Why you should always be wary of using baby wipes on children

It's easy to think that any product made for babies is safe. And most likely they are safe for both parents and kids alike.

Got a rash? Throw some baby powder on it. Dry skin? Baby oil is a great solution. Dirty hands? Clean those sticky fingers with baby wipes.

But parents and doctors are warning against the use of those wipes, mainly because of its ingredients. If a child is suffering from a painful rash, some parents and doctors assume the culprit is eczema or psoriasis.

But even when baby products are labeled as "hypoallergenic", those items may still contain irritant ingredients, some of which the child can still be allergic too. The chemical preservative methylisonthiazolinone (or MI) is commonly used in these types of products.

Dr. Mary Wu Chang, a dermatologist at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, said she first became suspicious of the wipes after multiple visits from one of her pediatric patients -- a rash continuously formed in the same areas.

"What made me think of the wipes was that the rash was on her face and on her buttocks," Chang said. "So I asked the mother what she was using to clean her." said Dr. Chang in an interview with Today. After a few months, she noticed the same rash on different pediatric patients.

If not treated, the rash could spread or cause pain. Instead of exposing a child to MI and other chemicals, doctors suggest that babies should be cleaned with simple towels and gentle cleanser.

Scroll through to read about the most common food allergies:

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