Here are a few ingredients to watch for in cosmetics:
* Mercury Known human carcinogen.
* Lead Acetate Known human carcinogen.
* Formaldehyde Known human carcinogen
* Toluene Reproductive/developmental
* Petroleum Distillates Possible human carcinogen
*. Ethylacrylate Possible human carcinogen
* Coal Tar Known human carcinogen
* Dibutyl Phthalate Reproductive/developmental
* Potassium Dichromate Possible human carcinogen
* 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3
*. Selenium Sulfide Possible human carcinogen.
* Dimethylamine Respiratory toxicity hazards.
Believe it or not, the U.S. does not require the $35 billion cosmetics industry to test any of the chemicals used in its products for harmful health effects. The scary thing is, some of these chemicals that are in common cosmetics and personal care products are known or suspected carcinogens and reproductive toxins.
The European Union is way ahead of the U.S. in protecting consumers from toxins, having recently banned the use of chemicals in cosmetics that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects. And through the work of a broad coalition of women's health and environmental organizations, over 50 U.S. companies have agreed to abide by the EU standards and eliminate banned toxins from their product lines, including Revlon and L'Oreal.
In essence, you are FEEDING your skin whatever that product is. Simply put, if you wouldn't eat it, you probably shouldn't be putting it on your skin, make sense? Your skin is a living organ, similar to your other organs like your digestive system. So if you are eating organic foods but using synthetic and toxic skin care products, it sort of defeats the purpose of what your trying to do.
BEAUTY TO DIE FOR:
Your medicine cabinet is one of the most dangerous areas of your house, and not for the reasons you may think. Lurking just behind your bathroom mirror, where all of your favorite beauty products are housed, is a virtual toxic nightmare. The growing list of synthetic ingredients manufacturers add to their products is turning the most innocent-looking shampoos and moisturizers into cocktails of toxins that could cause cancer or reproductive damage over years of sustained use. Modern cosmetics contain a host of dangerous ingredients, which would be more at home in a test tube than in our bodies.
Like most people, you probably assume that the ingredients found in beauty products have been thoroughly tested for safety well before they land on your grocery store's shelves. After all, the government has regulations in place for the water we drink, the food we eat and the air we breathe. One would assume that the FDA would also be overseeing the cosmetic industry to ensure the health and safety of consumers. Unfortunately, the FDA has little power when it comes to regulating the ingredients found in your beauty products. In fact, the only people ensuring the safety of personal care products are the very people who govern the industry: The Cosmetic Toiletry and Fragrance Association (CTFA). Scientists paid by the CTFA make up the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel (CIR) and are charged with regulating the safety of the industry's products.
In 2004, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released the findings of a study it conducted regarding the safety of beauty care products. Comparing approximately 10,000 ingredients found in 7,500 different products against lists of known and suspected chemical health hazards, the research revealed that the CIR was falling tragically short of ensuring consumer safety.
Of the 7,500 products tested by the EWG, a mere 28 had been evaluated for safety by the CIR. The EWG found that one in every 120 products analyzed contained ingredients certified by the government as known or probable carcinogens and that nearly one-third of the products contained ingredients classified as possible carcinogens. Astoundingly, 54 products even violated recommendations for safe use that the CIR had put in place, yet these products are still available for sale today.
Of the products tested, the worst offenders were those containing the cancer-causing ingredients coal tar, alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids, and those containing the hormone-disrupting ingredient, phthalate.
Coal Tar
Seventy-one hair dye products evaluated were found to contain ingredients derived from coal tar (listed as FD&C or D&C on ingredients labels). Several studies have linked long-time hair dye use to bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma.
A research study conducted in 2001 by the USC School of Medicine found that women using permanent hair dye at least once a month more than doubled their risk of bladder cancer. The study estimates that "19 percent of bladder cancer in women in Los Angeles, California, may be attributed to permanent hair dye use."
A link between hair dye and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma was established in 1992 when a study conducted by the National Cancer Institute found that 20 percent of all cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may be linked to hair dye use.
While the FDA has not stepped in to prevent the use of coal tar in beauty products, it does advise consumers that reducing hair dye use will possibly reduce the risk of cancer.
Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA) & Beta Hydroxy Acids (BHA)
Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Beta Hydroxy Acids are commonly used in products advertised to remove wrinkles, blemishes, blotches and acne scars. With consumer complaints of burning, swelling and pain associated with AHA and BHA flooding into the FDA, the regulatory body began conducting its own research about 15 years ago. The findings linked the use of AHA and BHA with a doubling of UV-induced skin damage and a potential increased risk of skin cancer.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, skin cancer has reached "epidemic proportions," with 1 million new cases occurring each year and one person dying every hour from the disease. The agency estimates that, at the current rate, one in five people will develop skin cancer over their lifetime.
The FDA's study findings were presented to the CIR, but the panel approved the continued use of AHA and BHA "in spite of serious safety questions submitted by a consumer group and a major manufacturer," according to an FDA spokesperson.
