Healthy Parenting

Personal Care

First, it's important to know that your skin is the largest organ in your body. What you put ON it most definately makes a difference! What you put on your skin is absorbed into your body. The transdermal patch industry is a testimony to that fact.

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So what do YOU slather all over your skin? How about the stuff you lather onto your precious little baby? Do you really understand all about the ingredients in the products you are using? If you don't, how about taking a few minutes to learn a little bit about the politics of cosmeceuticals and the ingredients allowed in them.

Label Terms

The terms used on personal care labels really don't mean much. Most people know at this point that "natural" , "organic" and other botanical and holistic terms used to describe a product's integrity have no meaning. There are no legal requirements for the use of such terms. Even the term "non toxic" can be used without having much truth to it. Did you know that "fragrance free" can be used even if there is fragrance in the product? If a product has fragrance in it to mask an unpleasant smell, it does not have to be included in the ingredients and "fragrance free" can be used on the label. Did you know that many fragrance formulas are considered "trade secrets" and are not required to be revealed to anyone,not even any regulatory agency. Only "fragrance" needs to be on the label.

According to the Fragrance Action Network, a not for profit organization started in 1997;

"An estimated 5.72 million in the US have skin allergy to fragrance. Fragrance is the number one cause of allergies to cosmetics and laundry products. Many other common health conditions such as allergies, sinus problems and migraine headaches may be negatively impacted by exposure to scented products as well. Fragrance is a common indoor air pollutant. A recent study found that 15% of the general population found fragrance to be a lower airway irritant.

Synthetic musk compounds accumulate in human tissue and are found in breast milk. In animal studies they cross the placental barrier. These materials also persist in the environment and contaminate waterways at levels as high or higher than pesticides. Some of these materials are suspected carcinogens or co-carcinogens. Common chemicals in fragrance are also suspected of being hormone disruptors."

-Fragrance Action Network

Ingredients

According to a 1998 US News and World report, we expose ourselves daily to 200 different chemicals via our personal care regimen. With 1,000 new chemicals reaching the market each year, that number has probably risen. A majority of the 100,000 chemicals on the market have not gone through ANY safety testing.

Unfortunately, most personal care products are made up of water and chemicals and not much else. Chemicals that have unknown effects since there have been very little in the way of long term testing, or any testing for that matter. And if anyone did take on the responsibility of testing the particular chemicals they used in their personal care products, who is responsible for keeping us informed on the risks of the combination of toxic chemicals we are bombarded with each and every day? At this moment, there is no accountability. You are expected to trust the very companies that are making money from your purchases. Trust that they are doing the right thing and ONLY using ingredients that you personally would select to apply on your baby. That's alot of trust!

So what are the ingredients that you can expect to find in most mainstream over the counter (OTC)personal care products?

Polyethylene Glycol (PEG)
PEG is used as a degreaser in cleaners. This ingredient is often used in toxic oven cleaners.

Propylene Glycol
One of the most common ingredients in personal care. You can find this main ingredient in antifreeze in shampoo, lotion, baby products including wipes, cleaners, conditioners, toothpastes, etc. And no, there is no difference between what is used in personal care products and the substance used in antifreeze. Propylene Glycol is required to be discarded via hazardous waste vats (something my husband had to personally do) and proper safety gear must be worn (gloves and masks) while working with it since it penetrates easily.
http://www.lindachae.com/Unbelievable_Propy_Glycol.htm

Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
SLS and SLES are foaming (detergent)/wetting agents and emulsifiers. They are used in almost 100% of personal care products on the market today. The American College of Toxicology states that SLS stays in the body for up to 5 days. It also does state that it is safe for brief, discontinuous use and if rinsed thoroughly from the skin. They also say that if used in products NOT designed as above, then the amount of SLS should be limited to 1%.

Now, if you think about these "safety" guidelines for a moment, you might be as stumped as I am about its use. First, SLS is used in products that you do NOT rinse off. In many cases, it is the number one ingredient (meaning it is the highest volume in the product). That doesn't add up to 1 percent of anything.

Now do some mental calculations about exactly how much SLS you are exposing yourself and your family to. All of the following activities will expose you to SLS; brushing your teeth, washing your hands/face, putting on lotion, using baby lotion or ointment, taking a bubble bath,etc, etc. And don't forget washing those dishes and eating some Entenmann's cakes (both usually contain propylene glycol).

