Older Kids & Adults: Skin Healing Support

Proud Grandpa with Healthy SkinTender Defender is superb for adults and older kids who have skin healing needs, whether it’s to get through cold and flu season or to address chronic skin issues.

What makes Tender Defender so special? When we created it for diaper rash, we chose the most powerful botanicals for the job. Those same powerful botanicals that work in the diaper environment do wonders for many skin healing issues for all ages including: eczema, dermatitis, dermabrasion, and ostomy site care.

Scientific literature bears out the power of these botanicals to work on the skin of older kids and adults. Here is a little taste of what science says about Tender Defender’s ingredients and how they support skin healing.

Explore AloeCarrier OilsEssential Oils. Or, read Reviews or Shop.

Aloe:

Sun exposure, tattoos? Tender Defender for Skin Healing needs

  • Aloe has growth factors that aid in tissue repair.
  • Concentrated aloe, unique to Tender Defender, may help skin cells regenerate more quickly than full-strength or watered-down aloe.
  • Aloe provides lignen that allows other ingredients to penetrate deep into skin, nourishing it, encouraging skin healing.

Our carrier oils:

  • Apricot kernel oil is an excellent source of Vitamin E, which is lost rapidly in wounded skin. Vitamin E is particularly useful for skin ulcers and burns and may be especially helpful for skin healing for diabetics.
  • Rosehip seed and apricot kernel oils contain essential fatty acids omega-3 and omega-6 that human bodies cannot produce for themselves but are absolutely necessary for skin healing.
  • Rosehip seed oil has been demonstrated to aid in post-surgical wound healing and diabetic ulcer healing.

Our essential oils:

  • Niaouli is a highly effective antibacterial that is especially active against Gram positive bacteria.
  • The niaouli in our formulation is unique. It has less cineole, a known skin irritant, than anything else in the Melaleuca family.
  • High altitude lavender is an antioxidant with antifungal properties. It is effective for treating insect bites and burns.
  • Roman chamomile treats eczema better than hydrocortisone cream, improves hemorrhoids, and heals dermabrasion faster than steroids.
  • Ginger is an analgesic (reduces pain) that has antibacterial properties, notably against E. coli.
  • Ginger increases blood flow in skin, supporting skin healing for even the most stubborn wounds, including skin ulcers.

Caring for Diabetes Means Caring for Skin Healing

What does all this mean? Tender Defender is an excellent support for skin healing for older children and adults. We get frequent comments that it’s effective for external hemorrhoids, sunburn, chafing, allergic reactions, contact dermatitis, and many other skin issues. We have even had reports of Tender Defender supporting skin healing for diabetic skin ulcers, one of the most difficult dermatological conditions to treat.*

Tender Defender for Skin Healing: What are People Saying?

Reviews? We’re thrilled to share! See what people are saying about using Tender Defender to support skin healing for older children and adults on FacebookAmazon.com, and other outlets:

My husband has Lou Gehrig’s disease and had gotten a rash on his bottom, so my brother told us about the cream [Tender Defender] and gave us a sample [Travel Pack]. My husband liked the way it felt on his skin, even numbing it, he likes it better than his pain patches. It sure does heal the rash fast. Now I use it all over to keep it soft and rash free.  –Connie H.

This product is amazing! I was sick for a week and my nose was red and in pain. I tried everything, Vaseline, lotions, even chapstick but my nose was still scaly and killing me. As soon as I tried the Tender Defender my nose started to feel better. It was so soothing and within a day my bright red nose was healing. I no longer have a red nose but I’m still using the gel to keep my elbows smooth. It’s fantastic! –Lindsay P.

I got this as part of the beta [testing] program, and we used used it on my 3 year old’s chronic eczema, for which the doctor had prescribed steroids. It turned his skin from scabby to clear over the period of a week. Great stuff! –David G.

This product is amazing on the itchy, reddened patches on my hands. I am getting a rapid response to using it just like you would for a baby with diaper rash. I put it on and let it dry, then use the cream I got from the doctor. Finally, some relief! –Emma D.

Used it for jock itch, and it did a great job! It was gone in a couple days. My wife uses it for her calluses and cracked dry feet. Keeps them from cracking. She rubs it in her hands. Keeps her hands nice and moist too. And she put it on two sores…on her feet, and Tender Defender took care of it. –B.

