Page 81 - Retail Pharmacy Assistants - October 2020

LITTLE LEGENDS 79 There are long-term dangers to be cautious of, too. “A lot of popular brands contain harmful chemicals, toxins, irritants and allergens,” Mr Hann said. “As a pharmacy assistant, it’s good to understand the product range you may have, then dive deeper and get more of an understanding of the ingredients. “For example, when I recommend a particular baby wipe, I believe it’s just as important as baby skin care products.” Wipe these ingredients from the list For those recommending baby skin care products, Mr Hann has listed some of the ingredients he knows should be avoided: • Polysorbate 20.“This is often treated with ethylene oxide, which can also be contaminated with potentially harmful by-products known to cause skin reactions and allergies.” • Parabens. “These are preservatives which are known to cause reactions and rashes.” • Phenoxyethanol. “This is often used in place of parabens and is widely believed to be a safer synthetic preservative. Infant exposure has been associated with skin irritation, such as eczema.” • Sodium benzoate. “This is a synthetic preservative and when used in large concentrations it may cause toxicity.” • Fragrance. “In my opinion this is an unnecessary additive to baby products. Why do they need to be scented? Whether it be a synthetic fragrance or natural fragrance, like essential oils, I always recommend parents avoid using these, as a baby’s skin integrity is completely different to ours.” • Formaldehyde.“Formaldehyde has been linked to short-term health hazards such as skin irritation and allergic reactions. However, it can also lead to further major health hazards in the future.” • Propylene glycol and other petroleum-based ingredients. “Products that contain these, I advise parents to avoid, as these can be contaminated and/ or lead to skin irritations and other health conditions.” There are, of course, ingredients that a child’s skin can benefit from. According to Mr Hann, this includes purified water, aloe vera (“this can be soothing”), vitamin E (“natural, moisturising”), and food-grade preservatives such as citric acid and silver dihydrogen citrate (“not harsh and nasty preservatives” but “proven safe in babies”). The key recommendation Mr Hann makes is for pharmacy assistants to equip themselves with the product range available in their store and gain a solid understanding of what’s already in these products, ahead of conversing with customers. “Get a clear understanding of the ingredients (do some homework on them),” he said. “Ask your colleagues, who may be mothers, what brands they use and why. “Also, when a customer comes in with an infant who has nappy rash, advise them to look at other alternatives in the way of baby wipes – those proven to be gentler and softer for baby skin. And point them in the direction of brands that you’d suggest they try. “For new parents, try to educate them about the effective use of baby wipes.” “As a pharmacy assistant, it’s good to understand the product range you may have, then dive deeper and get more of an understanding of the ingredients.” RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • OCT 2020