Wet wipes trigger allergies in babies, warns Dubai Municipality

Read the instructions and warnings labels on such packs before using them.

The Dubai Municipality has cautioned parents against excessive use of wet wipes, while warning that their use could cause children to develop allergies.
The warning was sounded by Redha Salman, Dubai Municipality's director of Public Health and Safety. Parents should rely on generic soap and water while attending to their children's hygiene needs, Salman emphasised.
He added, "Studies suggest that children with a genetic predisposition for developing allergies are at a greater risk since they are exposed to chemical allergens in the wet wipes."
Salman advised parents to limit the use of napkins, which can leave behind soap residue on the skin.
"They need to read the instructions and warnings labels on such packs before using them to avoid health complications."
A study by Joan Cook-Mills, professor of allergy-immunology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, shed light on how "food allergy starts early in life".
The factors contributing to food allergy include the genetics that alter skin absorbency, use of infant cleansing (wet) wipes that leave soap on the skin, repeated skin exposure to allergens in dust - and skin exposure to food from those providing infant care.
Food allergy is triggered when these factors occur together.
"Reduce baby's skin exposure to the food allergens by washing your hands before handling the baby," Cook-Mills said.

• Dubai