As the sun is getting a bit stronger and travel to sunnier locations is beckoning, parents’ thoughts will be turning to sunscreen. It seems a good time to talk about skincare generally and to provide some alternative sunscreen suggestions.
The skin is part of the excretory system of the body and also an important part of our respiratory system. It’s connected to the lungs and large intestine in Chinese medicine. If we don’t allow the skin to breathe, then the internal organs will most definitely be affected. Conventional Western medicine also recognises this – they have observed how steroid creams for eczema can make asthma worse for example. But they don’t quite know how to handle this situation except with more steroid inhalers. The skin is where we absorb the sun’s rays that enable us to produce essential Vitamin D.
A major ingredient in a lot of skincare products is petrolatum (also known as mineral oil jelly). Petrolatum is found in many hair care products, lip balms, soaps and skin care products. It’s also known as mineral oil jelly, and it’s used as a barrier to lock moisture in the skin and to make hair shine. It is very common in most households in the UK and elsewhere in the world. See the David Susuki website below for info on petrolatum and other toxic chemicals in our personal care products.
So, what can a caring parent do? Check the labels, and try some home-made solutions to skin care.
Useful Natural Skincare Products:
- Oats or camomile tea in the bath can be very soothing.
- Aloe vera plant – break a leaf off and spread the gel on the irritated/burnt area.
Useful websites:
https://www.westonaprice.org/health-topics/know-your-fats/traditional-nourishing-and-healing-skin-care/
https://davidsuzuki.org/living-green/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals-avoid/
https://www.arnica.org.uk/
June Tranmer, Acupuncturist and Kinesiologist