In recent times on the facebook group ASK THE PAEDIATRICIANS and in the mailbox of Ask the Paediatricians, I have had course to address a very important rampant but dangerous practice by mothers. It is really a source of concern
This post is short and straight to this point to address this phenomenon.
It is about this new craze or culture common among Nigerian Mums. I don’t know where it originated from but it is so popular that it has become a new way of life for many mums.
What is it I am ranting about?
This is the culture of mixing regular baby’s body creams with prescription-only medication creams!!! “Doc, I do mix Funbact-A with my baby’s ori (shea butter) and my baby’s skin is just so fair”. In fact some are bold to recommend openly the practice!!! “Just mix skineal to the baby’s vaseline so your baby will not be dark???”. It keeps getting worse, some now add ampiclox, tetracycline etc also to the baby’s body cream!!!! I even heard that ready-made concocted versions are even available for sale at some baby’s stores/shops!!!
Where are all these coming from? By whose recommendations??
PLEASE STOP IF YOU ARE DOING THIS!!! JUST STOP!!!
All these creams are MEDICATIONS and not ROUTINE BODY CREAMS!!! And why will a Mum wants to be using oral antibiotics mixed into creams or lotion for a well baby on a daily basis???
SO MUMS…..PLEASE STOP ADDING MEDICATIONS TO YOUR BABY’S BODY CREAM ROUTINELY!!!!
A mere perusal of the packs of some of these medicated creams will show words like “antifungal,” “antibacterial”, “anti-inflammatory”. The constituents are drugs – antibiotics, antifungals and STEROIDS! They are often prescribed for SPECIFIC SKIN DISEASES and usually for a short duration only, not usually more than two weeks.
In the insert (leaflet) for SKINEAL, it was expressly stated NOT TO BE USED AS A COSMETICS!
These are drugs with dangerous side-effects especially the steroids which are easily absorbed into the bloodstream from the fragile skin of the newborns and babies leading to serious side effects on the long terms including gastritis (stomach ulcers), wounds, poor growth and other sinister side effects.
Most mums are carried away by the desire for their babies to be “fair” “oyinbo” not knowing the dangers inherent in this dangerous practice. There is more to having a fair baby o Mums!!! Most babies are born fair but that does not mean they will remain fair! Those with genetic makeup to be black will still be black irrespective of any concoctions applied safe of bleaching creams!! So this is a wake-up call……STOP! JUST STOP!!!
As much as possible, use natural products for your baby skin care creams like Vaseline, Shea butter, Olive oil and other routine baby care products. Use any of these medicated creams ONLY on doctor’s prescription and for the duration recommended only!!! If your baby has any skin issues, please see your Paediatrician or Dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. Don’t join this crazy train of mixing cream!
THANK YOU!!!
Let me know your thoughts and questions by commenting or email
drgbemi@askthepaediatricians.comDr Gbemisola Boyede
Thanks so much for this information. I tried correcting some people around me, buy they were of the opinion that it’s because my baby does not have the cause to use such ‘concoction’. And I told them he cannot have a reason to be placed on such because I apply only Shea butter and Adi-agbon on his body. And he is a wonderful blend of chocolate skin. Thanks, would love to share this.
Thank you Toluwalope….Please keep sharing!
Weldone MA, please what cream can be used for a very light conplexiined n\ h
Normal baby cream as long as the child does not react to the cream. There is no special cream for light-sinned babies…Most babies are lightskinned at birth even those who will eventually be dark-skinned.
Skin colour is genetic – it has nothing to do with the cream the baby uses per se.
Thanks for this Dr. I however have a concern, my children started taking swimming classes a while ago and I noticed the sudden change in their complexions, they look really dark. The chlorine added to the water in the pool may actually be too much. Is there anything i can use to clear out the dark look on their skin?
Hi Erica. I doubt it is the Chlorine. Skin color is genetic and of course staying outdoors leads to production of melanin, the dark skin pigment which is actually protective against the sun rays from damaging the skin. I think you should just let them be. All the best
Good morning Doctor, my three and half months baby is having very big rashes with few pus all over his body. It appears and dries and then come up again making his skin to look fairer and like someone who is wonded. Currently I am giving him flucamed syrup and still using vista plus on him and it’s working but the pus keep appearing and his skin looking weird. Please Doctor what should I used for my baby skin to return to normal
I think you need to see a doctor for further evaluation. Pus usually suggests bacteria infection which requires antibiotics and not antifungal which is what you are giving. Kindly see your doctor for follow up and I hope those medications were prescribed by your doctors and not self medications because that is very dangerous to self medicate a 3 months old baby.
