Categories
Guest Interview

Sensitive Skin Product Series – Understanding Ingredients

I ‘met’ Laura Verallo Rowell Bertotto, the CEO of VMVGroup, on twitter and learnt that her company is the only hypoallergenic brand that validates its hypoallergenicity.

VMV Hypoallergenics is founded in 1979 by Dr. Vermén Verallo-Rowell who is a world renowned dermatologist, dermatopathologist and dermatology/laser surgeon, also an author, esteemed researcher and speaker. 

Sensitive Skin Skincare Product Interview series with Dr Vermen Verallo Rowell VMV Hypoallergenics
  1. Sensitive Skin Product Series – What is Hypoallergenic?
  2. What does Natural Skincare Product mean?
  3. What is considered Organic and Non-Comedogenic?
  4. What does Suitable for Eczema Children mean?
  5. What is Patch Testing (for skincare product ingredients?)
  6. How do you read ingredients on skincare product label?
  7. What does Irritant-Free mean?
  8. What ingredients in skincare product to avoid?
  9. How is Coconut Oil used in skincare?
  10. What is product cross-reactivity?
  11. How many ingredients in a skincare product?
  12. How to use skincare products on Sensitive Skin?
  13. How to manage the diaper area?
Contact allergens irritants in skincare products
Allergens to Avoid

Product Label – Deciphering the Ingredients

Marcie Mom: Laura, thanks again for continuing to help us make sense of the ingredient label.

Many ingredients sound similar though not identical.

Is there some broad classification of ingredients and how to identify what type of ingredient a certain name suggests? Is there a glossary/definition page that you can refer us to?

For instance, do ‘glycerin’, ‘capric triglyceride’, ‘palm glycerides’, ‘caprylyl glycol’, ‘glyceryl stearate SE’, ‘glyceryl laurate’, ‘glycol distearate’, ‘butylene glycol’, ‘glycerylcocoate’ belong to the same classification? And what are they?

Laura: Unfortunately, unless you’re a chemist or decide to devote yourself to the pharmacological sciences, this is almost impossible to master for most consumers. Yes, there are some roots to words that imply certain things. “GLY”, for example, implies a fat; “OSE” implies a sugar. But all the other roots in each word also mean different things and can signify huge differences.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine

For example: cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB) is a surfactant and an allergen. Coconut oil (cocas nucifera) is an oil and is not an allergen. Both have “coca” imbedded in the name. In the former, it is not the coconut element that is the allergen but the substances used to process the coconut extracts (the “amines”) that make the ingredient allergenic.

Butylene Glycol

Another example: butylene glycol (not an allergen) and propylene glycol (allergen)…both have “glycol”, but the former is a humectant and antioxidant (also not an allergen) while the latter is a formaldehyde-releasing preservative and an allergen.

SLS – Lauryl or Laureth?

Yet another: both Sodium LauRYL Sulfate and Sodium LaurETH Sulfate share lots of elements in their nomenclature. But SLS (the former) is far more irritating than the latter (the latter is actually quite safe). I suppose you could try to memorize RYL as “avoid” and ETH as “better”, but again, this does require some effort.

In addition to understanding (and memorizing!) all the possible combinations of different chemical roots, one would also need to memorize which are on the current allergen lists. As the current lists now specify 76 common allergens (and the lists change every so often), mastering the complexity of cosmetic ingredients is really more of a full-time job than something that most consumers can do, even as a hobby. There aren’t even a lot of dermatologists who are extremely familiar with all these ingredients, the allergens, possible cross reactants, etc. Those that specialize in contact dermatitis would have very in-depth knowledge, and this knowledge takes lots of sustained reading and learning. Considering that only a subset of dermatologists who devote themselves to this study would have this knowledge, you can imagine how difficult it would be for a regular consumer.

This complexity is in part why our founding physician created the VH-Number Rating System. If a patient got a patch test, great: at least she’d know what to avoid. But even then, some chemical names are listed in different ways…or there may be cross reactants that aren’t immediately obvious. With a VH-Number, consumers can immediately see if (and how many) known allergens are included, and the allergen is highlighted in the ingredients list for easy identification.

Marcie Mom: Thanks so much Laura; looks like it’s best to stick to a trusted company for choosing products for our children as you’ve illustrated, it’s near impossible for a mom (plus a stressed one!) to master the ingredients and allergens.

2015 update: Selection of moisturizer – try to see how to put a few basic principles of moisturizer selection in practice

2016 update: Surfactant skincare series that covers ingredients that have been studied to irritate eczema skin, such as CAPB

Categories
Guest Interview

Sensitive Skin Product Series – Understanding Ingredients & Patch Test

I ‘met’ Laura Verallo Rowell Bertotto, the CEO of VMVGroup, on twitter and learnt that her company is the only hypoallergenic brand that validates its hypoallergenicity.

VMV Hypoallergenics is founded in 1979 by Dr. Vermén Verallo-Rowell who is a world renowned dermatologist, dermatopathologist and dermatology/laser surgeon, also an author, esteemed researcher and speaker. 

Sensitive Skin Skincare Product Interview series with Dr Vermen Verallo Rowell VMV Hypoallergenics
  1. Sensitive Skin Product Series – What is Hypoallergenic?
  2. What does Natural Skincare Product mean?
  3. What is considered Organic and Non-Comedogenic?
  4. What does Suitable for Eczema Children mean?
  5. What is Patch Testing (for skincare product ingredients?)
  6. How do you read ingredients on skincare product label?
  7. What does Irritant-Free mean?
  8. What ingredients in skincare product to avoid?
  9. How is Coconut Oil used in skincare?
  10. What is product cross-reactivity?
  11. How many ingredients in a skincare product?
  12. How to use skincare products on Sensitive Skin?
  13. How to manage the diaper area?

Product Label – Deciphering the Skincare Ingredients

I’ve written in this post on how difficult it has been comparing the ingredients across products and make some sense of what they mean. For one, not all products list all their ingredients and even when they do, different companies seem to be giving the same ingredient different names (because they all sound so similar yet not identical!)

Marcie Mom: Laura, thanks again for continuing to help us understand the product label. This interview will focus on getting a broad understanding of labeling ingredients.

i. Is the ‘Ingredient’ list on product packaging Compulsory and Regulated? Does the Ingredient List cover all ingredients? Or can companies pick and choose what they like to reveal?

Laura: In many countries, yes, it is compulsory to list all ingredients, following a specified format, and using only the INCI (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) names of ingredients. A few countries do not require that ingredients be listed, in full or in part, and/or do not have requirements regarding the names used or formatting.

ii. Why is there no percentage (%) beside each ingredient? That way parents can compare and choose the product with the least % of allergen. Also, I read that certain allergen will not trigger a reaction because its concentration is too low in moisturizers but I also read that some products use an exceptionally high concentration of certain irritants.

How can consumer find out the concentration of allergen/irritant in a product?

Laura: This is quite a complex question…love it! 🙂

First, % are not included mostly because of proprietary concerns. A company does not want its exact formulation copied by anyone else.

Second, if a product is a DRUG (prescription or over-the-counter), it does, actually, have to disclose the % of the active ingredient.

Third, an easy way to get an idea of how much of an ingredient is in the formulation is to look at WHERE it is on the ingredients list. Most regulatory bodies require that ingredients be listed from MOST to LEAST.

Fourth: the % of an irritant or allergen is relevant mostly if someone only has irritant reactions to it. Irritant reactions do have a relationship to concentration of ingredient, frequency of exposure, time on skin, etc. For example, you could be using an allergen most of your life and not really react to it or just have mild irritant reactions like dryness. But if you are ALLERGIC to a substance or develop an allergy to it, any % of it for any amount of time on the skin will cause a reaction. Again, this is why a patch test is so important.

Look at WHERE it is on the ingredients list. Most regulatory bodies require that ingredients be listed from MOST to LEAST.

iii. Can you explain a little more on patch test?

