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Basic knowledge on textiles and the skin of babies

KNOW-HOW FOR THE SALES PROFESSIONAL

Baby‘s skin – no place more precious This is a talk with Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer, Director of the Institute for Hygiene and Biotechnology and the Competence Centre for Textiles and Skin at the Hohenstein Institute ( Boennigheim) | Specialist area : Interaction between textiles and human skin An interview with Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer

Why is the skin of babies and small children so sensitive?

Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer: Babies‘ skin is not fully-developed. It does not have the same range of functions and protective mechanisms of adult skin. That is why it is more exposed to outside influences and needs special care and protection.

What are the main differences in comparison to adults?

Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer: The skin of babies, for example, is up to five times thinner than the skin of an adult and is therefore much more sensitive. Until the layer of fatty tissue beneath the skin has completely developed – which takes several months – small children are very sensitive to cold as well. In addition, the glands that produce sebum, or skin oils, and perspiration are immature, so that babies‘ skin dries out more quickly. This is also the reason why a baby‘s body temperature cannot yet be properly regulated by perspiring.

When caring for a baby‘s skin, what must parents absolutely attend to?

as special UV protective clothing and creams with a high sun or UVprotection factor are not used.

Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer: Because the protective layer of perspiration and sebum is not present, the skin is unable to function fully as a barrier.

That means pathogens and undesirable substances, particularly fat soluble molecules, can penetrate the body more easily. That‘s why it‘s particularly important to exercise special care when it comes to bodily hygiene and ensuring baby‘s surroundings are free of harmful substances.

What things are important to look for when choosing clothing for children?

Which environmental influences pose a threat to children‘s skin?

Baby skin needs protection and care

Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer: Small children produce scant amounts of melanin.

As a result, they have nearly no endogenous defences against UV radiation. A child‘s natural UV protection isn‘t fully developed until it is about 14 years old. Skin damage is a given if suitable measures such

Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer: Clothing, bed linens and other bedding, as well as other textile products that babies come into contact with should be soft and supple so that the skin is not irritated by rough surfaces or seams. Chafing can also increase the susceptibility of infants to other irritants. What‘s also extremely important is to ensure that all textiles are free of harmful substances – in addition to body contact, these can also enter the body through sucking or inhaling and cause problems. Textiles that have been tested for harmful substances offer the added plus of assured safety without requiring the consumer to do without other desirable product qualities such as bright colours or prints.

ADULT SKIN Perspiration duct

Characteristics of quality baby clothes

Epidermis

Callus Pigment cells Skin cells Langerhans-cells Capillaries Merkel cells

Good workmanship

Dermis

Epidermis

it‘s the only way to ensure baby will long enjoy his or her favourite things

Dermis

Veins and arteries

What role does the type of textile material play?

Prof. Dr. Dirk Hoefer: Preferences for textiles of natural fibres such as cotton, or synthetics like polyester and polyamide or fabric blends are purely a matter of taste. What‘s important is that the little ones feel comfortable in them. The decisive factor in buying

textile products is that they optimally support the child‘s body functions.

On the one hand, they have to have sufficient thermal insulation in order to prevent the child from becoming too cold. But they also should be light and breathable, to avoid overheating.

Graphic: Baby skin (left) and adult skin (right) in comparison

Durable, hygienic materials because these clothes are washed frequently

Comfortable fit clothing that‘s too tight reduces sense of well-being

Soft, supple materials/ fibres to avoid skin irritation

High wearing comfort to avoid stressing the body through overheating or chilling

Free of harmful substances e.g. superior colourfastness, because babies chew on nearly everything they put in their mouths

O E KO -T E X ® STA N DA RD 10 0 :

What is it?

The label „Confidence in Textiles – Tested for harmful substances according to OEKOTEX ® Standard 100“ is used to mark textile products that have demonstrated they pose no threat to health in comprehensive laboratory tests carried out by independent institutes. The quality mark is only issued to products of which all components are found to be free of harmful substances. Among these are outer fabrics, such as weaves and knits, and interlinings, including sewing and embroidery threads, but also accessories made of metal or synthetics (e.g. zips, buttons, etc.).

Specially applied coatings, such as those found on non-slip socks are

also tested. OEKO-TEX® tests for harmful substances include more than 100 different parameters and go far beyond legal requirements.

EXAMPLES FOR TESTING PARAMETERS RELEVANT FOR ITEMS FOR BABIES

Carcinogenic dyes Formaldehyde, softeners, Heavy metals Allergenic dispersion dyes, pesticides, tin-organic compounds Skin-friendly pH-value, good colourfastness

e.g. free of allergenic dyes or heavy metals, such as nickel in metal buttons e.g. free of banned softeners or synthetic coatings, etc. e.g. free of finishings that contain formaldehyde

Functional safety (with proper use) e.g. no long cords no possibility of skin becoming caught in zips durable and safe attachment of accessories and parts, to ensure that they cannot be swallowed, etc.

W W W. O E KO -T E X . C O M / P R O D U C T S

W W W. O E KO -T E X . C O M / B R A N D S

Tested quality – something you can count on!

OEKO -TEX® tests for harmful substances take into account all the possible ways the body can take in undesirable substances : i n h a l a t i o n, s k i n c o n t a c t o r ingestion.

Whether it‘s a romper, or toys or even a carpet: Textiles tested for harmful substances provide a safety advantage

Comprehensive safety for the consumer – that is the requirement of testing for harmful substances according to OEKO -TEX® Standard 100. There are six good reasons to buy textiles that have been certified by OEKO -TEX ® .

OEKO -TEX® laboratory tests are always orientated towards the use of the textile product.

Uniform testing criteria and methods are valid and applied world-wide.

Because babies are particularly sensitive, the toughest requirements of the entire testing programme are set for textile products for babies and small children up to age 3.

That‘s why it doesn‘t matter which OEKO-TEX® member institute does the testing, or the country in which the textile was manufactured, or where products with the OEKO-TEX® label can be purchased.

Testing for harmful substances is carried out exclusively by independent institutes.

Special tests designed to simulate use as closely as possible are applied for the assessment. For example, good colourfastness is evaluated using a solution of synthetic saliva – that is a key aspect, particularly for clothing and products for babies, because small children put everything into their mouths and chew on it.

The criteria and limit values for OEKO-TEX® laboratory tests are updated annually and expanded as needed.

Monitoring tests at retailers.

Even after a textile product has successfully achieved certification, OEKO-TEX® continues to carry out random tests to ensure products in the shops that bear the OEKO-TEX® label actually comply with the required criteria.

WHERE IS IT POSSIBLE T O B U Y P RO D U C T S W I T H THIS L ABEL? Oeko-Tex® certified textiles are available: at specialist retailers in shops and department stores via mail order (catalogues and on-line) in the non-food sector and at many discounters Products bearing the label „Confidence in Textiles“ can be found in many other countries as well.

World-wide, it‘s the best-known mark of textiles that have been tested for harmful substances.

Information and contact: OEKO-TEX® Foundation GmbH | Kaiserstraße 39 | 60329 Frankfurt | E-Mail: info@certification-oekotex.com