Thank you for this ma. It’s sad to even find some peads prescribe skinneL as a baby body cream. Pls ma, this popular cream called smootthy, is it good to use it as a babys body cream. Thank u.
I am sure no Paediatrician do so….Please note that not all who work in hospital or see children are Paediatricians. The regular baby crean like vaseline and other baby range products are okay as long as your child does not react to them. Stay away any cream that has medications in them…it is always written on the products.
Thanks a lot doc for all the knowledge you share.
Please I want to know if vitamin E oil the same as vitamin E drug.
And also, is it OK to add vitamin E oil to coconut oil to my baby cream/oil?
Not necessarily.
It is not necessary to add Vitamin E oil to your baby’s cream.
Read about skin care for babies here Basic Skin Care for Infants and Children (1)
To book consultation with ATP paediatricians, send a Whatsapp message to +2349056916818.
You can also post your questions directly to our Ask The Paediatricians Facebook Group
Thank you ma for this wonderful information. Ever since baby is born,he is four months plus now,I mix m and b 760 with she butter for his cream.recently I stopped,bought Johnson’s cream for him,but he is reacting to it,I started rubbing him agnesia powder, he is also reacting to it.what do o do? Should I continue rubbing him as he may be used to it or what.pls,I need help. Thank you ma!
STOP ALL THESE PRODUCTS. Kindly use only hypoallergenic skin products for babies with sensitive skin for example SEBAMED products. You can also see a skin doctor (dermatologist) for further evaluation and management
I used funbact a mixed with Vaseline for my 3months due to some skin infection and it stopped. So I continued the use for about 4weeks. I stopped using it 2days ago. Didn’t know it has side effects.
Please should I be worried or what can I do to remedy my mistake or I should just watch him closely
Hi Tutu…please don’t do that anymore. Kindly only use those medications if prescribed by your doctors. If you observed anything unusual in your baby see a doctor. Just watch closely for now.
Well done MA, please is Nigerian pears baby lotion good for baby skin?
Any baby product that your baby does not react to is okay to use.
Thanks so much ma,my sis do apply only skineal on her son’s body and has been using it since January.hope it won’t result to cancer.thanks
Please tell her to STOP immediately and we hope for the best!
Thank you my able doctor God will bless you for this wonderful post. My sister inlaw delivered in June this year I as a wife I bought coconut oil for her to use as d baby cream, could u believe that my sister was advised by an old woman whom she called her area mama mix funbat a in shea butter
Now the child is as fair as afin but d skind is so irritating. In fact I pity the poor boy. I couldn’t talk again b’cos this same girl stayed with me she knows how I do take care of kids. I pray she comes across this vital information.
They even mixed the coconut oil with one black thing for her to be applying on the baby head
Thank you once again
Thank you Evelyn. Please share the article with her. It is beyond even the skin being irritating but steroid damage to the little baby’s organs
Please is baby tribotan also a steroid?cos i use it continously against nappy rash and rash on his neck.
You are not supposed to use it continuously only if your baby has nappy rashes.
Thank u ma for the information, but can I use Shea butter, coconut oil ad palm kernel oil together for my baby
Why the mix? One should be fine at least at a time so you are sure if there is any reaction which one is a culprit but individually shea butter or coconut oil are organic and hypoallergenic and OK
Thank you so much for the wonderful information, I’m a first time pregnant mother, I’m planning on using home made coconut oil on my children and Johnson’s no more tears soap . Hope I’m on the right track ? Please do I need baby cream too , if yes please recommend one for me.
You are as long as your baby does not react to them. If they do, go for alternatives that are hypoallergenic.
Is it good to use Vista plus and coconut oil for four months old baby?
NO ….kindly only use medicated cream if prescribed by a doctor
Thank you Doctor ,my baby is 19 days old and I’ve started sebamed but my mother in law insisted I use ori which has been mixed now the baby’s skin is peeling and she suggested we mix the ori with skineal but there haven’t been much improvement.please what should I do
Kindly STOP mixing skineal with the ori. You can stick to the Sebamed or Ori but please do not mix skineal with your baby’s cream. There is nothing wrong with the skin peeling as the baby is changing their skin. You should keep the skin well-moisturized with the Sebamed or shea butter (ori).
Hi..good pm..