Patch-Testing a Skincare Product before Use

A patch test is a painless procedure where ingredients/substances are put on your back in small dollops and kept on for a few days, with readings by your doctor at intervals like 48 and 72 hours. It can be a little costly upfront, but the amount of time, money and discomfort/skin trauma it can save you (versus random trial and error) over time makes up for that hundredfold. It tells you EXACTLY which ingredients you, in particular, need to avoid.

So, for example, you may need to avoid certain dyes in clothing, certain laundry soaps, and certain metals in your cell phone, etc. but may actually be ok using such natural ingredients as tea tree oil…this helps guide you far more specifically. And if you happen to be in the USA and your dermatologist is a member of the American Contact Dermatitis Society, your patch test results can be entered into the CAMP (Contact Allergen Management Program) database…so that instead of just a list of ingredients to avoid, you get a list of brands and product names that you can use.

Not to over-emphasize a point but this is also why the VH-Rating System is so handy. If you have not yet had a patch test, choosing the highest VH-Rating (showing that zero allergens are included in the formulation) can already significantly improve your chances of non-reaction. If you HAVE had a patch test, if an allergen is included in a product, the VH-Rating will alert you to the presence of which allergen in particular is included (for example Vitamin E). If your patch test shows you’re allergic to parabens and not vitamin E, then you probably can still use the product.

Marcie Mom: Thanks so much Laura for your help in helping us understand the big picture on ingredient labeling. In our next interview, we will learn in greater detail about reading ingredients on the label.

2018 update: Check out SkinSAFE app (developed by Mayo Clinic and licensed to Her Inc.) where you can either have your Personal Allergen Code (for US patients) or you select allergens that you want to exclude from products or use their 11 allergens to exclude from products, namely preservatives, fragrance, parabens, lanolin, coconut, topical antibiotic, MCI/MI, nickel, gluten, soy and propylene glycol.

Categories
Guest Interview

Sensitive Skin Product Series – Understanding Organic & Non-Comedogenic

I ‘met’ Laura Verallo Rowell Bertotto, the CEO of VMVGroup, on twitter and learnt that her company is the only hypoallergenic brand that validates its hypoallergenicity.

VMV Hypoallergenics is founded in 1979 by Dr. Vermén Verallo-Rowell who is a world renowned dermatologist, dermatopathologist and dermatology/laser surgeon, also an author, esteemed researcher and speaker. 

Sensitive Skin Skincare Product Interview series with Dr Vermen Verallo Rowell VMV Hypoallergenics
  1. Sensitive Skin Product Series – What is Hypoallergenic?
  2. What does Natural Skincare Product mean?
  3. What is considered Organic and Non-Comedogenic?
  4. What does Suitable for Eczema Children mean?
  5. What is Patch Testing (for skincare product ingredients?)
  6. How do you read ingredients on skincare product label?
  7. What does Irritant-Free mean?
  8. What ingredients in skincare product to avoid?
  9. How is Coconut Oil used in skincare?
  10. What is product cross-reactivity?
  11. How many ingredients in a skincare product?
  12. How to use skincare products on Sensitive Skin?
  13. How to manage the diaper area?
Skincare products organic certification what it means and is it better for eczema skin

Terms on Product Label – What They Really Mean and Do They Mean Well?

Marcie Mom: Today’s learning more about terms like ‘organic’, ‘non-comedogenic’ and ‘pH-balanced’

Organic – This is a term that always baffles me and reading the amount of debate online as to what is organic is even more confusing!

Can you explain to us whether the use of ‘organic’ term is regulated?

Laura: Regulation is much clearer for “organic” which requires certification by certain bodies that have earned the right to certify organicity (certain companies authorized by the US Department of Agriculture, for instance). For example, the virgin coconut oil we use is USDA-certified — a seal that has very strict requirements, that necessitates an inspector to travel to our farm and inspect it in person (including how we extract the oil) and a seal which we have to renew (to “re-earn”) regularly.

With the proper certification, “organic” is arguably far more reliable than “natural”.

Non-Comedogenic

Marcie Mom: Non-comedogenic – I noticed that your products are listed as ‘non-comedogenic’ and ‘non-drying’. Can you explain to us what this mean and also what pH-balanced means?

Laura: Non-comedogenic means will not clog pores…and this is important for compliance. If a product will not cause reactions or offers a very effective clinical therapy…but then causes acne…then people are less likely to use it or may have just created more problems to deal with.

Non-drying is related to allergenicity. Many people who experience dry skin do not realize that they may already be experiencing a mild allergic or irritant reaction. We use this term to alert people to this fact. As well, some non-pore-clogging products achieve pore-friendliness via the inclusion of ingredients that do dry out the skin.

Important note: Many skin conditions, including psoriasis, eczema, acne and aging, are caused by, worsened by, or related to inflammation. The more a product can help reduce inflammation or if it can contain an anti-inflammatory, the better for most skin concerns. Also, the less inflammation to have to fight, the stronger the skin is and the better able to, on its own, ward off infection, reactions and other problems.

pH-Balanced

pH-balanced is an interesting term because it could mean completely neutral, which may or may not be ideal for a formulation. The skin’s natural pH is actually slightly more acidic (5.5-6.5) than neutral (which is 7). Bar soaps, because of the way they are made, intrinsically tend to have a more basic or higher pH (some going as high as 8 or 9). This can, on its own, be quite denaturing and very drying to skin. Most of our products for very dry, sensitive skin skew towards the skin’s natural pH as much as possible, or slightly lower…we try to avoid the high range as much as possible.

Marcie Mom: Thanks! So, we’ve covered the more common terms in labels and discussed whether they are truly meaningful. In the next interview, we’ll understand more about the term most parents with eczema children look for, i.e. “suitable for eczema/ infant”.

2018 update: Read FDA’s article on regulation of “organic”, which is under US Department of Agriculture (USDA)

2014 update: Read my interview with dermatologist Dr Cheryl Lee on eczema skin and pH

Categories
Guest Interview

Registered Dietitian Answers on Child’s Diet

Joy Musselman, Registered Dietitian who specialize in weight management

Joy Musselman @MyDietitianJoy answers Marcie Mom’s questions relating to children’s diet. Joy hosted a live chat #foodchat and was kind enough to answer my questions even after the chat! Here’re the three questions I asked and Joy’s replies:

Marcie Mom:  Any recommendations on what a child with sensitive skin or eczema should eat to improve his or her skin condition?
 
Joy: For eczema a varied diet is best. Not sure of your child age but recommend try avocados, whole grains, and lots of fruits/veggies.
 
Marcie Mom: How long should a child keep drinking baby juice that’s vitamin fortified? When can he/she upgrade to fruit juice? Is there still a need to dilute?
 
Joy: 100% fruit juice is ok after 6months but limit to 4-6oz per new guidelines.
 
Marcie Mom: Can a child drink cold water? Any adverse effect? From how young can cold water be given to a child? (The reason I asked this was because my baby Marcie loves cold drinks and sometimes I distract her from scratching! See this post)
.
Joy: Water is ok (even cold) once solid foods are introduced. I give water only with solids. Breastmilk or formula to meet fluid needs.
Categories
Guest Interview

Sensitive Skin Product Series – Understanding Natural

I ‘met’ Laura Verallo Rowell Bertotto, the CEO of VMVGroup, on twitter and learnt that her company is the only hypoallergenic brand that validates its hypoallergenicity.

VMV Hypoallergenics is founded in 1979 by Dr. Vermén Verallo-Rowell who is a world renowned dermatologist, dermatopathologist and dermatology/laser surgeon, also an author, esteemed researcher and speaker. 

Sensitive Skin Skincare Product Interview series with Dr Vermen Verallo Rowell VMV Hypoallergenics
  1. Sensitive Skin Product Series – What is Hypoallergenic?
  2. What does Natural Skincare Product mean?
  3. What is considered Organic and Non-Comedogenic?
  4. What does Suitable for Eczema Children mean?
  5. What is Patch Testing (for skincare product ingredients?)
  6. How do you read ingredients on skincare product label?
  7. What does Irritant-Free mean?
  8. What ingredients in skincare product to avoid?
  9. How is Coconut Oil used in skincare?
  10. What is product cross-reactivity?
  11. How many ingredients in a skincare product?
  12. How to use skincare products on Sensitive Skin?
  13. How to manage the diaper area?
Skincare product labeling Natural FTC and FDA limitation and settlements
As Natural as Nature?

