Bathe children in beer and drink bear bile to have beautiful skin?

Recently, on social networks, there has been a rumor about bathing children in beer and drinking bear bile to make their skin 'white and smooth'. However, this poses many potential risks to the health of young children.

According to Master - Doctor Nguyen Trong Tin, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City - Branch 3, the skin of children, especially newborns, is different in structure and function from that of adults, making them more vulnerable when applying folk remedies. Specifically, the thickness of the stratum corneum on the skin of children is only about 70 - 80% compared to adults; for premature babies, the stratum corneum is even thinner (only a few layers of cells). Children's skin is also less oily and moist, the protective barrier is not yet complete, so it is highly permeable, leading to dehydration and infection.

In addition, the immune function of children's skin is not strong enough to deal with many irritants. Therefore, folk remedies with strong ingredients such as beer, chemicals or concentrated herbs can cause serious damage such as damaging the skin barrier, skin inflammation, and more severe irritation in children than in adults.

When bathing, use only mild, pH-neutral, fragrance-free shower gel or soap to avoid drying and irritating your baby's skin.

Illustration: AI

Bathing in beer can easily irritate the skin.

Dr. Tin said: “Beer consists of water, ethanol, barley, hops and yeast, containing B vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Some information confirms that bathing in beer helps moisturize and smooth the skin thanks to polyphenol compounds in hops, and yeast stimulates collagen. However, children's skin is very thin and sensitive. Contact with alcohol in beer can easily remove the natural protective oil layer, causing dry skin, irritation, contact dermatitis or a burning sensation.”

In addition, beer also contains yeast and hops, which are ingredients that can easily cause allergies in some people. Children who are allergic to yeast, hops or barley can get rashes and dermatitis when bathing in beer. “In short, although beer contains some nutrients, for children's delicate skin, the beneficial effects are very limited, while the risk of inflammation and irritation is very high.”

Bear bile can cause poisoning.

Bear bile contains a large amount of ursodeoxycholic acid and other bile salts. From a medical perspective, ursodeoxycholic acid is an active ingredient used in the treatment of some liver and bile diseases. However, these effects can only be achieved when using refined medicine as prescribed by a doctor, while natural bear bile is inherently unsafe for children.

Doctor Tin warned: “Children who drink bear bile can suffer acute poisoning, with serious symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, liver failure, kidney failure, and even life-threatening. In addition to the toxic effects on the body, because bear bile is an illegal product, the risk of infection, foreign substances, or harmful chemicals is also very high. More importantly, there is no evidence that bear bile helps children's 'beautiful skin', but on the contrary, it can cause serious harm in the long term.”

In particular, legally, bears are a rare species that are strictly protected, and any act of storing or trading bear bile can be prosecuted. Therefore, although bear bile contains some active medicinal ingredients, using bear bile for “skin care” is not only unscientific but also violates the regulations on wildlife protection in Vietnam.

Proper care of children's skin

According to Dr. Tin, to care for children's skin safely and effectively, parents should follow the following basic medical principles:

Bathing properly : Do not bathe your baby too often, only about 2-3 times a week for newborns, because bathing too much can easily remove the skin's natural moisture. When bathing, only use mild shower gel or soap with neutral pH and no fragrance to avoid drying and irritating the skin. After bathing, gently dry and apply a suitable moisturizer (for children) to maintain the skin's protective layer.

Nutrition : Breastfeeding your baby exclusively for the first 6 months, followed by a nutritious diet is the foundation for healthy skin. Supplementing adequate vitamins and minerals, especially vitamins A, C, D, zinc, and iron through food also helps your baby's skin develop well.

Skin protection : Limit your child's exposure to allergens such as dust, pollen, strong soaps and cover them carefully with hats, long-sleeved shirts, and sunscreen when exposed to the sun. Parents should regularly observe their child's skin and take them to a specialist immediately if they notice any unusual signs.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cho-tre-tam-bia-uong-mat-gau-de-dep-da-185251016171909715.htm