Submitted by support on Tue, 04/24/2012 - 01:40
Are you absorbing Toxic Chemicals Through The Skin??
Skin Products contain a lot of chemicals (for further information see the article). Your skin may be your largest organ, but it is also your thinnest. In addition, those miniscule layers of skin are wonderfully vascularized, meaning they are loaded with arteries and viens. So naturally, what you put on your skin goes through into your blood .
When dangerous chemicals go through the skin and into the blood, they cause alot of problems. Look at the grooming/hygiene and cosmetic products you use and what they contain. Below is a list of products that can be dangerous and the reasons why.
But there is another problem. There is no regulation, standardization, etc in the cosmetic/ grooming industry and therefore, you my not read all the ingredients in the products you are using. For instance, when Arbonne was taken to task for claiming that they did not have parabems, when in fact they did, their response was that it was below the 3% level, which was true.
Ooops, there is another problem. Ingredients that at one time were considered safe are now recognized as dangerous, i.e., floride and chloride.
“Harmful chemicals have no place in the products we put on our bodies or on our children’s bodies,” said Rep. Schakowsky. “Our cosmetics laws are woefully out of date—manufacturers aren’t even required to disclose all their ingredients on labels, leaving Americans unknowingly exposed to harmful mystery ingredients. This bill will finally protect those consumers.”
http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=683
The bottom line - be careful what goes on your skin as it also goes into your blood!!
According to the available evidence we have today:
Red: harmful Pink: less harmful Green: harmless
Black: ones that the body makes (although the body makes natural not synthetic versions); or for other reasons they are not yet considered harmful, but can cause other issues
ALLANTOIN : Is an antibiotic, and can therefore impair the balance of bacteria naturally present in the skin.
BETAINE (Trimethylglycine): This compound is also produced by the body, to aid in the metabolism of homocysteine (along with B6, 9, & 12).
BUTYLENE GLYCOL : Butylene glycol has neuropharmacological properties, but is not considered carcinogenic
BUTYLPARABEN : Butylparaben has an adverse effect on the secretion of testosterone and on the function of the male reproductive system. Of the parabens, butyl- and isobutylparaben are most toxic.
The parabens are preservatives that may irritate your skin and can cause allergic reactions.
CANDELILLA: Candelilla is considered safe for cosmetic use but can cause skin appendages : many controversies over these
CETEARETH : Ceteareths are the polyethylene glycol (PEG) ethers of Cetearyl Alcohol. Ceteareth 15 can irritate the skin.
CETEARETH 20 (Eumulgin B3, polyoxyethylene cetylstearyl ether) Doesn't affect the lipid layer of the skin, but it does increase the absorption of accompanying ingredients into the skin, so these need to be harmless. It may also irritate the skin.
CETEARYL ALCOHOL : It increases viscosity of the product. It is practically non-toxic, but may cause slight skin irritation in some
CETIOL HE : Disturbs the lipid layer of the skin, which is hugely imprtnt in detox, transport & protection
CETYL ALCOHOL : It increases viscosity of the product. Practically non-toxic, but may cause slight skin irritation in some
CHLORINE : Likely irritates the skin. Accelerates aging of the skin. (attaches to ammonia and causes tumors in the brain)
COLOR PIGMENTS (FD & C) : Many color pigments are carcinogenic and cause skin sensitivity and irritation. Certain colors can cause death of skin cells, accelerating the aging process.
CYCLOPENTASILOXANE : Cyclopentasiloxane is a silicone compound. In animals, low amounts already affected uterine functioning.
DIETHANOLAMINE (DEA): DEA is usually listed on the ingredient label in conjunction with the compound being neutralized. Thus look for names like Cocamide DEA, Lauramide DEA, etc. It may interfere with your hormone levels.
DISODIUM EDTA : Is is mildly toxic, but considered safe???. So were chlorine and floride.
DMDM HYDANTOIN: May cause skin irritations (and irritate the respiratory system and trigger heart palpitations) and (indirectly, by triggering formaldehyde release) cause allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep, trigger asthma and weaken the immune system.