Anyone who has ever had cold sores knows how painful they can be. I use Tender Defender on cold sores. It promotes healing and soothes the pain. My cold sore seemed to heal a lot faster than usual.
I also use it after working in the garden, it’s great for sunburns, chapped or wind-burned skin. A little bit goes a long ways and I love the fresh herbal scent. It works great! Thanks Tender Defender! I couldn’t be without it! –Barbara M.

I had an allergic reaction to my fake nails so I applied Tender Defender to help heal my sore hands. It worked great! It seems to help soothe and heal a variety of rashes, dry skin and even allergic reactions too. Great stuff! I need to purchase a case of it for summer bug bites and sunburns. My friends all use it too. Great product….a definite MUST!!! –G.G.

My grandson kept asking me to scratch his back. After about the third time, I applied Aloe Baby to his entire back. He never asked me to scratch it again as the itching was gone! –Beverly S.

This product is FANTASTIC! My daughter Emily broke her arm last month (she is 8 yrs old). Her cast was irritating her skin around the edge of the cast, almost wearing a blister in one spot. I put some Tender Defender on the area. It did not sting at all…she said it cooled the irritated area & made it feel better! The next day it looked less inflamed & was not as sore. I also put some on my hands, which are constantly dry, chapped, & often crack & bleed due to repeated daily handwashing. This soothed, smoothed & healed my hands better than anything else I have tried. Thank you for such a fabulous product! –Stacy R.

I used the product on a skin irration on my 12 year old. She had very irrated skin due to an over-use of bandaid/medical tape to keep an area covered and protected. She said it immediately soothed her discomfort. I put it on a bad sunburn on my neck. Again, I experienced immediate reflief. Great Stuff! –J.G.

Start Shopping

Ready to see how it can support your skin healing? Tender Defender comes in two sizes: Multi-Use Travel Packs and 4-Ounce Bottles. Check out the Aloe Baby Online Shop or buy from Amazon.com or another online or retail outlet!



Travel Pack
Price: $2.00



4-Ounce Bottle
Price: $16.00

Or visit our Online Store to shop for multi-packs and save even more!

Find more quantity options in our Online Shop.

 

*Of course, for any condition requiring skin healing, we urge you to seek out qualified medical advice for diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of the condition. Please see the Terms and Conditions of use of this web site. 

Tags: allergic reaction, allergic reactions, aloe, Amazon.com, antibacterial, antioxidant, apricot kernel oil, baby boomers, botanicals, chafing, Chamomile, Children, cold, cold sores, contact dermatitis, dermabrasion, diabetic ulcer, diabetic ulcers, eczema, essential fatty acids, external hemorrhoids, flu, ginger, gram positive bacteria, hydrocortisone, jock itch, kids, lavender, Lou Gehrig, Melaleuca, niaouli, older adults, older children, omega 3 and omega 6, rashes, skin, Skin Care, skin healing, skin ulcers, sunburn, sunburns, Tattoo, tender defender, tissue repair, Vitamin E, wound healing

Tender Defender Ingredients

While the balance of essential oils in our formula is proprietary, we believe that parents have every right to know what is in the products they use on their babies. We are proud to list the ingredients in our formulation and urge you to explore our Knowledge Center to find out more about these botanical ingredients.

Travel Pack Outside

Ingredients: Deionized water and Aloe barbadensis powder (concentrated organic aloe vera); Prunus armeniaca (wildcrafted apricot kernel) oil; Rosa rubiginosa (wildcrafted rosehip seed) oil; proprietary blend of essential oils of Melaleuca quinquenervia CT viridiflora (organic niaouli), Zingiber officinale (wildcrafted ginger), Anthemis nobili (organic Roman chamomile), and Lavandula angustifolia (organic high altitude lavender); carbopol (thickening polymer); potassium sorbate; sodium benzoate; citric acid; sodium hydroxide.

What? You’re using preservatives?

Baby and puppyYes, unfortunately, we must. Though these botanicals have amazing properties for mammalian skin, the antibacterial and antifungal properties are not robust enough to ensure that the product won’t become moldy or otherwise tainted a few days after it is opened. But we have worked with our suppliers and chemists to choose the safest possible route (these are all food grade ingredients) with the lowest concentrations that will still be effective. We looked at some alternatives, but they weren’t pretty!