Even though one out of every 17 products analyzed by the EWG study contained either AHA or BHA (with nearly 10 percent being moisturizers and 6 percent sunscreens), the most that the FDA could do was suggest that products containing the ingredients carry a warning to use sunscreen and to limit sun exposure while using the product. A puzzling solution, since some of the products containing the dangerous ingredient are designed specifically for use in the sun.
Phthalates
Phthalates are industrial plasticizers widely used in personal care products to moisturize and soften skin, impart flexibility to nail polish after it dries and enhance the fragrances used in most products. Studies indicate that phthalates cause a wide range of birth defects and lifelong reproductive impairments, targeting every organ in the male reproductive system and causing problems ranging from low sperm count to serious genital deformities that can lead to an increased risk of cancer.
While the EWG only found four products with phthalate listed as an ingredient (all nail care products), there is no telling how many products actually contain it. The industry is not required to list fragrance ingredients or "trade secret" ingredients on products, and phthalates often fall into one of those two categories.
In September 2004, the European Union implemented a ban on all beauty products containing phthalates. California Assemblywoman Judy Chu has proposed a similar bill (AB 908) to be voted on later this year that would implement the same ban in the United States. Opponents of the bill, mainly the CTFA, argue that changing labeling processes would present a huge economic burden and could infringe on trade secrets. A similar bill failed just last year.
Four Steps of Action
1. Go to www.ewg.org and check out the health risks of your favorite products. EWG has compiled a guide of 7,500 beauty care products and has ranked them according to their ingredients' potential to cause cancer, trigger allergic reactions, interfere with the endocrine (hormonal) system, impair reproduction or damage a developing fetus.
2. Visit the FDA's website at www.fda.gov and familiarize yourself with the steps that you can take in order to file complaints or concerns about consumer products.
3. Visit www.safecosmetics.org to learn more about how you can become involved with bill AB 908 to ban phthalates in beauty products in the United States.
4. Check out my recommendations for all-natural and safe products for both you and your family at www.scmedicalcenter.com. All products mentioned have been used safely and with wonderful results by my patients for years.
Dr. Connealy, M.D., M.P.H., began private practice in 1986. In 1992, she founded South Coast Medical Center for New Medicine where she serves as medical director. Her practice is firmly based in the belief that strictly treating health problems with medications does not find the root cause of the illness. Dr. Connealy writes monthly columns for Coast and OC Health magazines, and is a bi-weekly guest on Frank Jordan's "Healthy" radio show. She routinely lectures and educates the public on health issues.
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Toxic Beauty
Are your beauty products making you sick?
What did you have for breakfast this morning? Did you have a bowl of fruit, a smoothie or other healthy food? Many people today are more health conscious and are paying attention to what they are putting into their bodies. But, is the same attention being paid to what you are putting on your body?
Did you know that the common beauty products that most of us use everyday have poisonous chemical ingredients that are being absorbed, ingested or inhaled by our bodies before we even eat our healthy breakfast? These chemical ingredients are absorbed into the bloodstream, weakening the immune system and slowly poisoning you!
According to the U.S. Government and product manufacturers, the following is a partial list of chemical poisons found in the common beauty products. (Reference: The Politics of Poison, by Nina G. Silver, Ph.D. 2000, Government Agencies, Medical Institutions, and Product Manufacturers)
Product (match the numbers to the ingredients to see a list of side effects)
Acne Medication: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Antibacterial Hand Cleanser: 8
Antiperspirant: 1, 3, 4, 6, 7
Bath Soap: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Facial Cleanser: 2, 3, 7
Foot Deodorant: 3, 5, 7
Mouthwash: 3, 4, 5, 7
Shaving Cream: 2, 3, 7
Toothpaste: 2, 3, 4, 5
Known Poisonous Ingredients and Side Effects
(1) Alcohols: - Acid and Alkali: rashes, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, nerve damage, vision problems, insomnia, stomach cramps, depression, respiratory problems, and cancer
(2) Detergents/Emulsifiers: strips skin of protective oils, skin irritation, scalp eruptions, hair loss, allergic reactions, cataract formation, reproductive damage, blindness, and cancer
(3) Synthetic Fragrance and Dyes: allergic reactions, skin rashes, upset stomach, muscular aches and pains, violent coughing and sneezing, hyperactivity, convulsions, Leukemia, Hodgkin's, ADD, dizziness, depression, and cancer
(4) Heavy Metals: abdominal cramps, nausea, muscle weakness, mouth sores, muscle, joint, and bone pain, cancer, brain disorders, ADD, and hyperactivity
(5) Pesticides and Fungicides: flu-like symptoms, stomach cramps, nervous system disorders, insomnia, memory loss, swelling of body parts, dizziness, birth defects, and gland tumors
(6) Petrochemicals: inhibits skin functions, blemishes, rashes, splitting nails, sensitivity to sun, headaches, allergic reactions, depression, fatigue, intestinal gas, asthma, and respiratory failure
(7) Preservatives (synthetic): headaches, skin rashes, eye damage, asthma, tumors, cancer, digestive problems, mental confusion, organ damage, muscle weakness and cramps, and loss of motor control
(8) Triclosan: Absorption through the skin can be tied to liver damage
Take a moment to look at the ingredient list on your Face Wash, Acne Cleanser, Body Wash, Soap, Shampoo, or other beauty product. Although these toxic chemical ingredients will produce the desired results, they will also be absorbed into your bloodstream and cause undesired side effects.