EUMULGIN B3 (Ceteareth 20, polyoxyethylene cetylstearyl ether) : Doesn't affect the lipid layer of the skin, but it does increase the absorption of accompanying ingredients into the skin, so these can be considered indirectly harmful if they are transporting harm into the body. It may also irritate the skin
ESCULIN: Esculin is not okay because it has water-retaining properties (and therefore they claim it has anti-stretchmark properties)
FRAGRANCE : Many of the compounds in fragrance are toxic. Fragrance may contain up to 4,000 separate ingredients. Symptoms reported to the FDA have included rashes, skin discoloration and allergic skin irritation. Exposure to fragrances can affect the central nervous system.
GLYCERIN : Both natural and synthetic glycerin are currently considered completely harmless
HISTIDINE HYDROCHLORIDE: histidine hydrochloride has toxic properties and is also a growth factor, and can therefore enhance prexisting skin tumours
HYALURONATE SODIUM (Hyalgan, SL-1010) : It has anti-inflammatory properties, and is injected to relieve joint pain (in patients with osteoarthritis). Like corticosteroids, it may cause water retention.
IMIDAZOLIDINYL UREA: May cause skin irritations (and irritate the respiratory system and trigger heart palpitations) and (indirectly, by triggering formaldehyde release) cause allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep, trigger asthma and weaken the immune system.
ISOBUTYLPARABEN : Of the parabens, Butyl- and Isobutylparaben are most toxic.
ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL: inhalation may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea vomiting, narcosis and even coma.
ISOSTEARYL ALCOHOL : It increases viscosity of the product. Doesn't cause skin irritations
JOJOBA OIL / ESTERS : Jojoba oil has slightly toxic properties, but doesn't irritate the skin, except in those that have had eczema before, which is usually a liver problem and has to do with toxicity???
JOJOBA WAX : Jojoba-wax is completely hydrogenated jojoba-oil, and hydrogenation may cause harmful fatty acids. Jojoba oil has slightly toxic properties, but doesn't irritate the skin, except in those that have had eczema before.
LECITHIN : Lecithin from different sources can elicit allergic / asthma like reactions, and one should therefore carefully monitor one's skin's reaction
METHYLPARABEN (Methyl parahydroxybenzoate) : It is a preservative that may irritate your skin. A mixture of methyl-, ethyl- and propylparaben exacerbates prexcisting skin complaints.
Methylparaben sodium can affect the activity of B12.
MINERAL OIL : Baby oil is 100% mineral oil. This ingredient coats the skin just like plastic wrap and therefore inhibits the skin's ability to release toxins.
MYRISTYL ALCOHOL :It increases viscosity of the product. Practically non-toxic, but may cause mild skin irritation in some
MOMOETHANOLAMINE (MEA) : MEA is usually listed on the ingredient label in conjunction with the compound being neutralized. Thus look for names like Cocamide MEA, Lauramide MEA, etc. It may interfere with your hormone levels.
OCTYL METHOXCINNAMATE : Octyl Methoxcinnamate stimulates the creation of a 'perfect' (ídeal submicron-) emulsion, and isn't toxic (in these low amounts)
OCTYL SALICYLATE : Octyl salicylate seems to be safe in concentrations below 30%
ORYZANOL : Oryzanol seems not to be carcinogenic (and is considered an 'antioxidant'), but it (though metabolized) does influence your triglyceride (and cholesterol) levels, which is unnacceptable in my view.
PANTHENOL : Panthenol is a so called pro-vitamin (which means that it may be converted into a vitamin by the body, just as beta-carotene may get converted into vitamin A, or cholesterol into vitamin D) Panthenol may get converted into pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
PARABEN (Butyl-, Isobutyl-, Ethyl-, Methyl- and Propyl parahydroxybenzoate) : They are preservatives that may irritate your skin and can cause allergic reactions. A mixture of methyl-, ethyl- and propylparaben exacerbates prexcisting skin complaints. Butyl- and isobutyl-parabens are more toxic than propyl- and isopropyl-parabens, and ethyl- and methyl-parabens and p-hydroxybenzoic acid are less toxic than propyl-paraben.
