunscreens has products for toddlers and adults alike, including variants that suit mature skin, hirsute skin and dry skin. With hair care and foot care products as well, really does have the whole family’s skin covered from head to toe!”
With a strong focus on keeping unnecessary ingredients out of products rather than putting them in, offers reliable and trustworthy skincare products that are suitable during pregnancy and beyond.
Skincare during pregnancy
Chloasma, rashes, acne, stretchmarks, chafing, sensitive and irritated skin - the pregnancy glow fights a few battles before making its appearance. And while it can be tempting to overload on products to treat these symptoms, simplicity is key. Although the skin is a terrific barrier and topical products are very safe to use when pregnant, it is still best to look for the most gentle of skin care products - this includes fragrance free products,” advises Greive.
Greive notes that skin can become more sensitive, dry and itchy than normal” during pregnancy so cleansers and moisturisers that can hydrate skin are the ones to look for. And in addition to increased skin sensitivity, pregnant women may also become more sensitive to allergens. This will mean that she may no longer be able to tolerate her normal products and will need to find low irritant and fragrance free cleansers and moisturisers,” says Greive.
Suitable for both the face and body, QV Gentle Wash is for dry and sensitive skin plus those suffering conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. An alternative to soap, the low-irritant formula is colour-, lanolin- and fragrance-free and kind to skin. Greive reveals that the success of this wash lies in its ability to protect the skin’s own barrier. QV Gentle Wash is made with 15 per cent glycerin, the skin’s own natural humectant, and gentle cleansers that can clean the skin without removing natural protective oils,” she says.
Keeping skin hydrated is important all the time, but during pregnancy well-moisturised skin will keep itchiness at a minimum and keep mum feeling comfortable as her skin stretches. QV Cream is a rich moisturising cream that is suitable for use all over the body,” says Greive. The cream is designed to treat skin complaints such as ichthyosis, dermatitis and atopic eczema and is free from lanolin, fragrance and colouring to keep it suitable for even the most sensitive skin.
And it’s not just the obvious body products that need to be gentle on skin. When pregnant, the skin can become more sensitive than normal and may become even more so after shaving the underarm area,” says Greive. QV Naked Antiperspirant Deodorant are fragrance free and designed for sensitive skin, making them ideal for use during pregnancy.” The deodorant uses Biosorb Crystals to stop odour-causing bacteria and ticks a bunch of boxes: it’s aluminium-, fragrance-, alcohol- and – most importantly – aluminium-free.
Caring for baby
The delicate skin of a baby can get into a lot of trouble if it’s not cared for properly. While harsh cleansing agents are a no-no, sometimes a baby’s soft skin needs a bit of protection from the environment and potential irritants. A newborn needs only a very minimal skin care routine,” notes Greive. Gentle baths in warm water is all that is needed, unless the baby’s skin is starting to become dry. If baby’s skin is becoming dry, products like QV Bath Oil are ideal for bathing, along with QV Cream or QV Skin Lotion to moisturise.”
Among babies, cradle cap is a common condition that usually starts when the child is aged four to six weeks. Called seborrhoeic dermatitis, cradle cap forms on the scalp when the sebaceous glands become inflamed. The glands produce a lot of sebum, which forms a yellow-ish flaky crust on the skin. Although it can look uncomfortable, it is not actually a problem for baby,” Greive assures. Cradle cap isn’t caused by poor hygiene nor is it contagious, but it’s important to treat the condition so it doesn’t become infected. To help remove the crusts, the ideal product is Egozite, which uses olive oil and salicylic acid to gently lift off the crusts,” she suggests. The lotion is applied to the affected area with its dropper applicator to ensure precise treatment and parents can feel comfortable knowing the oil-based lotion is without lanolin and fragrance, and is also free from irritants.
As well as the top, Greive points out that babies can also affected by skin conditions at the tail end. The most vulnerable area of a newborn’s skin is the nappy region,” she says. This is because the nappy forms a barrier that can stop the skin breathing properly while the urine and faeces can be very irritating to the skin if the nappy is not changed often. The best way to protect the skin in the nappy area is a good nappy cream like Egozite. With zinc oxide and dimethicone, Egozite is highly protective and soothing making it ideal for protecting the nappy region. Egozite should be applied generously at every nappy change.”
And beyond…
As babies grow into toddlers and then small children, their skin complaints change as well. With children heading to daycare or kindy, the bane of many parents becomes apparent: head lice. It’s estimated one in 10 school kids has head lice at any time and due to its highly contagious nature, treatment needs to be swift and thorough to get rid of the problem and prevent it from reoccurring. The lice” are small insects that can only survive on human blood – yes, that scratching of the scalp is caused by their tiny blood-sucking bites – and each one will lay eggs in its life. Eggs are laid on hair strands and will hatch after seven to 12 days. The trick to treating the problem is to repeat your treatment a few times over a two week period to ensure live lice and eggs are both gone.
The MOOV consists of five products, all designed to treat head lice. The Australian brand uses natural essential oils in its products, and the original Head Lice Solutionoffers fast and effective results from three 20-minute applications. With a milder formula, Head Lice Sensitive is best suited to those with sensitive scalps or scalp conditions while still producing results.
Taking the traditional hair washing routine and replacing with Head Lice Shampooand Head Lice Combing Conditioner is a sure way to achieve a lice-free head. The shampoo is used like a normal shampoo and the conditioner is made from eucalyptus oil so offers a more appealing fragrance than other treatments on the market. And to keep the critters at bay, the Head Lice Defence Spraycan be applied as daily leave-in conditioner to defend against head lice.