Even Toothpaste has a Warning Label!
What are the Alternatives?
Companies are beginning to recognize the high consumer demand for natural, organic, botanical beauty products (without toxic chemicals) and as a result, independent distributors, health food stores and some grocery stores now sell these products. Be careful though because sometimes the natural, organic, botanical ingredients are promoted to appeal to the health conscious consumer yet the product still has many toxic chemical ingredients. Read the packaging and ingredient list carefully to protect you and your family!
Natural, organic, botanical beauty products will achieve the same results (or even better results) without risking the health of you or your family!
Find out more about how to obtain a truly natural, raw, organic, botanical cleanser that will replace many of your beauty products and is ultra safe for your immune system! Veronika Clay, (916) 366-3898, rawfood@comcast.net
Source: http://www.magicsuds.net/m
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LINKS:
*List: Common Hazardous Ingredients in Personal Care Products
http://www.naturalliving4u
*Cosmetic products found to contain 175 different toxic chemicals
http://www.naturalnews.com
*List:The Hidden Toxins in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
http://www.naturallyhome.c
*Toxic Cosmetics Ingredient List
http://www.alkalizeforheal
*Cosmetics products routinely formulated with cancer-causing chemicals
http://www.naturalnews.com
*The cosmetics poison woman’s organism
http://www.medical-portal.
*Cosmetics to die for
http://stason.org/articles
*Toxic Cosmetics and Environment =Toxic Body and the ugly side of cosmetics
http://www.shirleys-wellne
*Top 20 Most Dangerous
Cosmetic Toxins
http://www.natural-skincar
*Search result on topic of toxic cosmetics
http://www.naturalnews.com
*Exposure to toxins from cosmetic info
http://www.brantleycure.co
*Chemicals Found in Cosmetics Linked to Future Infertility
http://www.naturalnews.com
*Hormone-Altering Cosmetics Chemicals
http://www.ewg.org/reports
*Petroleum-based cosmetics and skin care products found to contain cancer-causing chemical 1,4-dioxane
http://www.naturalnews.com
*Cosmetic Chemicals Watch-List:
The "A" to "Z" Of Toxins in Skin Care
http://www.natural-skincar
*Cosmetic database- look up products for toxicty
http://www.cosmeticsdataba
*http://www.cosmeticsdataba
*Parabens in Cosmetics: Friends or Foes?
http://www.naturalnews.com
*Book:Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry
http://astore.amazon.com/w
*Nano Particles in Cosmetics Pose Safety Danger to Consumers
http://www.naturalnews.com
http://www.healthy-communi
A fun video
http://www.youtube.com/wat
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Alternatives to getting sick from looking good:
Organic cosmetic certifiers:
There are Seals, and then there are "Seals"... The following is a list of organic certifying seals you will commonly find on most cosmetics out there. Unfortunately, this list is in a particular order. That is, from the best and most stringent, to the just OK:
1. USDA Organic (95-100% organic)
2. Australian Certified Organic (95%-100% organic)
3. European Union/Agriculture Biologique (at least 95% organic)
4. BIO/Germany (at least 95% organic)
5. QAI (at least 70% organic)
6. CAAQ/Canada (at least 70% organic)
7. Eco Cert (at least 10% organic of total ingredients)
Differences between "Natural" and "Organic":
Same thing, grown differently. Some products will not have any of the synthetic chemicals listed above and therefore be termed as "all natural", "toxin/chemical free" or say things like, "No SLS, Glycols, or Parabens". Please note, "NATURAL" DOES NOT MEAN "ORGANIC"! For example, a conventionally grown tomato is "natural", but it was grown using pesticides and sewage sludge; so it's not "organic". See the difference? Organically grown fruits and vegetables have significantly lower levels of nitrates, and higher levels of antioxidants and vitamins particular to that fruit or vegetable.
The same theory applies for skin care products. A Papaya-Coconut Lotion can have 100% natural ingredients with no synthetics, but if the papaya, coconut and the rest of the stuff in there is not organic, then it was grown using pesticides and therefore can only be termed "all natural" but not organic. This All Natural Papaya-Coconut Lotion would be an inferior product compared to a Certified Organic Papaya Lotion.
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Why would anyone be surprised to learn they have cancer, hormone problems, or organ failure when the make up and products they use contain a plethora of cancer causing, hormone disrupting, neuro toxic agents? Well the only way to be surprised is to be ignorant to the fact; but why would someone use something or absorb something they didn't know about? People want to know what oil their car runs on, what insurance protects their house, why wouldn't they want to know what is directly shaping their health life every time they put on makeup?
