Mixing Skin Creams with Ori for babies...a cause for concern

It has been observed that so many mothers and parents resort to mixing moisturizers such as Shea butter or `Ori` as it is called in the local language with either Skineal cream or Funbact A cream and using it as a regular application for infants and children. This combination is then applied day after day for months and even years. It is important to note that this is a quick way to get results but in the long run could damage the child`s skin permanently and create future problems for the child in adulthood.

Some of these steroids are very potent and their usage is normally determined by the severity of the rash or infection. There are also general rules provided by doctors and dermatologists regarding the type of cream, the quantity to be used and the frequency or length of time it can be used. These creams are not recommended for prolonged use even in adults.

Clearly we have economic challenges in our society where many parents and mothers have little access to information, medical help or treatment. Skin conditions are often perceived to be too minor for low income families to spend outrageous amounts. This is why they prefer to spend as little as three hundred naira on a tube of Funbact A cream or Skineal A. 

We can help by spreading the word that prolonged use of these creams is detrimental to the long term skin health of infants and children. These products are okay for short term use over a period not exceeding two weeks for infants and children. This is sufficient to treat most common infections. It should not be used for lightening the baby or child`s skin because we do hear a lot of that. Parents who buy skin lightening creams and lotions to become `oyibo` now also want their babies and children to become `oyibo` over night. The risks of prolonged use of these Topical Steroid creams for infants and children include thinning of the skin, future resistance to treatment in cases of eczema and other skin conditions.

At this rate in a few years we will have millions of adults with skin conditions inherited from childhood courtesy of their parents. The only winners will be the cosmetics companies, the pharmaceuticals industry and dermatologists who will be overwhelmed by patients. We can nip this impending epidemic in the bud. Spread the word.