Terms on Product Label – What They Really Mean and Do They Mean Well?

MarcieMom: Let’s continue to understand what ‘Natural’ means!

Natural – I don’t use products labelled ‘natural’ for my baby because my husband who has eczema always find that natural products sting his skin. I understand that natural ingredients do not necessarily mean not allergenic and can’t understand why there seems to be so much ‘hype’ around being natural.

Can you explain when/why natural becomes popular and is there a valid reason for selecting natural products?

Is there regulation governing the use of this term and what percentage of the total ingredients must be natural before a product can label itself as such?

Laura: Great question and let’s break it down one by one 🙂

Natural seems to have grown in popularity due to two main reasons, both of which are good in and of themselves and should lead to more good:

1) A growing desire among more and more people to have safer products in their lives. This can arguably be attributed to the internet’s ability to make so much more information available so quickly to more people, as well as that people seem to have become far more aware of what they put in and on their bodies than ever before. With obesity now an epidemic in some countries, we’ve also begun to take a closer look at the quality of foods we’re imbibing. One of the biggest concerns has been the amount of processed foods that we consume, for example, and therefore the drive to go back to less processed foods, more locally available, etc. This desire for safety seems to be driving the desire for “natural”.

2) Another big driver for “natural” is the desire to be more environmentally responsible. Thankfully, we are learning as a species (albeit slowly) that this is one planet and it needs a lot of help!

These two main drivers, I would argue, are what are behind the “hype” of natural.

Regulating ‘Natural’ in Skincare

There is, however, a lot of confusion surrounding the term “natural.” First off, you’re right, it’s not yet regulated. Almost anything natural has to be processed in some way to be able to be used, so regulation eventually needs to be standardized to settle on what amount and what type of processing is allowed. There are certain brands that are spearheading this much-needed regulation, but for now, it’s still pretty ambiguous.

What’s Natural?

Another thing that seems to trip people up is the perceived line between “natural” and “chemical”. Everything in nature (see the periodic table of elements) is expressed in a chemical signature (water is hydrogen + oxygen; vitamin E is tocopheryl acetate…both of which sound “chemical”). This is further complicated by some semantics. In sunscreens, “chemical” ingredients are actually correctly called “organic”; and “physical” ingredients are correctly termed “inorganic”. Definitely confusing 🙂

Does Natural = Hypoallergenic?

As you pointed out, many, many, many natural ingredients are highly allergenic. The extremes would be bee stings, shellfish and peanuts…which, no matter how natural and organic, can be extremely allergenic or even deadly for those allergic to them. Pollen, dander, mangoes and strawberries are highly allergenic, too. Tea tree oil is on the allergen list, as are Ylang Ylang, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil (Lavender Oil), and most fragrances — no matter how fresh-from-the-earth-and-farmed-by-your-own-hands they are.

We try to use natural/organic ingredients as much as possible — because we do want to use less processed ingredients and would like to be more responsible to the planet. But at VMV our mandate is very strictly hypoallergenicity and clinical efficacy. So those are our primary filters. If a natural/organic ingredient meets these criteria (such as virgin coconut oil and green tea, which are both extremely well studied, with lots of published research, and not on allergen lists), then we will use them.

MarcieMom: What are some natural ingredients that are considered hypoallergenic? Also, which natural ingredient tends to trigger allergies but yet commonly marketed as good for skin?

Laura: Some natural ingredients considered allergenic are listed above, many of which are commonly marketed as good for the skin. HOWEVER, please remember that we are all individuals. MANY people can use ingredients that are allergens! Repeated exposure to them over time can lead to skin sensitivity and other problems later on (like darkening, etc.) but still, there is a large proportion of the population that can tolerate these allergens. Therefore, brands that market these ingredients as good for the skin may not be misrepresenting anything. Vitamin E, for example, is a WONDERFUL antioxidant. It is on the latest allergen lists, which is why we’ve reformulated many products to remove it. But it has ample evidence to support that it does, in fact, have many properties that are great for skin.

Coconut oil, its monoglyceride derivative, coconut water, green tea, rice phytic acid are virtually non-allergenic. Note that olive oil often needs to be preserved because it is a mono-unsaturated oil (C18:1) versus coconut oil, mostly C8, C10, C12 and all with saturated carbon bonds. Therefore, coconut oil does not need to be preserved. The gallates preservative of olive oil have been reported to be allergens.  Most other oils bought from the shelf are long chain polyunsaturated oils and often are also preserved or contain trans fats from partial hydrogenation and are no longer “natural”.

Marcie Mom: Thanks! Today, we’ve learnt lots on ‘Natural’ and we’ll be learning more about ‘Organic’, another very common term in product label.

2018 update: FTC (Federal Trade Commission) monitors marketing terms on product and has updated on their website in 2016 that as of that time, there were 4 proposed settlements and administrative issued complaint to challenge the allegedly deceptive use of those phrases in ads for skincare products, shampoos and styling products, and sunscreens.

From what I can see, the FTC was able to take actions because those products were labeled 100% natural. What about “natural” without the “100%/All”? No regulation or action can be taken. For instance, one of the four products mentioned in FTC site was beyond coastal sunscreen, which continued to be labeled “natural” – there are natural ingredients in it, but also “non-natural” ones:

Acai Fruit Extract, Allantoin, Aloe Vera Extract, Arachidyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Capric/Caprylic Triglycerides, Caprylyl Glycol, Castor Isostearate Succinate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocoa Butter, Dimethicone, Galactoarabinan, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Grapeseed Oil, Irish Moss Extract, Jojoba Seed Oil, Lauric Arginate, Methylcellulose, Phenylethyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 60, Pomegranate Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Rosehip Seed Oil, Sclerotium Gum, Shea Butter, Sorbitan Stearate, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Water.

The positive thing though is that none of the above ingredients (though I’m not sure why so many ingredients are necessary) are on the 86 contact allergens established in humans as compiled by the European Commission – Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety.

Categories
Guest Interview

Clothing that is the Nearest Thing to a Second Skin with Anti-Microbial Properties

Girl wearing Dermasilk garments and glove (picture from dermasilk.co.uk)

DermaSilk is a range of specialist garments especially suited for eczema children that MarcieMom first came across on twitter. Interested to find out how it can help parents manage their children’s eczema, MarcieMom contacted Jo Fletcher, the Operations Director of Espere  Healthcare Ltd, the company that manages the sale of DermaSilk. (2018 update: Alpretec is selling Dermasilk directly). DermaSilk is produced by ALPRETEC, an Italian company that has extensive experience manufacturing allergy protection products. DermaSilk is developed with a patented process that binds the medical grade silk to an anti-microbial shield that can reduce 94% of staphylococcus aureus (staph), a bacteria that commonly colonizes eczema skin and causes skin infection.

Marcie Mom: Jo, thank you so much for taking time to explain DermaSilk to us. I’ve read your very informative website and understand that DermaSilk is not the same as shop bought silk because the outer coating of the silk (sericin protein) has been stripped off, leaving the core known as fibroin. This is because the outer layer has been shown to cause allergic reactions. Do you know if the sericin protein is a common irritant? Also, does stripping this layer remove the antioxidants present in silk?

Jo: Sericin-free silk has been used in medical practice for many years in the form of surgical sutures (stitches). Hospitals use this form of silk as there have been reports in the medical literature of allergic reactions to sericin both in patients and in people working in the silk manufacturing industry. It is not a common irritant but with most eczema patients the irritation of sensitive skin is the last thing you would want to promote so it is logical to use medical grade fibroin silk. We’ve never measured the anti-oxidant properties of silk as our aim is to control temperature and humidity to prevent itch.