And we’re not afraid to shout out for another baby skin care manufacturer who has explored this topic beautifully! Check out Earth Mama’s Blog.

What are those last two things for?

The citric acid and sodium hydroxide are pH buffers. Without them, the formula’s pH (level of acidity or alkalinity) could swing wildly in any direction. That would not be good. Again, we worked with our suppliers and chemists to choose food-grade buffers that we could use in very small amounts that would be least impactful on babies’ skin.

Tags: aloe barbadensis, Aloe vera, aloebaby, apricot kernel, apricot kernel oil, botanical skin care, botanicals, Earth Mama, Essential oil, essential oils, food grade ingredients, food-grade buffers, ginger, high altitude, Melaleuca, Melaleuca quinquenervia, natural, natural ingredients, niaouli, niaouli essential oil, organic, organic aloe vera, patent pending, ph buffers, potassium sorbate, PreservativesPreservatives, prunus armeniaca, roman chamomile, Rosehip, sodium benzoate, tender defender, unrefined cold-pressed rosehip seed oil, viridiflora, Wild-crafted, wildcrafted

Botanicals

What do we know about these botanicals? While we discuss here the findings of traditional western scientists, we must acknowledge that scientists would not know what to investigate if it weren’t for the knowledge of the indigenous people local to these amazing plants.

On this page, we investigate Aloe, Niaouli, and Rosehip Seed Oil
for starters. Revisit the page later for more botanical explorations!

 

Aloe barbadensis

Aloe plantAloe has been used to treat physical maladies for centuries. Ancient Egyptians used it about 3,500 years ago, and evidence of its use in ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, India, and China shows a long history of its use across cultures. It has been ingested and used externally to treat indigestion, stomach ulcers, immune deficiencies, cancer, aging, acne, wounds, burns, psoriasis, eczema, dermatitis, and countless other conditions. Scientists are working hard to understand its constituent parts and how they interact with our bodies and to what degree these historical uses of the plant have modern scientific merit.

Today, aloe farming, harvesting, and processing is a large industry with its own organizations, practices, and standards. We only accept organic aloe from suppliers who have the International Aloe Science Council’s certification and do extensive testing on their product to ensure bio-activity.

One of the distinctive features of our products is that we use concentrated aloe in our formulations. Why? The aloe vera layer promotes basal keratinocyte regeneration (skin cell healing). The more concentrated the aloe vera, the more vigorous the regeneration, and this is a linear relationship (Danhof & McAnalley, 1983). At a certain point, the aloe can and will irritate the skin, so we test extensively to find the sweet spot where we maximize the support for our skin’s regeneration and minimize irritation. However, even if the aloe initially irritates the skin, it is doing its job. During the formulation of this product, Aloe Baby’s founder had a large first degree burn from cooking, and she placed a dab of 10x (1000%) concentrate in the middle of the burn (it really irritated!), a dab of Tender Defender to one side, and nothing at all on the other side. The burn healed fastest in the middle and slowest where we applied nothing. While this was by no means a scientific study, it illustrates the importance of concentrating aloe for supporting skin healing.

Articles that may be of further interest:

Niaouli

Niaouli treeNot nearly as well-known in the United States or as well advertised worldwide, niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia) is a cousin to the Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia). There are some wonderful similarities between niaouli and tea tree:

  • Both are highly effective antibacterial agents, especially against Gram positive bacteria (Ramanoelina, Terrom, Bianchini & Coulanges, 1987).
  • The essential oils of both plants contain the Terpinen-4-ol, which is an effective antimicrobial against Staphylococcus aureus (Carson, Mee & Riley, 2002).
  • They share many of the same bio-active properties, acting as effective fungicides against dermatophytes and filamentous fungi (Hammer, Carson & Riley, 2002). And the tea tree has demonstrated antiprotozoal, antiviral, antibiotic, antimicrobial, and anti-infammatory qualities (Carson, Hammer & Riley, 2006), and it is likely that the less well-studied niaouli shares these attributes.

