by Rodi Alexander Friedman, C.H.C.
We all want to look and feel attractive and healthy. As important as it is to feed ourselves with high quality food that permeates wellness from the inside out, it is just as important what we put on our bodies. Your Skin is the largest organ of your body. It is a living organism that eliminates wastes, absorbs and produces nutrients, and has protective immune functions. Your skin is an indicator of your health. It is one of the most sensitive parts of the body, and likely the first thing people notice when looking at themselves, or someone else.
The Chinese have always referred to the skin as the “Third Lung.” The skin will absorb whatever you topically put on it, and will make it’s way into your blood stream. When you swallow a substance, the liver can filter some of the toxins out, allowing less of the substance into the blood stream. Unfortunately, there are many personal care products, as well as household products, that can harm the skin, and can be harmful to your health.
Chemicals absorbed through the skin by-pass the liver’s protective filtering system, and are therefore more
dangerous. It makes perfect sense to use the purest possible products on your skin, from personal care products
like make up and creams, shampoos, sunscreen, deodorants, and perfumes, to over the counter prescription
medications and detergents. There are over 24,000 chemicals found in products and our food supply. Here are
just a few to avoid:
Parabens – Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl. Parabens are used in moisturizers, shampoos, deodorants and
is toxic by swallowing. Used to inhibit microbial growth, and to extend shelf life of products. Studies have shown
that they can be absorbed through the skin, are weakly estrogenic, and have subsequent effects on the endocrine
system. They can upset your hormone balance and can cause various reproductive cancers in men and women. In
a recent study, 18 out of 20 breast tumors contained parabens. They can cause allergic reactions and skin rashes.
Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) – used in cosmetics, shampoos and shaving gels, as
emulsifiers and foaming agents. They can cause allergic reactions, eye irritation, and dryness of hair and skin.
DEA and TEA are “Amines” (Ammonia Compounds), and can form cancer-causing nitrosamines, when they
come into contact with nitrates, often found in water.
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate – This is an inexpensive, harsh detergent used in bath gels, shampoos,
toothpastes, hand lotions, and bubble baths for cleansing and foam building properties. Often derived from
petroleum, it is frequently disguised in pseudo – natural cosmetics, with the phrase, “comes from coconuts”. It is
toxic by swallowing, a human skin irritant, eye irritant, causes skin rashes, dandruff and other allergic reactions.
Petrolatum, also known as petroleum jelly. This mineral oil derivative is used for it’s emollient properties.
It is reasonably inexpensive, and has no nutrient value for the skin, and can interfere with the body’s own
moisturizing mechanism, leading to dryness and chapping, and creating the very condition it claims to alleviate.
Methoxsalen – is used in suntan lotions, gels, mousses, creams and ointments. It is a confirmed
carcinogen. It is toxic by swallowing and a mutagen.
Diazolidinyl Urea. Imidazolidinyl Urea – These are widely used preservatives which the American
Academy of Dermatology has found to be a primary cause of contact dermatitis. Two trade names for these .chemicals are Germall 11, and Germall 115. They both release formaldehyde, which can be toxic.
Benzyl Alcohol – is widely used in soaps, perfumes and cosmetics. It is a highly toxic substance, poisonous by swallowing, moderately toxic by breathing and skin contact, moderate skin and severe eye irritant.
PVP/VA Copolymer – This is a petroleum – derived chemical used in hairsprays, styling aids and other cosmetics. Inhaled particles can damage the lungs of a sensitive person.
Salicyclic Acid (Salicylate) – is used in gels and hair care products. It is a mutagen, poisonous by swallowing and a skin and eye irritant.
Isopropyl Myristate – This ingredient cause skin creams to be absorbed. It is a skin irritant and clogs
pores.
Synthetic Colors – along with synthetic hair dyes, should be avoided at all costs. They are used to make
cosmetics “pretty.” They are labeled as FD&C, or D&C, followed by a color and a number, example FD&C Red
No.6. Many synthetic colors can be carcinogenic.
Synthetic Fragrances – The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients.
There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since the labels simply read “fragrance.” Common problems
caused by these chemicals include, headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper pigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting,
skin irritation and the list goes on.
1,4 -Dioxane – is a synthetic petrochemical carcinogen found in consumer products. It is not an ingredient,
but a by product of ethylene oxide reacting with other chemicals. 1,4 dioxane is created when cleaning products
and detergents are processed using ethoxylation, a cheap technique that lessens the severity of the harsher
ingredients. Since it is a by product, it is technically considered a contaminant and thus does not have to be
included on product labeling. Most conventional brands of laundry detergent contain 1,4 dioxane contamination
such as Tide (having the highest parts per million), Ivory Snow Gentle, Tide Free, Purex, Gain 2X Ultra, Cheer,
Era 2X Ultra, Arm and Hammer, Wisk 2X Ultra,andWoolite. There are lower levels in Natural brands,such as,
Planet Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent, and Mrs. Meyers Laundry Detergent. The non- detectable brands were
Dreft Powdered Detergent, Sun Burst, Clorox Green Works Natural Laundry Detergent, Ecos Laundry Detergent
( this is my preference and affordable at Costco), Life Tree Laundry Liquid, Method Squeaky Green LD and
Seventh Generation Free And Clear LD. 1,4 Dioxane is particularly harmful in the fact that the chemical binds
easily to water and remains there. It has been detected in numerous water supplies across the country and is not
easily removed from water.
