Tips ranged from coating their babies in goose fat, to using egg whites and even urine to treat skin problems. With such a wide selection of tips it can be difficult to know which piece of advice to follow, John Gill, a pharmacologist specialising in skincare explains the truth behind some of the unusual advice that mums have received.

Myth: “Changes in weather causes dry skin”

Fact: Extremes of both hot and cold can cause dry skin in anyone. Cold autumn and winter air dries the skin, and the heat of the sun causes increased moisture loss. Extra care is therefore needed during these times to ensure that skin is well moisturised.

Myth: “Use talcum powder after bathing your baby”

Fact: There is nothing wrong with using the newer liquid talcum powders as an aid to drying your children, particularly in the areas that are hard to dry e.g. between the toes. However, caution is advised so that your baby is not left with damp talcum powder against the skin and does not inhale any particles from the powder based talcs.

Myth: “Apply butter or olive oil to skin”

Fact: Butter is not really recommended for baby’s skin. Appropriate natural oils, such as baby-specific olive oil, can be used as a moisturiser. Be careful not to use any oil that is nut based or contains traces of nuts, and avoid anything heavily fragranced. Always discuss any product with your Health Visitor, pharmacist or GP.

Myth: “Bathe your baby in milk”

Fact: Newborns should only be bathed in water. There are a number of products described as ‘skin milks’ which claim to moisturise skin. Bathing in milk should not be encouraged, and cow’s milk is not recommended as a baby’s drink.

Myth: “Dab urine on sore skin”

Fact: Urine does contain some chemicals that can moisture the skin in adults. If your baby has sore skin it is better to discuss this with your Health Visitor or GP to discover the cause, determine the best remedy, and to help avoid it in the future.

Myth: “Don’t dry your baby’s clothes on the radiator”

Fact: For clothes that come into direct contact with your baby’s skin, drying them on a radiator may ‘overdry’ them and make the fabric harsher. Keep clothes soft with a fabric conditioner that softens fibres making them soft against the skin. Some re-usable/cotton nappies have a plastic outer covering, and should not be dried on the radiator.

Myth: “Use raw egg white on nappy rash”

Fact: No – there are many better things to use on nappy rash, speak to your Health Visitor or GP. Egg allergy is one of the more common food allergies in childhood, and the damaged skin may be a route to sensitisation

Humour aside, it’s not surprising that parents are confused. Ninety percent of parents are worried about their children’s sensitive skin, yet most feel they still don’t have enough information about what causes it or how to deal with problems.

The study found that 70% of parents wanted to know more about why children develop sensitive skin ranging from itchy dryness to more serious problems such as eczema.

A further 70% said they’d like more information about what products were safe to use on their children’s skin and what should be avoided.

However, mums are learning strategies to cope with potential skin problems:40% use a fabric conditioner to smooth fibres on clothes. 98% say that choosing products that will be kind to their baby’s skin is paramount.

Persil Non-Bio and Comfort Pure are specially formulated for babies, children and adults with sensitive skin. Both are dermatologically tested, plus their skin care research is validated by the British Skin Foundation.