Chlorine’s Effect on Eczema

Our skin is our body’s number one defense against germs or getting sick. It is a protective layer that keeps us healthy and protects our organs. There are so many factors that affect the health and condition of our skin. Having eczema can make this a little more challenging because the moisture that we need isn’t produced as it should be.

There are a lot of external factors that affect an eczema flare up such as weather, lotions, makeup, soap, and laundry detergent. One factor that you may not realize that is so harmful to your skin condition is water. Most, if not all, city water is treated with chlorine. Chlorine however is hurting us and not helping our water. Here are some of the effects of chlorine on our skin and eczema.

First and foremost, chlorine dries out your skin. This is bad for people who have eczema because their skin already is naturally dry and has hard time maintaining moisture. It can also dry out your hair as well. Swimming pools have a lot of chlorine in them to ward off bacteria, and everyone has probably had that dry feeling after a day of swimming.

There isn’t as much concentrated chlorine in your bathing water, however over time the chlorine’s effects really add up against your skin because the levels of chlorine are still pretty high. After showering you can feel itchy, dry, and notice a rash. This is an uncomfortable feeling to have every day.

Showering is more harmful than swimming in a chlorine treated pool. The hot water from your shower opens your pores, to cleanse, but the toxic gases caused from the steam and heat are easily absorbed by your skin. In addition to drying you out, you can prematurely develop wrinkles. To ease the itching feeling after your shower, you can use lotions or eczema oil to alleviate the irritation and bring some moisture back. There is also an option to install chlorine free showerheads. Chlorine free water is the best defense against atopic dermatitis and wrinkles.

There are other harmful effects of chlorine in the water you bathe in and the water you drink. Chlorine is used to fight off bacteria in our water, yet it causes so many other detrimental health problems. In addition to causing atopic dermatitis or making it worse, it has also been known to cause cancer. If you drink tap water that has been treated with chlorine you run the risk of hurting your bladder, stomach, and breasts. It can also really flare up asthma attacks which are commonly associated with eczema. Chlorine, over time, can damage cell tissues.

About the Author: Melanie Nader is the founder of the Homestead Company which makes premium quality natural skin care products including eczema oil and diaper ointment made with the finest 100% natural ingredients. For more information, visit http://www.homesteadcompany.com/.

The Effects of Chlorine in Disposable Diapers

For a lot of parents, the big decision making factor is convenience especially when it comes to the diaper debate. For some parents, using disposable brands is the most convenient choice. However, they should reconsider because there are disadvantages to the health of your baby’s skin from using disposable diapers that a diaper ointment won’t be able to treat. Most disposable brands use synthetic ingredients including chlorine which is bad for your baby’s skin. After reading about the effects of chlorine found in disposable diapers, you may want to consider switching to cloth diapers which are only made with natural ingredients.

Chlorine is an ingredient you will most likely find in all disposable diaper brands. It is an extremely harsh chemical that has long term effects to our health. It is most often used to kill bacteria in water and should mostly be used for purifying drinking water, and is usually found in swimming pools to keep them sanitary. So why is it used in diapers? Chlorine makes your skin dry and causes rashes, so if your baby is wearing a diaper with chlorine in it then it is having contact with your baby’s skin for long amounts of time. When exposed to this harsh chemical for a long time, it can unfortunately be a cause of cancer. Using a natural diaper ointment may only provide temporary comfort. It is better to use cloth diapers along with a diaper ointment made with organic ingredients because your baby’s health won’t be negatively affected.

When you look at the ingredients used to make a disposable diaper you may not see the word “Chlorine.” However, you will find the ingredient dioxin listed. It is the chemical used in the bleaching process which makes disposable diapers white. During the bleaching process, the chemical uses chlorine in the gas form. Studies have shown that dioxin can cause cancer if a person is exposed to it for a long time or in big doses. For babies or even adults, small amounts can lead to skin diseases, or rashes.

Another common chemical used in disposable brands is sodium polyacrylate which is used as the liquid absorbing agent. It is often seen as a gel in disposable diapers. This chemical also used to be in tampons and was found to be a cause of toxic shock syndrome. According to Diaper Safari (www.diapersafari.com), the ingredient can no longer be used in tampons but for some reason is still allowed in making disposable diapers.

The effects to your baby’s health are too great to risk from using disposable diapers. Don’t take the risk of damaging your baby’s skin because of the convenience that disposable brands may offer. If possible, always use natural baby products and find diapers that are chlorine free.

About the Author: Melanie Nader is the founder of the Homestead Company which makes premium quality natural skin care products including eczema oil and diaper ointment made with the finest 100% natural ingredients. For more information, visit http://www.homesteadcompany.com/.