But there are two things that separate the essential oils of tea tree and niaouli:

  • Scent! The tea tree has a very medicinal quality to it, but niaouli has a much sweeter, fresher profile. (Who wants to smell like a medicine cabinet?)
  • The amount of a notorious skin irritant! 1,8-cineole is a compound that is present in significant amounts in this family of plants. It is a skin irritant that should be minimized in products to be used on sensitive skin. We found a specific chemotype of niaouli essential oil that is unique in its family: it contains far less 1,8-cineole than tea tree oil and even  significantly less than the oils of other niaouli chemotypes (Gbenou, Moudachirou, Chalchat & Figueredo, 2007; Ramanoelina, Bianchini & Gaydou, 2008). In other words, the oil we use is well researched and chosen for its efficacy and gentleness. As an added bonus, its collection and processing provides living wages for residents of a village in Madagascar.

Rosehip Seed Oil

rose hipsRosehip seed oil is a wonderful source of Vitamins A (retinol), C (ascorbic acid), and E (alpha and gamma tocopherols). But it is the levels of linoleic and linolenic acids, up to 77% of the oil, that is most beneficial for skin. Neither of these fatty acids are made by our bodies. Linoleic acid is an omega-6 fatty acid is critically important to skin, particularly for wound healing. Alpha Linolenic (also written as α-Linolenic) acid is an omega-3 fatty acid that reduces inflammation and promotes healing.

Rosehip seed oil used cosmetically has been demonstrated to reduce the depth of wrinkles, attenuate scarring, and regenerate skin (Pareja & Kehl, 1990). It has been shown to aid in wound healing for post-surgical and skin ulcer patients (Moreno, Bueno, Navas & Camacho, 1990). It is also used to ease the effects of radiotherapy on skin (Maddocks-Jennings,Wilkinson, & Shillington, 2005).

The unrefined cold-pressed rosehip seed oil that we use is sustainably wildcrafted and contains more linoleic acid than oil extracted with solvents or enzymes.

 

 

Tags: aloe, aloe barbadensis, Aloe vera, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, Baby, basal, botanical explorations, chemotype, cineole, cloth diaper safe, diaper rash, Essential oil, essential oils, evidence, fair trade, Health, Health_Medical_Pharma, human skin cells, immune deficiencies, indigenous people, international aloe science council, keratinocyte, medicinal, Melaleuca, Melaleuca quinquenervia, natural, niaouli, niaouli essential oil, organic, research, Rosehip, seed oil, skin healing, Staphylococcus, tea tree, tea tree oil, tender defender, Terpinen, unrefined cold-pressed rosehip seed oil, western scientists, wildcrafted

Baby’s Skin

Babies: what amazing creatures! They are born with the ability to see and hear almost as well as full-grown adults. They triple their size in their first year. And by the age of two, the average baby has had more than 7,200 diaper changes! What effect does all of that diaper changing have on babies’ skin?

Baby Bottom

Baby’s skin

That waxy coating a baby is born with is called vernix, and it is the best skin defense in the world! (Never wash it off! Massage it in!)

Your baby’s skin is 20-30% thinner than an adult’s, and it loses moisture much more quickly. Because it is so thin, the lotions, soaps, shampoos, creams, pastes, detergents, and ointments we use penetrate much more readily and quickly–for better or for worse. More about that in just a moment!

Your baby’s skin is also more prone to infection than an adult’s because his immune system has not had time to build up resistance to common microbes. Friction from cloth or disposable diapers can provide microbes with a weak spot in your baby’s dermal defenses. Add feces and urine, and you have a closed, moist environment with a high pH (alkaline or basic) that encourages fecal enzymes to further irritate baby’s skin while microorganisms thrive.

Artificial fragrances, harsh detergents (“hypoallergenic” does not equal “gentle”), chemicals in many best-selling soaps/shampoos, and preservatives are all prime candidates for irritating a baby’s skin.

Not even “baby” powders are safe. (The Environmental Working Group has an excellent database of cosmetics, their ingredients, and their safety. There is an entire section for babies and moms.) The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends not using powders on babies’ skin; airborne talc can cause lung problems while plant-based powders feed fungal infections.

As parents, we owe it to our children to be aware of the chemicals we are buying in the laundry soaps and softeners, shampoos, lotions, ointments, pastes, and ointments that come into contact with our babies’ thin and vulnerable skin.