PHENOXYETHANOL (Phenoxetol, 2-phenoxyethanol) : Its a practically non-toxic preservative, but also a hospital disinfectant and an anesthetic (on fish), and is rapidly absorbed into the skin. It is neurotoxic in high doses.
(Color) PIGMENTS (FD & C) : Many color pigments are carcinogenic and cause skin sensitivity and irritation. Certain colors can cause death of skin cells, accelerating the aging process.
PLANKTON EXTRACT : May contain high copper levels and arsenic compounds (and dimethylsulphoxide)
POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL (PEG) : It strips your skin, and therefore causes dehydration and accelerates the aging process.
POLYOXYETHYLENE CETYLSTEARYL ETHER (Ceteareth 20, Eumulgin B3) : Doesn't affect the lipid layer of the skin, but it does increase the absorption of accompanying ingredients into the skin, so these need to be harmless. It may also irritate the skin.
POLYOXYETHYLENE SORBITAN MONOLAURATE (Polysorbate-20) : It retards the absorption of some accompanying chemicals in the skin, which is good. It is however mildly toxic and may cause skin irritation in some. It can induce present skin tumours.
POLYSORBATE-20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate, Tween 20) : It retards the absorption of some accompanying chemicals in the skin, which is good. It is however mildly toxic and may cause skin irritation in some. It can induce present skin tumours.
PROPOLIS : Propolis influences your triglyceride (and cholesterol) levels, which is unnacceptable in my view.
PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG) : It breaks down skincells, and therefore accelerates the aging process.
PROPYLPARABEN : A preservative that may irritate your skin. Propylparaben has an adverse effect on the secretion of testosterone and on the function of the male reproductive system.
Bacteria readily adapt to propylparaben. Propylparaben is more extensively absorbed than other parabens.
SEA BUCKTHORN (Hippophae) : Contains flavones (with different bio-active properties, incl. anti-inflammatory), and can contain thigh levels of toxic metals (zinc, lead, cadmium, iron).
SEAWEED : Contains anti-mutagenic flavonoids, which may have pro-mutagenic properties themselves. May contain high levels of toxic metals (zinc, lead, cadmium, iron).
SODIUM HYALURONATE (Hyalgan, SL-1010) : It has anti-inflammatory properties, and is injected to relieve joint pain (in patients with osteoarthritis). Like corticosteroids, it may cause water retention.
SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS) / SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES) : Breaks down cells, accelerating the aging process. May also cause skin irritation and may be damaging to the skin's immune system. SLS easily penetrates the skin and reaches internal organs, maintaining residual levels in the heart, the liver, the lungs and the brain.
STEARIC ACID : Stearic acid is a completely harmless, natural fatty acid
SUCROSE DISTEARATE : Sucrose Distearate is a sucrose ester, used as an insectiside, and not totally harmless
TOCOPHEROL (Vitamin E) : A too high level of vitamin E (the tocopherol family) accelerates shedding of the skin, which is not good depending on your theory
TRIETHANOLAMINE (TEA) : TEA may interfere with your hormone levels.
ULVA LACTUCA : This algae may contain high levels of toxic metals (manganese, iron, zinc, cadmium, copper).
WATERCRESS EXTRACT : Watercress contains flavonoids with anti-mutagenic properties, but that isn't necessarily good, as they can elicit pro-mutagenic (DNA-damaging) properties themselves.
XANTHAN GUM: Xanthan Gum increases the uptake of accompanying chemicals into the skin
References:
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/media/news/2010/10/canadian-cosmetic-regulations-need-a-makeover/
http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=683
http://www.3.waisays.com/skincare.htm
http://organicskincareanswers.com/cosmetic-regulation-fda-cir-fdca-state-legislation/