Marcie Mom: DermaSilk has taken the silk, modified it to medical grade, and enhanced it with the anti-microbial shield. I viewed with interest your video that this shield can reduce staph as it pierces the microbes and destroys it without using chemicals such as silver or nano-particles that will leach to the skin. In fact, DermaSilk can even be an alternative to steroid. Under what circumstances would you recommend parents to use DermaSilk instead of steroids? For instance, only in mild cases or certain types of eczema such as those not triggered by food?

Jo: As silk is a natural protein fibre it can be prone to attack by bacteria and fungi so it is important that we protect it from colonisation by microbes which would make eczema worse. Unlike silver, our antimicrobial is designed to bond with the silk and it cannot be washed or worn off. This means that it does not get onto the skin or into the body of the wearer so continues to work for the life of the garment. We’ve run a large number of clinical trials with DermaSilk, one of them comparing DermaSilk with a topical corticosteroid to compare efficacy. What the researchers found was that there was no difference between arms treated with 7 days of steroid and arms clothed in DermaSilk. We would not advocate that DermaSilk replaces any prescribed medication. It is intended to be an “add on” treatment which will help to control the symptoms of eczema in such a way as to possibly reduce the need for topical steroids in the future as the frequency and severity of eczema flares tends to reduce when using DermaSilk.

Marcie Mom: So what is it that DermaSilk does?

Jo: It’s really very simple. DermaSilk stops itch! It is made of a knitted fabric which helps to control temperature and humidity close to the skin. When skin is too hot or cold or too dry or too damp it itches and scratching the itch leads to more itching and skin damage. Worn as underwear, DermaSilk helps to keep optimal levels of moisture and temperature close to the skin, even in hot and humid environments.

Marcie Mom: I think we have a clearer picture of DermaSilk’s features. Let’s learn how to use DermaSilk. Parents may be mistaken to use DermaSilk as a wet or dry wrap because that is the main use of other types of medical clothing. This is incorrect as large quantities of moisturizers used in “wrapping” can impede the function of the product. Also, DermaSilk is to be worn at all times. Practically, does this mean parents who need to moisturize their child frequently have to remove DermaSilk garments, apply moisturizer/steroid, wait for them to be absorbed then put the garment back on? Or would you say it’s more suitable for night time use in young children?

Jo: Many people confuse the use of DermaSilk with wrapping garments so it is good to have the opportunity to put the matter straight. Wrapping garments are used for getting difficult eczema cases under control and may only be needed for a short period of time. During their use the child has to be covered in thick layers of sticky emollient ointments and the garments are pulled over the emollient to help force the moisturiser into the skin. Wet wraps involve two layers of garments and dry wrapping a single layer but these garments are to keep the moisturiser in place for a short time.

By contrast, DermaSilk is designed to help control stable eczema and this is achieved by constant wearing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whether the eczema is causing a problem or not. Think of it as normal underwear. It is always advisable to let moisturisers dry before you put the DermaSilk on but we find that in many cases the need to apply moisturisers frequently drops to a couple of times a day because the silk is helping to protect the skin. This means that DermaSilk can be used both day and night.

Marcie Mom: We know that eczema children are very good at scratching hard. Will their scratching damage DermaSilk garment? Is the DermaSilk glove recommended for young children who can’t keep their mittens on?

Jo: DermaSilk removes the itch so the desire to scratch reduces. The garments are pretty robust and, providing they are worn under normal clothing, little fingers are not likely to damage the clothing. For the smaller children, aged up to 4 the DermaSilk body suits have integral mits which can be folded over the hands to protect them. DermaSilk gloves, used from age 4 upwards are not intended to stop fingers from scratching but to stop hands from itching. Remember it is the anti-itch properties of the clothing which sets DermaSilk aside.

Marcie Mom: One interesting point is that DermaSilk doesn’t have to dry completely before the child can wear as it can retain 30% moisture without feeling damp. Does the higher moisture retention make DermaSilk susceptible to mould? And will it expand and become loose overtime?

Jo: Silk needs to be humid in order to function properly and just like healthy skin it performs best when at 30% humidity. As with skin, silk will attract bacteria and fungi and this is why the antimicrobial is bonded to the silk to help prevent this buildup and keep the garment fresh and the skin free of excess microbes.

Marcie Mom: A final question on the durability of DermaSilk. I note that DermaSilk’s anti-microbial shield has been tested for over 50 washes. My child with eczema showers twice a day so does that mean DermaSilk can last 25 days?

Jo: Not at all! We tested the durability of the antimicrobial for over 50 washes and found that less than 1% of the activity of the antimicrobial had been removed. Our garments will last for as long as they are the right size for the child to fit into them and we’ve even had instances of families passing them down to younger siblings. 6 to 12 month lifespans are not uncommon.

Marcie Mom: Thanks, I’ve learnt a great deal about DermaSilk and must say I’m impressed with the technology. p.s. to readers of eczemablues.com, I did not receive any money from Espere Healthcare or Alpretec for this interview.

Categories
Guest Interview

What I’ve learnt from Dr Ava Shamban’s Channel – Protecting Skin

Dr AVA MD’s Channel

Been watching Dr Ava Shamban’s Channel – a series of youtube videos relating to skincare. Dr. Ava Shamban–a renowned board-certified dermatologist licensed to practice medicine in California, New York and Hawaii–graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University before receiving her medical degree from Case Western Reserve Medical School. In addition to serving as Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology at the UCLA-Geffen School of Medicine, she is recognized as the “Extreme Makeover” dermatologist and the resident expert on the Emmy winning daytime talk show, “The Doctors.” Dr. Shamban is also author of the new book, Heal Your Skin: The Breakthrough Plan for Renewal (Wiley)

Dr. Ava on How Exercise Benefits Skin
Exercise can increase circulation, thereby increasing nutrients to the skin and reducing toxins. Cortisol, produced by adrenal gland, will also be reduced (cortisol lowers immune system). Any exercise that can be carried out on daily/ every other day basis is good!
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Dr Ava on How to Avoid Stress that Causes Acne
Stress can manifest both internally and externally, on the skin. Stress, increases cortisol, which is viewed as a male-like hormone (androgen) and increases acne. To de-stress, relax and nap. A combination of rest and exercise is always beneficial.
See also my post here on stress on children with eczema.
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Dr Ava on How to Buy Quality Skincare at the Drugstore
The skincare products suited for you may not necessarily be the most expensive; label-reading is important (which is why I’ve started the Sensitive Skin Products series with VMVHypoallergenics). Make sure that the active ingredient is in the first five ingredients and the product is fragrance-free. In Dr Ava’s words ‘If you want to use perfume, use perfume; but not on your face’.
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Dr Ava on How to Choose the Right Sunscreen and SPF?
Choose a high SPF especially at least SPF50 on higher altitude. Choose one that is not too oily or greasy and comfortable to use (with make-up). If doing sports, need a water-proof or resistant one. Sunscreen on the face is formulated differently with that on the body.
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Sun-protection is discussed and Dr Ava’s recommendation is to have a high SPF sunscreen, wide-brimmed hat and wear sun-protective clothing (there’s even for babies with SPF 50 rating). Choose physical sunscreen that’s safer for children (you can see this post for more info). For face, a non-comedogenic lotion with SPF can also be used. There’re also certain foods that can help increase SPF, mainly red/purple fruits such as pomegranate, carrots, watermelons, blueberry and raspberry!
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Guest Interview

Sensitive Skin Product Series – Understanding Hypoallergenic

I ‘met’ Laura Verallo Rowell Bertotto, the CEO of VMVGroup, on twitter and learnt that her company is the only hypoallergenic brand that validates its hypoallergenicity.

VMV Hypoallergenics is founded in 1979 by Dr. Vermén Verallo-Rowell who is a world renowned dermatologist, dermatopathologist and dermatology/laser surgeon, also an author, esteemed researcher and speaker. 