Please what is the best cream for baby with eczema.. Every cream and soap ESP natural made from Shea butter,coconut oil is not working..
Any hypoallergenic products that the child is not sensitive to is fine or use natural products. Most dermatologists recommend Sebamed or aqueous cream
Good evening Dr gbemi, plz ma I saw one of ur reply on question dated 2017 on mixing little fresh palm oil inside the baby pap when cooking.my question is what is the work of palm oil in it and also is it compulsory.
2. My baby of 4month has started eating pap due to my work bt lately she refuse eating prefer drinking only water.wat can I do
Hi Mrs Onaopepo
1. The palm oil is a source of fat and increases the calories intake with each bowl of pap. Each meal must have food from at least 4 classes out of the 6. Read more about appropriate feeding here INFANT FEEDING IN THE FIRST 1000 DAYS
2. It is too early to give your baby pap. We recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months. If you cannot do exclusive breastfeeding, then give age appropriate formula. Complementary feeding should only be introduced from age 6 months.
Goodevening ma,Thanks for the info.When I gave birth to my baby,I was using olive oil on her,it got to a point after some days ,she had few rashes on her face,I then stared using Johnson’s baby moisturizing lotion.She usually has rashes on her face,neck and chest which comes and goes.I apply powder on her too.What do you think I should do/use
You should stop using any of those products. You can try Sebamed products or any other hypoallergenic products
Good Afternoon Ma…I used a kids cram on my child(kids and teens),it made her very light after 3weeks so i had to stop. 3days after i stopped i noticed rashes on her face. I switched to BabySecret cream but it’s been a week now, the rashes have not cleared. Can i use calamine lotion to clear the rashes or continue with the cream to see if it will clear it? does Cacatin lotion contain steroids? I was asked to mix it with shea butter or buy plain Jimpo Ori Shea butter for kids.
Kindly STOP all these creams and use hypoallergenic products eg shea butter, vaseline, Sebamed
Thanks a lot Dr Gbemi, I just came across this article and I’m glad I’ve been doing the right thing… Please what about vitamin E oil, is it OK to be used on baby’s skin? … Is it a medication like the ones mentioned above?.. Does it have any side effects?
It is not necessary pls. Read about the right skin care of your baby here Basic Skin Care for Infants and Children (1)
GET THE FIRST TIME MUM COMPANION (FTM COURSE MANUAL) HERE
https://ojaadigitalmarketplace.com/index.php/ftms/ for N5000.
Other ATP digital products available by clicking the link https://ojaadigitalmarketplace.com/index.php/paediatricians-consult-limited/
For all other enquiries, contact ATP WhatsApp Number : +2349056916818
Good evening Doctor
I just came across your post online about several creams mother’s combine to on their children’s skin..
I am a first time mom… I birth April 2022… My daughter who is fair in complexion is having a skin rashes…
I had gone to the hospital on several occasions… I was given the first time baby tribotan… I use it to no avail..
I went back to complain cos it spread to her head and was scratching her so badly..
The doctor prescribed Emzoclox ( Broad spectrum Antibiotics) with tribotan for me… For 7 days and it cleared completely… For awhile it came back again. And it’s really furstrating…. though during the period while In hospital cos we stayed for a while they asked me to use Heritage soap, cream and powder…. So when I saw that the rash came back again… I decided to get the soap n cream and I use it with Agnesia powder….
I went back to complain and he gave me same Emzoclox with Epiderm Creme for 7 days..
Doctor I have finished 7 days the rash is still there… Currently, I am seeing it again on her head….
The foot is the worst cos she can’t sleep. Always rubbing the two foot cos of itching…
Some one advice I should use palm kernel oil mixed with tetracycline so I came online to check the effects and all of that when I stumbled on your post….
I am sorry with the long write up.
Please find the attach..
Thank you
You should see a Paediatrician or Dermatologist for further management. To see ATP Paediatrician, send a Whatsapp message to +2349056916818
More importantly, you should ensure you are doing proper skin care as it seems you are using too many things on the skin. Read here Basic Skin Care for Infants and Children (1)
For urgent answers to your questions, please post them to our Facebook group.
GET THE FIRST TIME MUM COMPANION (FTM COURSE MANUAL) HERE
https://ojaadigitalmarketplace.com/index.php/ftms/ for N5000.
Other ATP digital products available by clicking the link https://ojaadigitalmarketplace.com/index.php/paediatricians-consult-limited/
For all other enquiries, contact ATP WhatsApp Number : +2349056916818