 

Diaper rash

Babies are most susceptible between 8 and 10 months, but diaper rash can occur at any time. Though there are many causes, there are two things parents can provide that will help: air and barrier creams/ointments/pastes.

According to the Mayo Clinic:

“Give your baby as much diaper-free time as possible so that his or her skin can have a chance to stay dry and start healing. When you do use diapers, change them frequently and apply a diaper rash cream or ointment to act as a barrier between your baby’s skin and a dirty diaper.”

AAD also recommends keeping it simple when treating babies’ skin for diaper rash: warm water and a washcloth for cleaning, plenty of air for drying, and a barrier cream, preferably with zinc oxide.

With Aloe Baby’s Tender Defender, you can give your baby both the air and barrier her bottom needs. But she will also get natural botanicals that support wound healing and skin regrowth. When you use Aloe Baby’s (patent pending) approach to diaper rash treatment, you will be providing both a bio-active nutritive layer to support healing and important air drying time before applying a barrier cream.

Tender Defender Directions

Directions for using Tender Defender

Tags: active ingredients, aloe, aloe baby, Aloe vera, American Academy of Dermatology, antifungal agent, apricot kernel oil, artificial fragrances, Baby, baby skin, barrier cream, barrier creams, biology, botanical skin care, carrier oils, cloth diaper safe, corporate responsibility, Cosmetics, diaper, diaper changes, diaper rash, disposable diapers, environmental working group, essential oils, fair trade, fungal infections, gamma linoleic acid, harsh detergents, Health, Human Interest, Irritant diaper dermatitis, laundry soaps, Mayo Clinic, microbes, moist environment, motherhood, natural, natural ingredients, niaouli, organic, organic ingredients, pastes, patent pending, problem solving, Rash, research, seed oil, skin care products, strong women, sustainability, tender defender, Topical, trap moisture, wildcrafted

Home of Aloe Baby

Naturally Crafted for Babies…

Tender Defender was designed by Aloe Baby, LLC for babies with diaper rash. Diaper rash is our reason for being! Our formula was created with the most powerful botanicals available, carefully blended to be both effective at supporting skin healing and gentle enough for baby’s most tender skin.

Tender Defender Bio-Active Aloe Base Gel: Diaper Rash Care

Aloe veraTender Defender is a revolutionary new step (patent pending) in diaper rash care. The product is a concentrated aloe-based gel. It is used before barrier creams/ointments/pastes. Here is why it is so important:

  • Barrier creamsointments, or pastes alone can do harm if they trap moisture or plant-based starches, providing food for harmful microbes.
  • Tender Defender provides a bio-active, nutritive layer to support skin as it heals, acting as a base coat beneath the barrier cream.
  • It is made from natural, wildcrafted, and organic botanicals full of Ginger flowerbio-active compounds to support skin as it heals.
  • Tender Defender is free from petrolatum, detergents, parabens, phthalates, alcohol, artificial fragrance, colors, formaldehydes, nuts, gluten, soy, and animal products.

…But Great for the Whole Family!

Tender Defender is also terrific for older kids, adults, and pets. It supports skin healing by providing nutrients the skin needs to repair itself. Chafing, heat rash, sunburn, razor burn, eczema, psoriasis, bed sores, pressure sores, external hemorrhoids…Tender Defender’s users report lots of uses for it!

 

More than 99% Wild-crafted or Organic Ingredients

rose hipsThis bio-active, nutritive formula includes botanicals that have been scientifically demonstrated to be helpful to healing skin. All of them are sustainably wild-crafted or organic. Some of the ingredients Aloe Baby, LLC has included in the unique formulation are listed below.

  • Aloe is concentrated for greater regeneration of basal keratinocytes. That means that concentrated aloe supports faster skin regrowth.
  • Apricot kernel oil provides vitamins E and A and gamma linoleic acid, which helps skin maintain moisture balance.
  • Rosehip seed oil has been demonstrated to aid in post-surgical wound healing.
  • Niaouli is a highly effective antibacterial and antifungal agent that is less irritating than its cousin, the tea tree.

Aloe Baby, LLC: Nature at the Service of your Baby. 

