Study finds that olive and sunflower oil shouldn’t be used on babies’ skin

Have you ever used olive or sunflower oil on your baby’s skin? Well, a new study suggests that it might not be as good for it as first believed. According to Medical Xpress, researchers at the University of Manchester tested the effects of the two oils on babies’ skin by dividing 115 newborns into three groups – olive oil, sunflower oil and no oil – and applying a few drops of oil to their skin twice a day over the course of 28 days. While it was found that those who were treated with oil were more hydrated, it was also discovered that the oil can damage the natural barrier of the skin (the lipid lamellae structure) that prevents water loss and protects against infections. Speaking about the results, midwifery lecturer and study leader Alison Cooke said: "If the skin barrier function is a wall with bricks made of cells, then the lipid lamellae is the mortar that holds it together. "If it isn't developed enough then cracks appear which let water out and foreign bodies through. Oil prevents this mortar from developing as quickly and this could be linked to the development of conditions such as eczema." She added that more research in this area would be needed in order to distinguish links between different oils and eczema but recommended that parents probably shouldn’t apply such oils to their babies’ skin in the meantime.