Antibacterial Soaps – are a cocktail of chemicals designed to kill life. That’s how it kills bacteria. The problem is that it also harms people, especially infants and children, who are trying to develop healthy nervous systems. Avoid all products claiming to be “antibacterial.” You are better off using natural soap and letting your child’s immune system fight off common bacteria.
Sunscreen – The sunscreen industry is a huge scam. Most popular sunscreen products actually cause skin
cancer due to the numerous toxic chemicals they contain (which are quickly absorbed into the skin where they
cause DNA mutations that lead to cancer.) Even worse, sunscreen blocks the UV radiation that allows the skin to
manufacture the all important Vitamin D, the most powerful anti – cancer nutrient yet know to modern science. It
prevents over a dozen different cancers. Several of the ingredients that I previously listed are in sunscreens;
Parabens, Sodium Laurel and Lauryth Sulfate, Petrolatum, as well as PABA – (which may be listed as octyl-dimethyl or padimate-o). It attacks DNA and cause genetic mutation when exposed to sunlight.
Phenol Carbolic Acid – found in many commercial sunscreens. It’s side effects are circulatory collapse,
paralysis, convulsions, coma and death from respiratory failure.
Propylene Glycol – causes Dermatitis, kidney and liver abnormalities, prevents skin growth, causes
irritation, allergic reactions, hives and eczema.
Totuene – which may be listed as benzoic, benzyl, or butylated hydroxolune can cause anemia, low blood
cell count, liver and kidney damage, and birth defects.
Titanium Dioxide – is best used as an ingredient in sunscreen , but is also used in thousands of cosmetics
and nutritional products. If you take certain vitamins made by GNC or Centrum (as well as hundreds of other
companies), you are eating titanium dioxide. There has been no long term safety testing on humans. According to
the Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety, titanium dioxide may be a human carcinogen. Evidence
showed that high concentrations of pigment-grade (powered) and ultra fine titanium dioxide dust caused
respiratory tract cancer in rats exposed by inhalation and intratracheal instillation. Cosmeticsdatabase.com lists
titanium dioxide as being linked to cancer, allergies, immunotoxicity and organ system toxicity, among other
problems. For a list of some of the thousands of cosmetic products containing titanium dioxide, go to:
http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/br…
Air Fresheners – contain cancer- causing chemicals. Allowing them to be unleashed in the household
exposes children to these chemicals, promoting asthma and other respiratory problems. If you value the health of
your children, avoid air freshener products, and use essential oils or citrus peels instead. ie (peel an orange and
hang the peel in your kitchen).
Shampoo and Bath Products – Virtually all shampoo and bath products sold on the market contain cancer causing
chemicals. The ingredients read like a top 40 list of toxic chemicals. Most of these chemicals have never been tested or approved for use on humans, (they are simply ignored because the FDA astonishingly believes the skin won’t absorb chemicals.) We must also watch for heavy metal toxicity in products like cosmetics and under arm deodorant. Why is aluminum in antiperspirants? Underarm odor is caused by bacteria that break down the natural fatty acids found there. Deodorants attempt to mask that odor and reduce the bacteria that cause it. Antiperspirants reduce sweat, which requires aluminum salts. The exact mechanism is unknown, however it is thought that the aluminum salts block sweat pores or passageways, and not necessarily sweat gland production. Most deodorants contain aluminum in the form of Potassium Alum. Aluminum does get absorbed into the body and can clog lymph glands.
You may be surprised to learn that MSG (Monosodium Glutamate), is found in cosmetics, soaps, shampoo, conditioners, nutritional supplements, and over the counter and prescription medications. Hiddensources of MSG are: * hydrolyzed proteins * glutamic acid * nayad (potent yeast extract) * yeast extract * amino acids * glutamates* potassium and TEA cocohydrolyzed proteins MSG may also be in: * processed proteins, including wheat and soy * enzymes* carrageenan and citric acid And lastly, cosmetics have a numerous amount of chemicals and metals. Lead and mercury being two of the more popular ones. Tests conducted by the FDA last year on 22 red lipsticks found lead, a neurotoxin, in every single lipstick sample studied. The highest levels were in three well known common brands; Cover Girl, Revlon and L’Oreal.
My primary goal in writing this article is not to make you crazy, but to educate you and make you more
aware of the dangerous chemicals lurking in our bathroom cabinets that make there way into our blood stream
and affect our body’s functions. Apply products that do not inflict damage. Choose toxic free makeup, deodorant
without aluminum, soaps and shampoos without sodium lauryl sulfates, artificial colors, synthetic fragrances,
parabens, etc…. You are mostly likely to find toxic free products in health food stores but just because a product
is sold in a health food store does not ensure that it is free of synthetic and other harmful ingredients. Be vigilant
and Read Labels carefully, even if you must carry a magnifying glass. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t
believe everything you see advertised. Companies like Aubrey Organics, Earth Science, Welda, and Dr. Hauschka
Skin Care use ingredients which research shows are both extremely gentle and effective. If you make a concentrated effort to replace conventionally made products with healthier options, eventually all of your products will be clean and green.
And yes, Be Vigilant – Read Labels!!
(Your comments are always welcome – see below).