Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Aloe Baby’s Tender Defender
- Is Tender Defender only for babies?
- I’m using Tender Defender on my child. Can we use it for anything besides diaper rash?
- Is Tender Defender safe to use on babies undergoing light therapy for jaundice?
- Is Tender Defender safe for use with cloth diapers?
- How often should I use Tender Defender?
- What does it feel like to apply Tender Defender on sensitive, damaged skin?
- Air drying takes time. Are there any shortcuts?
- What do I do if we have an adverse reaction to Tender Defender?
Is Tender Defender only for babies?
It is formulated for babies, but Tender Defender is also perfectly suited to older adults, whose skin biologically becomes more and more similar to babies’ as we mature.
We have had testers of all ages use Tender Defender for a variety of skin issues, and they have reported that it has been useful for supporting skin healing for:
- Rashes associated with both fecal and urinary incontinence (adults)
- Razor burn (adults and pets–due to grooming)
- Irritation due to waxing, electrolysis, or epilation
- Sunburn
- First degree burns (after flushing with cold water)
- Dry skin
- Minor cuts
- Abrasions
- Chapped lips
- Contact dermatitis
- External hemorrhoids
fresh tattoos, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, skin blisters, allergic reactions (including poison ivy, oak, or sumac), bed/pressure sores, biopsy sites, laser treatments, catheter sites, injection sites, diabetic ulcers, and other skin issues. Please let us know if you use Tender Defender for any of these (or other) purposes, and how it works for you!Aloe Baby is developing products that will use our patent-pending technology for every age group and skin type, but Tender Defender always be our most gentle formula, so go ahead and get started with this one until a formula more suited to your skin type is ready!
I’m using Tender Defender on my child. Can we use it for anything besides diaper rash?
Of course! It is formulated to be gentle enough to use on your baby’s most sensitive skin, so it could certainly be used for many other things. Dry skin, cradle cap or other forms of seborrhea, heat rash, baby acne, eczema, intertrigo and teething rash, chafing, contact dermatitis, and other skin issues could all be candidates for the use of Tender Defender. A few words of caution, though. First, although Tender Defender’s ingredients are all food grade, it is for external use only, so avoid getting any in the eyes or ears or very much in the mouth. Second, when in doubt, ALWAYS consult your pediatrician or dermatologist. Only a qualified physician can tell you for certain what your baby is dealing with and whether there is a more serious underlying condition that may need special treatment.
Is Tender Defender safe to use on babies undergoing light therapy for jaundice?
Absolutely! (Dear caregiver, this is an excellent and very wise question! Thank you for asking it!) Tender Defender was designed with these very special babies in mind! Our formulation contains NO carrier oils or essential oils that are light sensitizing. If your baby is undergoing light therapy, make sure none of your skin care products contain citrus-based (or anise, bergamot, dill, angelica, fennel, rue, or cumin) essential oils or other components that may cause phototoxicity in conjunction with ultraviolet (UV) light.
Is Tender Defender safe for use with cloth diapers?
Yes, Tender Defender is cloth diaper safe with one caveat: make sure the surface of the skin is dry before you close up that diaper. By the time it air dries (and using a hair dryer on low air and COLD setting “counts” as air drying when you’re in a hurry), the amount of botanicals left on the surface of the skin is negligible.
Our cloth diaper users have expressed one issue: there aren’t very many barrier creams/pastes/ointments that are cloth diaper (CD) safe. But one of our moms routinely used liners, so her solution was to use those whenever baby’s bottom was red, irritated, or rashy and needed the protection of a barrier cream/ointment/paste to keep the diaper environment away from the skin.
Tender Defender used regularly by itself is a terrific way to keep skin from getting red and irritated. But if redness and irritation develops, we absolutely recommend the use of a barrier cream/ointment/paste until it recedes!
How often should we use Tender Defender?
When there is a rash present, use at every diaper change, or at least every second diaper change. Follow the directions carefully, especially the part about air drying completely.
When there is no rash present, use Tender Defender at least twice a day. Most importantly, watch the signs your baby’s body provides. Does redness or rash come back frequently? Perhaps you should use it at every diaper change.
If you are using Tender Defender for a non-diaper rash skin issue such as abrasions, sunburn, tattoo site, external hemorrhoids, or contact dermatitis, start out using it 3-5 times a day and adjust as necessary.
What does it feel like to apply Tender Defender on sensitive, damaged skin?
For most of us, it doesn’t feel like much of anything. But after lots of (humane) testing among children and adults, we can report that a few people with very sensitive or very damaged skin (such as fresh steam burns from cooking) may feel warm and tingly at the site where Tender Defender is applied. This quick heat is usually followed by a cooling sensation as the gel dries. The warmth and tingling is most likely due to the gingerols in the ginger essential oil, which scientists believe increase blood supply to the area to stimulate healing. (Read more about it in the Bio-Active section of the Tender Defender page.) Unless it is uncomfortable or is accompanied by a worsening of the condition, the warm, tingly sensation shouldn’t be problematic. It’s an indicator that the essential oils are doing their jobs!
Air drying takes time. Are there any shortcuts?
In some cases, it may be feasible to have a hair dryer at the changing table, which can cut down drying time immensely! But a hair dryer is only appropriate if it has a COLD setting. And before you use the HIGH air setting, remember what it feels like to get windburn. Babies can get windburn–dried out, damaged skin–just from excessive airflow. So set that hair dryer to LOW. NEVER use hot air on baby’s very tender skin, as this can cause serious burns very, very quickly!
For an on-the-go solution, we have put personal battery-operated fans in our diaper bags to help reduce the time it takes to air dry completely.
What do I do if we have an adverse reaction to Tender Defender?
Though rare, there will always be a small percentage of the population that is sensitive to any natural product, even aloe! (The thought of this makes us weep!) If you or your baby have had skin sensitivities in the past, the best places to try a new product are the soles of the feet or forearm. If this, or any other product, seems to create redness and irritation, flush the area thoroughly with water and consult your pediatrician or dermatologist.