Sensitive Skin Skincare Product Interview series with Dr Vermen Verallo Rowell VMV Hypoallergenics

This is a 13-part series focused on understanding and using products for sensitive skin, an important topic given the generous amount of moisturizers that go onto the skin of a child with eczema. Dr. Vermén created the VH Rating System which is the only validated hypoallergenic rating system in the world and is used across all the products at VMV. With a shared interest to help those with sensitive skin, Laura, Dr Vermén and I collaborated to bring you this series:

  1. Sensitive Skin Product Series – What is Hypoallergenic?
  2. What does Natural Skincare Product mean?
  3. What is considered Organic and Non-Comedogenic?
  4. What does Suitable for Eczema Children mean?
  5. What is Patch Testing (for skincare product ingredients?)
  6. How do you read ingredients on skincare product label?
  7. What does Irritant-Free mean?
  8. What ingredients in skincare product to avoid?
  9. How is Coconut Oil used in skincare?
  10. What is product cross-reactivity?
  11. How many ingredients in a skincare product?
  12. How to use skincare products on Sensitive Skin?
  13. How to manage the diaper area?
Testing Hypoallergenic (picture from vmvhypoallergenics.com)
Testing Hypoallergenic (picture from vmvhypoallergenics.com)

In this interview, Laura answers Marcie Mom’s questions on understanding the product label.

Terms on Product Label – What They Really Mean and Do They Mean Well?

Common terms that the average consumer may look out for will be ‘hypoallergenic’, ‘natural’ and ‘100% organic’. Hypoallergenic refers to less likely to cause allergies while the definition of ‘natural’ and ‘organic’ is vague.

Marcie Mom: Laura, thanks for helping to answer these questions that confuse me and so many parents looking for a suitable moisturizer for their eczema child. Let’s tackle them one by one.

What’s Hypoallergenic?

MarcieMom: I am looking at my baby’s moisturizers and one brand says hypoallergenic while the other does not. I read that at VMV, you rate a product using the VH Rating System that grades a product safety based on how many allergens it does not contain (i.e. higher score means less allergens). However, I don’t see such rating system in other brands.

How do I then know how hypoallergenic it is? Or in other words, is there a regulatory body that ensures the product meet at least some criteria before it can be labeled as ‘hypoallergenic’?

And, is some country stricter in the use of the term?

Laura: Actually, the “hypoallergenic” claim is one of the biggest problems with cosmetics — different FDAs regulate the term differently and some don’t at all. Even when there are regulations, these are minimal or are poorly defined. This applies to the United States as well where a judicial ruling in the 1970s for the FDA to regulate the term was overturned by the Court of Appeals.

As a result of this decision many U.S. manufacturers can label and advertise their cosmetics as “hypoallergenic” without being required to provide supporting evidence. Consequently, neither consumers nor doctors have much assurance that such claims are valid. One recent ruling by the US-FDA requires that ingredients used in cosmetics be listed in the product label — which is definitely an improvement but unless one is extremely familiar with ingredient names, it may not be of much help regarding the hypoallergenic claim.

This lack of definite regulatory criteria for the “hypoallergenic” label is a problem for those who really need hypoallergenicity or who want skin-safer care.

Dermatologists tend to not respect the claim and consumers, as you mention in your blog, are at a loss about how to interpret it.

VH-Number Rating System

It’s precisely because of this lack of regulation that our founder, a dermatologist-dermatopathologist who specializes in several diseases like chronic and recurring contact dermatitis and atopic dermatoses, created the VH-Number Rating System. She wanted an objective way to prove hypoallergenicity — one whose criteria are clear, reliable, repeatable, easy for the consumer to follow, and whose basis is respectably peer-reviewed and published.

The VH-Number Rating System is based on a list of allergens. This list is collated from the assessment by independent groups from Europe, the United States, Canada and other countries of contact dermatitis experts who regularly do patch tests and publish the ranking of these allergens. Altogether, these doctors now test over 20,000 people yearly. Because the patch tests are done on so many people across many countries, and are updated every few years, this list is the most reliable reference for the top allergens that produce allergic reactions in people.

In our products, we use this list to know what to OMIT from our formulations. And the VH-Rating System is the only system to show how many of these allergens are NOT in a product. It works a little like an SPF in that it’s a simple numerical guide as to the hypoallergenicity of a product. As with an SPF, the higher the VH Number the better (the more allergens are omitted).

This VH system was recently published in Dermatitis, the journal of the American Contact Dermatitis Society and a leading publication on contact and atopic dermatitis. The article states that the VH-Number Rating System is “shown to objectively validate the hypoallergenic cosmetics claim”. So finally, yes, there is a way to objectively measure a product’s hypoallergenicity.

When Skincare Products are Not Rated

If a brand does not use the VH-Rating System (it is proprietary to VMV), you have to be a bit of a contact derm AND chemistry expert. Why?

First, you have to have access to or memorize the list of allergens. Right now, there are 76 allergens…quite a lot to memorize. As well, the list changes every few years, so you’d have to keep up-to-date…not easy if you’re not a dermatologist who specializes in this.

As well, you’d need to know your chemistry well enough to be able to recognize the different names that ingredients can sometimes have. For example:

1.   Fragrances are always top allergens…but you may not know that cinnamic alcohol is actually a type of fragrance.

2.   “Preservative-free” product may be using fragrances to preserve the product but unless you recognize the chemical or “INCI” (International Nomenclature of Cosmetic Ingredients) name, you may not realize it.

3.   Cross-Interaction – You may also not know which ingredients cross react with each other. For example, beeswax is an allergen…but propolis is related to it.

4.   Similar Names – More mind-boggling examples are things like SLS and SLES. Neither are on the allergen lists. Both have had some irritations reported (not so much allergic reactions) but far more with SLS and in both cases, reactions seem highly concentration-related. BUT both ingredients actually have the initials SLS…you would have to know that SLS is Sodium LauRYL Sulfate (to avoid) and SLES is Sodium LaurETH Sulfate (relatively ok).

Marcie Mom: Thanks! I’ve certainly learnt lots about what’s hypoallergenic and look forward to learning about the other common terms used in product label!

2018 update: The ruling to regulate “hypoallergenics” is still not successful, read FDA article here – they even termed it an “ill-fated” regulation! Read a compilation of all the labeling claims at FDA’s site to understand what each skincare product labeling term (does not) mean!

Categories
Eczema Tips Guest Interview

Easy to Use Wet Wrapping to Keep Child’s Skin Hydrated

Tubifast Garment (pic taken from www.molnlycke.com)

MarcieMom learnt online that wet wrapping is a method used to keep moisturizer/emollient on the child’s skin, particularly for children who has severe eczema and requires their skin to be kept hydrated. MarcieMom started looking for easy to use wet wrapping in Singapore and found that Tubifast Garments, a product of Mölnlycke Health Care Limited, is available in Mount Elizabeth Hospital (Update 2019: The common Tubifast bandage sizes are also available at Guardian pharmacy). As some parents are new to Tubifast, MarcieMom contacted Mölnlycke Health Care to find out more about their products and how to use them.

Marcie Mom: I read from your website that Tubifast is a 2-way stretch technology, meaning it can stretch horizontally as well as vertically. It comes in ‘tube’, therefore removing the need to bandage and secure with tapes or pins. It is recommended on your site to be worn by children under their clothes, including pajamas. I haven’t seen the actual product, but I imagined it to be like wearing thermal wear which isn’t very appealing and brings to mind trapping heat and scratchy. From your experience, how did the children with eczema describe wearing Tubifast?

Mölnlycke Health Care: Tubifast is made of SoftSeam technology which helps to reduce irritation of sensitive skin. The material of Tubifast is very soft and comfortable, yet not very thick. It is totally different from thermal wear. For Eczema patient, Tubifast is worn after application of emollient (either wet wrapping or patch wrapping). Feedback from children are always very comfortable and it really eases their itchiness and prevents them from scratching.

Marcie Mom: It is written on your website to first apply Epaderm (an emollient brand under Mölnlycke), followed by wearing Tubifast Garment/bandage. Does a certain type of emollient go better with Tubifast? And is there a preference for lotion or cream when using with Tubifast?

Mölnlycke Health Care: No. Any type of emollient that is meant for ezema can be used with tubifast.

Marcie Mom: For wet wrapping, it is stated on your website to wear one damp layer of Tubifast, over the moisturizer, followed by another dry layer. This sounds really warm to me, yet I understand that the damp layer can cool and soothe the skin. How does this work? And how long can the child’s skin be kept cool?

