What are the benefits of bathing infants with honeysuckle?
Generally speaking, using water boiled with honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) to bathe infants offers many benefits, including soothing skin redness, reducing skin itching, cleansing the skin surface, alleviating mild heat rash, and promoting skin health. The details are as follows:
1. Soothe Skin Redness
Infant skin is delicate and prone to localized redness due to environmental humidity and heat or clothing friction. The mild components contained in honeysuckle water can help reduce minor skin irritation, alleviate redness, and restore the skin to a smooth and delicate condition without causing additional burden to the sensitive skin.
2. Reduce Skin Itching
If an infant's skin becomes itchy due to sweat irritation or unsuitable clothing material, honeysuckle water can clean the skin while simultaneously soothing sensitive skin conditions and reducing itchiness. This helps prevent the infant from scratching excessively due to itching, thereby lowering the risk of skin damage and subsequent infection, keeping the infant comfortable.
3. Cleanse the Skin Surface
Infants have a fast metabolism, making their skin prone to sweat, sebum, and external dust accumulation. Honeysuckle water is mild and non-irritating, effectively removing surface dirt without damaging the skin's natural oil layer. It maintains normal skin barrier function and prevents skin damage caused by excessive cleansing.
4. Alleviate Mild Heat Rash
In summer or hot and humid environments, infants are prone to heat rash due to blocked sweat excretion. Honeysuckle water has a cooling effect, providing a refreshing sensation when applied to the skin. It helps unclog sweat ducts on the skin surface, relieve discomfort caused by heat rash, and promote gradual resolution of the rash.
5. Promote Skin Health
Compared to some infant bathing products containing additives, honeysuckle is a natural plant with mild properties after boiling. Bathing with it reduces irritation from chemical ingredients on the infant's delicate skin, offering gentle care while cleansing, making it suitable for infants with sensitive skin.
In addition, when using honeysuckle to bathe infants, it is important to filter out the residue after boiling and wait until the water temperature drops to 37–40°C before use. Each bath should be limited to 10–15 minutes to avoid prolonged soaking. If the infant's skin has wounds, discharge, or allergic reactions, discontinue use immediately and seek medical attention. At the same time, in daily life, it is important to keep the infant's clothing loose and breathable to reduce the occurrence of skin problems.