What's In Your Personal Care Items
by Dee Cohen on 2007-09-22
There are already numerous articles written on the hazards of chemicals in personal care products. Even Senator Edward Kennedy has written several letters to Congress regarding the health risks associated with using cosmetics that contain cancer-causing ingredients.
Personal care products that have been taught to be beneficial to you may be the very ones that may contain chemicals that is posing a serious threat to you and your family's health.
Believe it. Personal care products like soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and make-up usually contain cheap, synthetic chemicals and ingredients that are suspiciously harmful. . There are in fact more than 125 ingredients used on the skin suspected of causing cancer. 20 cause adverse nervous system reactions. And 25 are connected to birth defects. What you put on your skin penetrates and can enter your body.
Here are some things that the labels do not tell you about personal care products.
Fragrances. Just because it smells good doesn't mean it is. Oftentimes, the first things a consumer does when trying a personal care product is to smell it. If the product smells good the consumer is much more likely to want the product.
Oftentimes also, the label on the product gives the illusion that the scent is natural. A picture used in the product will lead to the conclusion that it must have come from that source.
More often than not, this is simply not the case. Most fragrances are of synthetic origin. Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients; many are toxic chemicals that cause or contribute to cancer. Manufacturers are not required to disclose the individual ingredients as they are considered trade secrets of their personal care products.
Reported symptoms are headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation shows that the chemicals on the fragrances of these beauty products can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.
It is therefore understandable why some countries have declared many scented products to be hazardous to public health. And have even gone to the extreme of banning the wearing of all cosmetic fragrances in most indoor public places.
Color Pigments. As with smell, looks can also be deceiving. Just because it looks pretty doesn't mean it is.
Color pigments are used to make the product look attractive. It does not really serve any beneficial purpose for any part of the body. Color pigments found in personal care products are made from synthetic and chemical ingredients such as coal tar. They also contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). You will find these ingredients in almost all cleansers that foam. These chemicals are even used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers.
Research indicates that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate causes inflammation of the skin and can weaken the immune system. Young eyes will not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. Be alert about these chemicals especially on baby shampoos.
Triclosan. The EPA registers Triclosan as a pesticide and is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Triclosan is so toxic it is measured in parts per trillion. These chemicals are the same ones used on personal care products as they are known for their antibacterial ingredient. Most often found in soaps and toothpastes.
How to show how harmful these chemicals are; one drop of Triclosan in 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools can cause hormonal disruption.
Mineral Oil. A petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic and clogs the pores. It interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins thus promoting acne and other disorders. It slows down skin function and cell development.
Where can you find mineral oil in its largest portion? Baby Oil. Note that Baby Oil is 100% mineral oil.
Contrary to what people believe, it is possible to create personal care products without the use of any harmful chemicals. The answers and solutions are found in nature. All it takes is study, research and a sincere desire to meet the health needs of consumers equally with profit needs.
Consider very carefully the health risks associated with exposing yourself to harmful chemicals and make it your resolve to no longer buy questionable personal care products from companies that have little regard for your health.
Personal care products that have been taught to be beneficial to you may be the very ones that may contain chemicals that is posing a serious threat to you and your family's health.
Believe it. Personal care products like soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, and make-up usually contain cheap, synthetic chemicals and ingredients that are suspiciously harmful. . There are in fact more than 125 ingredients used on the skin suspected of causing cancer. 20 cause adverse nervous system reactions. And 25 are connected to birth defects. What you put on your skin penetrates and can enter your body.
Here are some things that the labels do not tell you about personal care products.
Fragrances. Just because it smells good doesn't mean it is. Oftentimes, the first things a consumer does when trying a personal care product is to smell it. If the product smells good the consumer is much more likely to want the product.
Oftentimes also, the label on the product gives the illusion that the scent is natural. A picture used in the product will lead to the conclusion that it must have come from that source.
More often than not, this is simply not the case. Most fragrances are of synthetic origin. Fragrance on a label can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients; many are toxic chemicals that cause or contribute to cancer. Manufacturers are not required to disclose the individual ingredients as they are considered trade secrets of their personal care products.
Reported symptoms are headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation shows that the chemicals on the fragrances of these beauty products can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes.
It is therefore understandable why some countries have declared many scented products to be hazardous to public health. And have even gone to the extreme of banning the wearing of all cosmetic fragrances in most indoor public places.
Color Pigments. As with smell, looks can also be deceiving. Just because it looks pretty doesn't mean it is.
Color pigments are used to make the product look attractive. It does not really serve any beneficial purpose for any part of the body. Color pigments found in personal care products are made from synthetic and chemical ingredients such as coal tar. They also contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). You will find these ingredients in almost all cleansers that foam. These chemicals are even used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers.
Research indicates that Sodium Lauryl Sulfate causes inflammation of the skin and can weaken the immune system. Young eyes will not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. Be alert about these chemicals especially on baby shampoos.
Triclosan. The EPA registers Triclosan as a pesticide and is classified as a chlorophenol, a class of chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Triclosan is so toxic it is measured in parts per trillion. These chemicals are the same ones used on personal care products as they are known for their antibacterial ingredient. Most often found in soaps and toothpastes.
How to show how harmful these chemicals are; one drop of Triclosan in 300 Olympic-sized swimming pools can cause hormonal disruption.
Mineral Oil. A petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic and clogs the pores. It interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins thus promoting acne and other disorders. It slows down skin function and cell development.
Where can you find mineral oil in its largest portion? Baby Oil. Note that Baby Oil is 100% mineral oil.
Contrary to what people believe, it is possible to create personal care products without the use of any harmful chemicals. The answers and solutions are found in nature. All it takes is study, research and a sincere desire to meet the health needs of consumers equally with profit needs.
Consider very carefully the health risks associated with exposing yourself to harmful chemicals and make it your resolve to no longer buy questionable personal care products from companies that have little regard for your health.
About The Author: Dee Cohen is a social worker and yoga teacher. She incorporates chemical free products into her practice to enhance her clients' health. Chemical Free Products