The truth about bathing in coconut water and green tea.

Leading pediatric and dermatology experts in Hanoi say that many newborns have been hospitalized due to bathing with herbal leaves.

Bathing in coconut water doesn't whiten the skin and can even be harmful.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Head of the Pediatrics Department at Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), warns: The belief among mothers that bathing babies in coconut water will make their skin fair has no scientific basis and can even harm children. The Pediatrics Department has previously treated infants a few weeks old with skin infections and sores all over their bodies simply because their mothers bathed them in coconut water.

Associate Professor Dr. Dung explained that bathing in coconut water does not whiten children's skin and can even make it dirtier, because the sugar content in coconut water is an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.

"Children's and adults' skin always contains germs, and if not washed thoroughly, it creates favorable conditions for them to multiply and thrive. If mothers bathe their children with coconut water and the child has small, invisible scratches, the coconut water can easily accumulate in those scratches, causing dermatitis. Furthermore, the sweetness and high sugar content of coconut water increase the risk of rashes and itching in children," said Associate Professor Dr. Dung.

Associate Professor Dr. Dung further explained that children's skin, especially that of newborns, is very thin, its structure is not yet stable, and it is only about one-fifth the thickness of adult skin, making it very susceptible to damage, allergies, and infections. Over 90% of skin inflammations in newborns are caused by bacteria attacking from the outside. Mild cases of skin inflammation may cause itching and sores. However, in severe cases, children may develop secondary infections, sepsis, and life-threatening conditions.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Dung, parents should not bathe their children with coconut water, because to date, the skin-whitening effect of coconut water is only based on anecdotal evidence passed down by mothers and lacks scientific proof. Bathing with coconut water is both very expensive and potentially harmful to children's health. Only clean water should be used to bathe children; a few drops of salt, a lemon, and specialized baby bath solutions can be added to the bathwater.

Green tea can also be harmful to children.

Responding to concerns from many mothers about whether bathing their children in green tea is like applying pesticides to their skin, Dr. Vu Manh Hung, Deputy Director of Hanoi Dermatology Hospital, stated: The hospital receives quite a number of cases of children with skin infections due to bathing in herbal tea, especially during the summer. In many of these cases, children have to be hospitalized for treatment due to severe inflammation. Some patients even suffer from infections in areas near the nervous system and blood vessels, such as the face, neck, and head, which can cause cerebral venous inflammation and leave lifelong sequelae.

Doctors confirm that bathing with herbal leaves doesn't cure prickly heat; instead, children should be given plenty of cooling foods. (Illustrative image)

Even with green tea leaves – a common ingredient used by many mothers to bathe their children – People's Physician Nguyen Xuan Huong, former president of the Vietnam Traditional Medicine Association, believes it's not good and can cause illness in children. He explains that green tea leaves contain tannins (astringent substances) that can easily damage a child's skin. In particular, the practice of many mothers using green tea leaves to scrub their babies during bath time is very dangerous as it can cause abrasions, injuries leading to infection, and sores.

“You should only bathe children with herbal leaves from the age of one year and older, and only as directed by a traditional medicine doctor. Not all herbs and plants are safe and children can bathe freely without getting sick. Some leaves, growing in bushes, may be contaminated with bacteria or even pesticides, making them difficult to wash off, even with boiling, thus posing a high risk of infection. When children develop dermatitis, they may exhibit symptoms such as fever, fussiness, pimples, and sores in specific areas or all over the body. In hot weather, improper herbal bathing can lead to secondary infections, especially blood infections, which are life-threatening. If you mistakenly use leaves containing toxins, such as oleander leaves, the toxins can enter the bloodstream through the sores and cause immediate death,” warned traditional medicine doctor Nguyen Xuan Huong.

Dr. Huong also affirmed that the idea that bathing children with prickly heat will cure it is completely wrong. Since prickly heat is caused by excess heat in the blood, bathing with leaves will not be effective. The correct treatment is to cool the child down by giving them cooling foods. Absolutely do not bathe children with other skin diseases; instead, take them to a medical facility for examination.
Dr. Nguyen Xuan Huong advises that mothers should ideally only bathe their children with honeysuckle leaves or peach leaves (from the fruit). Wash the leaves thoroughly and soak them for about 2 hours to remove toxins. Then, use about 20g of fresh leaves or 15g of dried leaves and boil them. Remove the leaves, keeping only the liquid, dilute it with warm water, and use it to bathe the child.

According to Discovery - PC