Is Baby Oil Actually Good for Baby's Skin ... Or Yours?

As a baby, and even as a young child, my mother often put baby oil on my skin, especially during the winter. Besides being a moisturizer, it has other uses as well- 10 Unique Uses for Johnson's Baby Oil. I used it on my children too.

Baby oil is made of mineral oil and fragrance. Because it's so abundant, it's cheap to buy. Baby oil "locks in up to ten times more moisture on wet skin than an ordinary lotion can on dry skin", according to the Johnson's website. It protects a baby's delicate skin. Adults can use it to moisturize and soften dry skin. Johnson's Baby Oil is also "Clinically proven mild and gentle formula" and "Dermatologist and allergy-tested". Sounds like an excellent skin care product, doesn't it? If you believe the information on Johnson's website, that is. Is rubbing a petroleum byproduct on your skin healthy? Is baby oil actually good for baby's skin...or yours? Read this informative article and find out.

The Health Hazards of Baby Oil
In the article, "Mineral Oil And Why You Should Avoid It", posted on the Herbal Luxuries website, an excellent point is made. Since your skin is the largest organ, and it needs "proper nutrition" to function, you should be as careful about what you put on it as what you eat and drink.

The article goes on to say that mineral oil "is foreign to the human body and has many harmful effects, especially in infants." Your skin has a difficult time absorbing baby oil. It clogs your pores and hinders your skin's ability to release toxins, according to Herbal Luxuries. Justnaturalskincare.com concurs in its posting "The Bad about Mineral Oil". According to this website, baby oil also "dissolves your skins natural oil" which can cause dehydration. "...Mineral oil is the main cause of break outs" (i.e., rashes and acne) on your skin. It slows down cell production and causes premature aging. Worse yet, justnaturalskincare.com states that "Any mineral oil derivative can be contaminated with cancer causing PAH's (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons)."

Answers to The Health Hazards of Baby Oil
By now, you're probably really questioning baby oil and whether-or-not it's good for your baby's skin and yours as well. In answer to the accusations about mineral oil listed above, this is what I found out:

1. Cosmetic-grade mineral oil (baby oil) is highly purified. It's non-comedogenic, according to Sciencedaily.com. That means it doesn't clog your skin pores.

2. While some mineral oil does contain cancer-causing carcinogens, baby oil- which is highly refined- does not.

3. According to the Cosmetics Cop website, "Cosmetics-grade mineral oil and petrolatum are considered the safest, most nonirritating moisturizing ingredients ever found. Sources: Cosmetics & Toiletries, January 2001, page 79; Cosmetic Dermatology, September 2000, pages 44-46."

4. The Mayo Clinic, a highly respected medical group, recommends using baby oil if your skin is dry. So does the American Geriatrics Society and the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.

Should you use baby oil on your baby's skin? Dr. Greene says a "gentle moisturizer" such as baby oil can be used on babies and children who have dry skin or eczema.

Resources
http://www.johnsonsbaby.com/product.do?id=35
http://www.herballuxuries.com/mineral-oil.htm
http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/9/acne/the_bad_about_minerals_oils.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2005/05/050531075410.htm
http://www.cosmeticscop.com/learn/article.asp?PAGETYPE=ART&REFER=SKIN&ID=47
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/skin-care/SN00003/NSECTIONGROUP=2
http://www.healthinaging.org/public_education/pef/dry_skin.php
http://www.drgreene.com/21_1579.html