Mölnlycke Health Care: Wet wrapping helps to keep skin hydrated and moist, hence reduces inflammation. It also helps to ease the itch and scratch cycle for ezema patients by giving a cooling sensation to the skin that prevents children from further scratching and causing potential injury. You can constantly keep the damp layer moist by spraying water every few hours (depending on the environment / temperature especially in the air-condition room).

Marcie Mom: I’m thinking through some practical questions parents may have, such as (i) how many hours should my child wear Tubifast for it to be effective? (ii) how often should I wash Tubifast? (iii) how do I wash Tubifast, can it be steamed? (iv) will my child get crinkled skin from osmosis? (v) will my child catch a cold like wearing wet clothes? (vi) can my child continue to sleep in air-conditioned room?

Mölnlycke Health Care: (i) Usually Tubifast wet-wrapping is worn during night time. However, please consult a dermatologist who specializes in treating atopic ezema. (ii) No fixed frequency for washing. As and when deem required. (iii) Hand wash tubifast and air-dry it. (iv) So far we have not received such feedback but please consult your dermatologist for further information (v) Tubifast wet-wrapping is to be worn under supervision of a healthcare professional (vi) Please consult your healthcare professional.

Marcie Mom: Thanks, I think we’ve covered many questions that will come to parents’ mind. Should there be more questions, I’ll let you know and update in the comments. p.s. to readers of eczemablues.com, I asked for this interview as I’m curious why wet wrapping is seldom seen in Singapore. I did not receive any money from Mölnlycke Health Care for this interview.

Categories
Eczema Tips Guest Interview

Does Massage Help Infant Eczema?

Special Guest – Massage Therapist – Paola Bassanese

Massage is frequently cited as beneficial and recommended in many baby guidebooks. As one of the benefits of massage is reducing stress of the child, and stress is a common eczema trigger, this post explores the benefits of massage and how it can be applied to a child with eczema.

Special Guest: Paola Bassanese is the founder, director and lead therapist at Energya Ltd, a massage therapy clinic based in Central London. Paola received ITEC Qualifications in Swedish massage and has won several awards, including the prestigious special award from Italian Chambers of Commerce for representing Trieste, Italy abroad. Paola is also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and Kingsroad.co.uk. Paola will advise further on massage techniques for eczema children and teenagers.

Benefits of Massage

Massage has many benefits, but pertaining to eczema children, there is a research study that shows decreased eczema symptoms in children whose moisturizers are massaged onto the body versus normal application. As stress is a common trigger of eczema, reducing stress through massage may help to relieve an eczema flare. Massage has also been cited to increase bonding with parents, reduce colic and constipation and improve sleep.

How to Massage

Personally, I think babies enjoy touch and just stroking them (and making funny, happy faces) is great. Paola will suggest some techniques for massaging children. Also, teenagers generally feel awkward being massaged by their parents and thus enlisting the help of a massage therapist will be useful. Below are some quick guidelines for massaging children with eczema:

–        Oil is often recommended but given the sensitive nature of eczema skin, it’s best to stick with the moisturizers that you’re already using on your child.

–        Choose a nice, quiet time and set a cosy atmosphere. Best not to massage after food. Massage after bathing is usually the best time for babies.

–        Keep the session short, be gentle and cut your nails, remove rings and scratchy material.

–        For eczema child who is prone to dry skin, avoid rubbing the skin too hard but instead stroke gently downward.

–        Finally, gauge your baby’s response! If baby is already squirming and upset, don’t add to the stress by forcing a massage.

Paola’s Advice

–         First of all, go on a massage class you make sure you apply the technique correctly. A mother and baby massage course would be a perfect starting point.

–         Some oils can be irritating so only use a lotion prescribed by your doctor. Sometimes coconut oil can be used but check for allergies.

–         The best technique to use for eczema is manual lymphatic drainage. Ideally you need to pass a massage course and a specialised lymphatic drainage course or workshop to be able to perform this technique. However, you can follow these tips:

–         Always apply the lighted of pressures working in small semi-circles on the face. Work upwards from the neck, to the jaw, chin, cheeks, eyebrows. The idea is to “pump” the skin slowly and delicately, almost patting the skin cells onto the face.

–         On the arms and legs, work from the extremities towards the heart: from fingertips to armpits and from toes up to the hips. Here the movements are different and the small circles are only used on the inside of the upper arms and the inside of the inner legs. Forearms and lower legs need a gentle brushing motion, where you “scoop” the skin lightly towards the heart.

–         Abdominal massage: follow the large intestine doing small circles starting from the bottom right of the abdominal wall going up on a straight line, then going across under the rib cage on a horizontal line, and finally moving downwards on a vertical line. Continue with small circles around the belly button. The pressure must be light to avoid discomfort.

–         Lymphatic drainage can be particularly beneficial for teenagers as it can rebalance the production of sebum on the face and soothe acne breakouts. You can concentrate on the face and arms only if the young person is feeling self-conscious. Another alternative is to use pressure points so no skin is exposed. Using your thumbs, follow the length of the spine on either side pressing for a few seconds then releasing.

During an inflammatory flare-up any type of touch may feel uncomfortable especially if the skin is dry and cracked. In that case avoid broken skin and only light massage the areas that are looking healthier or massage the scalp to provide some relaxation.

Categories
Guest Interview

Questions I asked at webinar hosted by DrSearsLean

Dr Sears L.E.A.N. webinar on The Pros and Cons of Soy (image from DrSearsLean.com)

It’s another first for me, participating in a webinar, this time hosted by DrSearsLean. The webinar was conducted by Dominique Hodgin, MA, NE, the Executive Director of Education at DrSearsLean and Nutritionist. The presentation covered the definition of soy as well as the positive and negative effects of soy. I’ll leave to DrSearsLean to update you on the presentation which will be made available on his website; for me, I managed to get my questions related to eczema children answered and presenting to you as fast as I can!

Marcie Mom:   For infants who are diagnosed with eczema, should they switch to cow’s milk alternative like soy or goat or partially hydrolysed milk?

Dominique: A lot of the soy-based infant formula are isolated soy proteins which can potentially create some problems associated with soy isolates. If non-soy formula can be consumed by the infant, it’ll be better to consume a non-soy one. Dr Sears recommended in his book that even if the infant has to use a soy formula, it is good to try to reintroduce lactose at a later age.

Marcie Mom: Can a skin prick test accurately detect a soy allergy? How young can an infant take a skin prick test?

Dominique: Yes, a skin prick test can detect a soy allergy. Infant, as young as 6 month old can take a skin prick test (younger than that, may not be accurate).  Of course, to be sure, you can check for symptoms of allergy whether present/absent after eliminating soy from the diet.

Marcie Mom: For moms with cow’s milk allergy, would drinking soy during pregnancy instead of cow’s milk, reduce chance of baby developing soy allergy? (actually, I typed in the incorrect question, wanted to ask if it’d reduce chance of baby developing milk allergy)

Dominique: Not necessary. Milk allergy is a broad term, as there are various components that one may be allergic to, say whey. In any case, no definite on moms’ diet on baby’s development of allergy/not. Do also note that one does not only consume soy through drinking soy, as soy is present in many packaged food. Key is not to over consume soy.

Read more on food allergies for children, including soy allergy

Learn more from nutritionist and dietitian Judy Converse MPH LD RD about breast milk, cow’s milk and other alternatives

Categories
Guest Interview Support Group

Building a Vibrant Support Group in Today’s Society

Amanda Roberts, the lady twittering for @EczemaSupport

@MarcieMom met Amanda Roberts, the lady who listens and writes to close to 3,000 followers over Twitter for the Nottingham Support Group for Carers of Children with Eczema (NSGCCE) under the name @EczemaSupport. As MarcieMom has just started the support group for parents, and seeing that @EczemaSupport is so effective in engaging its followers, MarcieMom invited Amanda for a blog interview, so that both support group organizers and members can learn how to partner and build their support groups.