Travel Pack

Price: $2.00

 

 

 

 

4-Ounce Bottle

Price: $16.00
 

Or visit the Aloe Baby Online Store to shop for multi-packs and save even more!
Tags: aloe baby, antifungal agent, apricot kernel oil, barrier cream, barrier creams, bed sores, chafing, diaper rash, eczema, external hemorrhoids, gamma linoleic acid, harmful microbes, healthy skin, heat rash, natural, niaouli, organic, organic ingredients, patent pending, pressure sores, psoriasis, razor burn, seed oil, skin healing, sunburn, tea tree, trap moisture, wildcrafted

Tender Defender

Tender Defender Bio-Active Aloe Base Gel. What is it?

Malibu Tube

It is a revolutionary development in diaper rash care. It is a botanical, aloe-based gel that is used underneath barrier creams, ointments, or pastes.

The directions for its use are very important. Follow them, and they will give you the opportunity to provide a nutritive layer for the skin and some fresh air for baby’s skin.  Applying barrier creams too quickly after wiping can trap moisture and contribute to microbial growth. Nobody wants that! Following our directions carefully will prevent that.

Tender

Tender Defender is a formulation of botanicals that are gentle for sensitive skin. For example, we love the healing properties that tea tree oil provides, but we dislike the smell and the component 1,8-Cineole, which is irritating to some people’s skin. So instead, we use niaouli essential oil. Smell problem solved! Except that many of the niaouli oils also have large amounts of 1,8-Cineole, too. So we found a specific chemotype of niaouli that has significantly less of this compound than others, and that’s what we have in our formulation. Read more in the Botanicals section of our Knowledge Center!

Travel Pack Outside

Defender

The botanicals have been selected for their collective efficacy. They include a well-rounded blend of essential oils that have each been researched and have scientifically demonstrated (in peer reviewed academic journals) antibiotic, antiprotozoal, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic properties. That’s important to our company, which was founded by a mother who is a former professor. We value the findings of scientists and study them carefully when crafting our formulations.

The formula also contains a blend of carrier oils–apricot kernel and rosehip seed–that provide fatty acids, vitamins, and other wonderful elements important to supporting skin healing. This product stands in defense of your baby’s skin.

Bio-Active

The American Heritage Dictionary defines this term as:

Of or relating to a substance that has an effect on living tissue.

So, what’s in our formulation that acts upon skin? Lots of good stuff! Keep an eye on our Knowledge Center and Blog for a growing exploration of our ingredients. Scientists are only beginning to understand the components of aloe and these essential oils and how they interact with our bodies to support healing. But some of these components and their functions include:
  • 6-gingerol: It is one of the components of ginger essential oil that scientists believe increases blood flow to the area (Bhagavathula, Warner, DaSilva, McClintock, Barron, Aslam, Johnson & Varani, 2010). This is why Tender Defender sometimes feels warm on particularly damaged skin. It is doing its job!
  • Salicylic Acid: It is an organic plant hormone found in aloe that is chemically similar to the active ingredient in aspirin. It has been isolated and used as an antibacterial and antiseptic and is found in treatments for calluses, acne, dandruff, stomach upset, and diarrhea. In its natural state, it is mild and works in concert with many other components of aloe.

Aloe

Travel Pack Inside

The key to our formulations is our concentrated aloe base. Scientists have studied various concentrations of aloe vera, and they have demonstrated that lower concentrations are less effective while higher concentrations speed healing (Bowles, 1989). Our formula for babies is “gently” concentrated to offer speedier healing support. To our knowledge, Tender Defender is the only retail product in the United States that provides concentrated aloe.

Base Gel

Remember that this is a base coat! It is designed to work in concert with barrier creams, pastes, or ointments, though if your baby’s skin is not currently threatened by rash, it might be able to stand alone. It does best when coupled with other moisturizing regimens. Its bio-activity is strong enough to support the skin through one or two diaper changes, but gentle enough to use regularly for most users.

How do I use the Travel Pack? Please check out our YouTube video!

Patent Pending

Tags: Aloe vera, aloebaby, antibacterial, antiprotozoal, antiseptic properties, apricot kernel, barrier creams, botanicals, carrier oils, cineole, cloth diaper safe, diaper rash, Essential oil, fatty acids, ginger, gingerol, Ingredient, Knowledge Center, natural, niaouli, niaouli essential oil, ointments, organic, Rosehip, Sensitive skin, skin healing, tea tree, tender defender, wildcrafted