Marcie Mom: Hi Amanda, thank you for taking time to answer my questions. First, tell us a little more about yourself and how you got into twittering for NSGCCE in 2009?

Amanda: Our group, Nottingham Support Groups for Carers of Children with Eczema, was started nearly twenty years ago.  It is a joint initiative between carers of children and health care professionals.  These healthcare professionals have so much knowledge and experience, and have made an impact on eczema services locally and nationally.  Everyone involved works on a voluntary basis. This is lucky because it means we have never had to raise funds from commercial sources, so our information is demonstrably uninfluenced by corporate concerns.

I am just a parent of two boys with eczema.  There is, as you might expect, a family history of atopy – I have eczema, so does my mother: we have asthma, hay fever and anaphylaxis to contend with too.

The group used to meet face to face every other month and we had carers attend from all over the region.  But we knew there was a big need further afield which the meetings were not addressing.  We developed our website and started to move toward providing support and information through web based applications.  Twitter is so appropriate for reaching out to those within the Twitter community who are managing eczema within their family.  It allows us to share and to learn.  Fabulous.

Marcie Mom: In today’s society where nuclear and double-income families are the norm, parents usually find it difficult to find time to meet other parents. Personally, I feel that it’s even more difficult to find secondary caregivers for eczema children because they require more care and attention. Do you think this is a factor that contributes to support groups being difficult to take off?

Amanda: That is a good point.  It has to be a factor.  Meeting a need for eczema support in a time and a location convenient for the carer is one of the advantages we have found with moving to Twitter.

Marcie Mom: Do you think parents prefer to participate in private group mails where only other members of the same support group can view or do you think they prefer public forums?

Amanda: Parents and carers will have different feelings about this, and it will depend in part on what they want to discuss.  There has to be a place for both scenarios. It is not necessary for a support group to provide both but if a person responds in a private group setting, they should be able to trust that their response will not be broadcast outside the group.

Marcie Mom: What advice would you give to someone like me who is trying to grow a support group?

Amanda: Growing a support group takes time and dedication; ideally you need a team to share the burden.  Your situation will be different to ours, but we have been really lucky to have a group of people who have put long hours on an ongoing basis, into a variety of tasks and the group has grown and adapted to things.

Marcie Mom: From your experience, what do you think a support group member can do to contribute to the support group he/she is in?

Amanda: Support group members contribute by just being part of the group.  Everyone is different, with different experiences and family needs.  Sharing and learning from everyone else’s experiences has to be the value of support groups.  Some may have skills they wish to contribute (which is great but not something that should be expected).

Marcie Mom: Here’s the last question that I’m very passionate about. I organize face-to-face meetings and usually at affordable places near to public train stations because I want families that can’t afford cars to also be part of the group. It’s the same reason why I print the calendars to be distributed free in hospitals – Lower income parents may not have the time/resource to connect online. What do you think support group organizers can do to reach out to this group?

Amanda: Undoubtedly hard to reach groups will need support.  Personally I am very wary of solutions being imposed from outside, however.  It is important that we are alert to opportunities to help, support and facilitate such solutions – but the start has to come from within.

Marcie Mom: Thanks Amanda for this interview and supporting me with encouragements over twitter.

Categories
Guest Interview

Protecting Precious Skin of Eczema Child

Nikki, founder of SnugglePaws with her son Louis

@Marcie Mom met @SnugglePaws over twitter and invited Nikki Paquette, the founder of Snuggle Paws, to share about her mompreneur journey. Snuggle Paws is a company based in Kent, UK that designs and sells clothing suited for eczema children, protecting their precious skin and allowing the skin to heal.
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Marcie Mom: Nikki, it’s good to finally have a one-on-one chat with you. I’m really interested to find out why you’d decided to make your son, Louis, his own eczema clothing and how did you go about doing it? Did the effort of designing, finding the right material and getting it sewn appear daunting in the beginning?

Nikki: When Louis developed eczema he was only two or three months old (you forget the actual time – although it should be imprinted on my memory) and I was quite unaware how to deal with it, the length of time he would have it and all the frustrations that go with trying to stop a young baby scratching and making the eczema worse.

It didn’t matter whether he was asleep or awake, the scratching was continuous and created secondary infections which then also had to be dealt with. I felt that if I could keep the fingers covered, because you know how quickly their nails grow, this would be helpful.

When you purchase the first sizes of sleepsuits, the hands are kept covered but I found that after a few months the sleepsuits had hands that could escape and therefore scratch.  I decided to make mittens that I then sewed onto tops or sleepsuits but the stitching was never strong enough after a few washes and just came away.  Also seams and labels on garments also caused aggravation.

As I am a Fashion Designer by profession, working mostly on childrens’ wear for the large retailers here in the UK, I had the advantage of knowing about clothing, garment make up, fabrics etc, so decided that I would have a try at making a prototype garment that would help.

Marcie Mom: How did making a few pieces for your son turn into a business? Did someone encourage you or did you meet up with a good manufacturer that made you decide you could make thousands more for other eczema children?

Nikki: There were several attempts until I was satisfied and this is where the covered hand concept for ages up to 5/6 years came in.  Although there were other people who had been successfully manufacturing for a long time, because the hands and feet were totally enclosed on my garments I was able to obtain a trademark for my patterns.

The design with flat seams, labels that pulled off, poppers that were environmentally friendly all came together because of my working knowledge. However, this was not as easy as it sounds, it took a long time to get it right and it had to be fun and bright and therefore the names for the garments with the logos had to be designed.  So it was not a quick fix, or an easy journey to make.

I tried to get the items manufactured in the UK but again it was not easy, mainly due to costs.  It took some time to find a manufacturer outside the UK and after several attempts, looking at costs, freight, minimum garment numbers we found our present manufacturer with whom we have an excellent relationship.

I had to persevere with the business because I thought it was a good idea, it worked for me and if that helped me, there were one in five children being born with eczema, all going through the same agonies as we were and they needed help too. No-one says it will stop a child scratching (absolutely impossible) but if it helps avoid the agony of clearing up secondary infections time after time, because the fingers are not touching the skin or open scabs, this must be of some help.

Marcie Mom: I read that SnugglePaws clothing are made from Okeo-tex standard 100; tell us a little more about this standard and whether it is a common standard in children clothing.
Marcie Mom: Thanks Nikki, I really appreciate you taking time for this interview. I’m going to head to your store and get some SnugglePaws for my baby Marcie, who has been sleeping in her own cot (instead of on me!) for two weeks. p.s. to readers of eczemablues.com, I asked Nikki for the interview so that parents can have another option, particularly to deal with children scratching at night. I did not receive any money from Nikki or SnugglePaws for this interview.
Categories
Eczema Tips Guest Interview

Educating Babies using Sign Language at My Smart Hands

Laura Berg, founder of My Smart Hands

Marcie Mom at eczemablues.com catches up with Laura Berg, the founder of My Smart Hands, an international company of about 200 instructors that educates young minds using sign language. Marcie Mom interviews Laura because signing has occupied Marcie’s fingers and distracted her from scratching her eczema rash. To let readers of eczemablues.com learn more about signing, Laura will share about the benefits of signing and addresses some of the common misperceptions of teaching sign language to your child.

Marcie Mom: Hi Laura, from 2005 when you started designing My Smart Hands’ curriculum to now, what are the top three positive changes you’ve noticed in the children who learnt sign language?
Laura: The top three positive changes would be:

1. Signing reduces frustration. Many children want to desperately communicate with us and they can’t do so easily because their language skills aren’t quite there yet. Signing can bridge the gap until language develops which hugely reduces the child’s frustration level.

2. We are finding that signing enhances language. It doesn’t make children talk sooner but it does build their language skills. There is a difference between speech and language. Children can use language (signing) without speech and therefore exercise that portion of their brain. If a child is a late talker, his/her vocabulary will be much larger if they’ve used sign language before they are able to talk.

3. It builds confidence. A child who is easily understood by the adults around them experiences less frustration and displays more confidence. These children don’t have to worry about not being understood. It boosts their self-esteem as they are able to engage more with the adults in their lives.

Marcie Mom: Many parents are worried that learning sign language will delay the development of speech. Have you seen that happening or is there any negative impact on the child’s behaviour?
Laura: This is a common concern that parents have. Mind you, I am hearing this concern less and less. The longer the idea of signing with babies have been around, the longer there is proof that this is a complete myth. Some people think children will be lazy and just want to sign. I, personally, have never seen a lazy child when it comes to talking. They want to talk, they babble all the time! As soon as they are able to do so they will.

To elaborate on my point above, there is a difference between speech and language. A child can still have language without the ability to speak or form words. I often use the example of two children and both of them don’t talk until they are two years old. You’ve signed with child A but not with child B. Child A is able to communicate and engage with his parents. His parents know that this child understands them so they give him more complicated language to use (through the use of sign). Child B on the other hand is left with choices, does she want an apple or an orange for a snack? Whereas child A might be asked, “what would you like for a snack”. This question alone allows for more though process to take place and more consideration of what the child wants. By the time these children turn two, child A will have a much larger vocabulary than child B because he was able to use language all that time.
So no, signing definitely does not delay speech. It definitely helps language skills 🙂

Marcie Mom: It’s probably not common for parents to come up to you and say that signing has helped to distract their child from scratching the eczema rash. Has there been any other instance you’ve come across that signing has helped to distract the child in a positive way, say from throwing tantrums?
Laura: Yes definitely! It’s a great way to easily communicate with the child in a discrete and even distracting way. When my daughter was younger she would throw a fit every time I told her ‘no’ but she’d be completely fine if I signed ‘no’ to her. I’m not sure why that is but I know it worked for her and definitely reduced the number of fits she threw. A mom who took one of my classes reported that when her daughter would throw a temper tantrum she would start to sing and sign the Itsy Bitsy Spider song. She would try to just sing it and the child would completely ignore her. When she put the actions to the song the movement would catch her daughter’s eye and snap her out of the temper tantrum she was throwing.

Marcie Mom: What advice will you give parents who are keen to explore learning sign language with their child? And how best can parents approach it?
Laura: The main thing I would tell parents is to not be intimidated! You can easily learn the signs that you teach your child as you go. Simply look up one sign and start with that. I recommend starting with the sign ‘milk’. Once you become comfortable with that sign then look up another one and teach your child. It’s very simple, don’t be intimidated!

I recommend parents start with 1-5 signs in the beginning. This way you won’t feel too overwhelmed. The most important thing is to be consistent with your signing. It is more important to sign the word every time you say it than to introduce tons of signs throughout the day. Even if you sign one thing until your child signs back you will find that very useful. Once your child realizes that a sign means something then you will find that he or she will pick more signs up faster.

And most importantly, don’t give up. If you are consistent your child will pick signing up. Each child picks it up at different stages. The benefits will definitely come. Enjoy and have fun!!

Marcie Mom: Thanks Laura!
p.s. To readers of eczemablues.com, I asked Laura for the interview because signing has helped Marcie with her eczema. I did not receive any money from Laura or My Smart Hands for this interview.

Categories
Guest Interview

ScratchMeNot – A PTPA Winning Product for Eczema Children

Andrea Thomas, the mom behind the company Short Stacks that makes the PTPA (parent tested, parent approved) winning product, ScratchMeNot, talks to Marcie Mom at eczemablues.com about her passion and mompreneur journey. ScratchMeNot is an eczema clothing innovation that Andrea created to help prevent her daughter from scratching, and has since grown into a thriving business.

Marcie Mom: Hi Andrea, we know that you first created ScratchMeNot to prevent your daughter who has eczema from scratching. What motivated you to decide to make ScratchMeNot for sale?
Andrea: Yes, I first created ScratchMeNots for my daughter who was scratching non-stop! Before she was born, I knew very little about eczema so I was blindly searching for anything to help her. There seemed to be an endless supply of creams and ointments available, however I needed something for the immediate act of scratching. I went to brick and mortar stores & I googled like CRAZY to find anything to stop the itching. I tried the tradition baby mittens, but they did not solve the problem, as my daughter would rub or pull them off. Not being able to find a product out there to fit our needs, I decided to create my own, that would help my daughter immediately. Since I had such a hard time finding the right product, I thought maybe other parents were too. ScratchMeNots followed soon after, a product that is an all day solution for a scratching child’s needs.

Marcie Mom: Tell us more about your passion. Were you already into sewing before making ScratchMeNot?
Andrea: To be honest, the most experience I had in sewing, before ScratchMeNots were a pillow and a pot holder! Thankfully, I knew a friend who had the time, energy, and great skills to help me bring my visions to life. She taught me how to sew beyond pot holders. It was exciting to go from a thought to a finished product. It’s amazing how much parents can learn, when the driving force is meeting a need that allows their children to feel better, and helps other parents at the same time.

Marcie Mom: How do you find time to make the product, sell the product, manage a business and parent your children?
Andrea: Thankfully, we have a manufacturer that I work closely with to create our ScratchMeNot inventory. This is a great help to free up more time for me to focus on managing Short Stacks, family, and parenting! It is not easy to balance working from home, while my little one is here with me needing my attention. I’ve learned to plan ahead, to create a schedule, and to stick to it. Each portion of my day is dedicated to specific tasks, learning and/or quality time. I’m still trying to master our routine! A lot of work usually occurs early in the morning and late at night. It is challenging, but it’s worth every moment. I have learned to accept that everything I planned to do might not get done, and that’s okay. I also have come to understand the importance of networking with other companies that have an expertise in areas that I don’t. Especially with other moms, it helps all of our companies succeed!

Marcie Mom: Thanks Andrea, and we certainly look forward to more products from your store! p.s. To readers of eczemablues.com, I asked Andrea for the interview because some of you have feedback to me that ScratchMeNot works for your child. I did not receive any money from Andrea or Short Stacks for this interview.

Categories
Guest Interview

Mom with Eczema Child sets up Online Store, The Eczema Company

Jennifer and her children

Jennifer Roberge, who has a child with eczema, shares why she decided to set up an online store EczemaCompany.com. Her online store offering products for children with eczema has recently launched, with products such as clothing from Kumfy Cotton and ScratchMeNot, creams, soaps and bath oils.

Marcie Mom: Jennifer, it’s so good to see an entrepreneur mom, particularly when the business will help children with eczema. What gave you the idea to start EczemaCompany.com?

Jennifer: My son Tristan was diagnosed with eczema at three months old and it was progressively getting worse over the years (he’s now three years old). I was desperate to find anything and everything that would help to relieve his suffering, calm the itchiness, or prevent the horrible scratching that would keep our whole family up at night. We spent a lot of money and searched companies all over the world to discover the best natural products for him. It was very costly and time consuming finding the right products from so many different sources, so my idea was to gather our favorites and make them available in one online store for other families like us.

Marcie Mom: How do you think your products can help other parents with eczema children? Have they worked for your child?

Jennifer: I have chosen the products you’ll see on the website because either we use them on our son or we know other parents who have used them, both with great results. My son does not take a nap or night’s sleep without wearing his ScratchMeNot mittens and Kumfy Cotton clothing (tops with mittens and pants with feet) because without them he would scratch himself horribly.  All our creams, oils, and soaps are wonderful products with all natural ingredients that are gentle on delicate irritated skin, but not all of them will work for every child. Therefore, we offer a variety of products so parents can find something that will help their child with their particular case of eczema.

Marcie Mom: How do you find the time to parent two children and run the online store?

Jennifer: Multi-tasking, isn’t that what moms do best?! I’m sure all the mompreneurs will say the same. It’s also finding the right balance of time management and structure. I have the passion to help families living with the daily challenges of eczema, so that’s a big motivator for me.  We do plan to keep to our regular family time though – dinner together, weekends biking or going to the park. Family is incredibly important, so our time together will remain a priority in our lives.

Marcie Mom: Thanks Jennifer, all the best for your online store.
p.s. To readers of eczemablues.com, I did not receive any money from Jennifer or EczemaCompany.com for this interview.