Now that you have a better idea of how much SLS you are getting, here's some information on WHAT it does.
http://www.lindachae.com/Truth_about_SLS.htm

Parabens
Parabens (methyl, butyl, propyl) are used in most personal care, including so called "natural" brands as a preservative. Disturbing questions have been raised by the Journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology and by Thomas Connor, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Environmental Sciences at the University of Texas-Houston School of Public Health about the safety of parabens. The estrogenic effects of these preservatives and others is concerning and demands further testing. First link below lists companies that offer paraben free products (as well as pthalate free).
http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/Resources.html
http://www.organicanews.com/news/article.cfm?story_id=5
Parabens Found in Breast Tumours

DEA, MEA, TEA
These chemicals are cousins of SLS and come with the same hazards. They are in most every product that lathers or foams usually in combination with another chemical, such as; Cocomide DEA. The MSDS states that these are severely irritating to skin and possibly corrosive to the eyes. It also interacts with other chemicals to product nitrosimes which ARE carcinogenic.
http://www.lindachae.com/DEA,MEA,TEA.htm

Urea Imidazolidinyl

DMDM Hydantoin

Fragrance
Fragrance, as noted in the paragraphs above are synthetic chemicals, many tagged as carcinogens. The industry is not required to list the chemical ingredients or constituents of their chemical "soup" because the "fragrance" is considered proprietary. I have read that various 3rd party testing has shown chemicals in use that have been banned. Fragrance is the #1 reason for allergic reactions to personal care. Why take the risk?

Mineral Oil
Mineral oil and other petroleum based products are like applying plastic onto the skin. They clog the pores and interfere with the skin's ability to disperse toxins and promotes premature aging.

F,D&C Dye
Made from coal tar, are known to be carcinogenic. Here is the link to the CDC's "carcinogenic" list showing Coal Tar on the list.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npotocca.html

Triclosan

Flouride

Isopropyl Alcohol
I always avoided alcohol thinking it was just drying and irritating but I found this recently printed from the a government agency stating its toxicity and to be careful not handling it! Here's just one quote;
Other Long-Term Effects
* Repeated skin exposure can cause itching, redness, rash, drying and cracking.
* This chemical has not been adequately evaluated to determine whether brain or other nerve damage could occur with repeated exposure. However, many solvents and other petroleum-based chemicals have been shown to cause such damage. Effects may include reduced memory and concentration, personality changes (withdrawal, irritability), fatigue, sleep disturbances, reduced coordination, and/or effects on nerves supplying internal organs (autonomic nerves) and/or nerves to the arms and legs (weakness, "pins and needles").
* Isopropyl Alcohol may affect the liver and kidneys.
From: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/rtkweb/1076.pdf
http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/report.php?type=INGREDIENT&id=198?

Articles

Colognes,Perfumes,Pesticides - Are They Slowly Killing You?
http://www.dldewey.com/perfume.htm

To Color or Not to Color
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/color102804.cfm

Toxic Chemicals in Conventional Personal Care
http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/cosmetics080705.cfm

Halloween Horrors: Tales from the Cosmetologist
http://www.thegreenguide.com/doc.mhtml?i=92&s=halloweenmasks

The Cosmetic Mask: Chemicals to Watch out for
http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/education/quicklist-detail.asp?Main_ID=324

Rsources

Did You Know: Ingredient Dictionary
http://www.didyouknow.com.au/dictionary.php#FD&C%20Colour%20Pigments

Chemical Body Burden
Great site. This links to some MUST read reports.
http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/rr_cheminus.htm

EWG's Skin Deep report
Look up products and ingredients. An extensive database providing the actual data available on ingredients.
http://www.ewg.org/reports/skindeep2/

Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
US laws don't protect us. Join the campaign to change the laws.
http://www.safecosmetics.org/

Terressential's Ingredient Guide
http://www.terressentials.com/ingredientguide.html

Health Care without Harm
The campaign for environmentally responsible health care.
http://www.noharm.org/

Linda Chae
Pioneer in natural cosmeceuticals
http://www.lindachae.com

Toxic Free Foundation
Brought to you by Linda Chae. In a constant state of construction but worth the visit.
http://www.toxicfree.org/

Children's Health Environmental Coalition
All you ever wanted to know about toxins in your personal care products. Click on VIRTUAL HOUSE to go to a house where you can click on any room and learn about the toxins lurking there.
http://www.checnet.org/healthehouse/virtualhouse/detail1.asp?Main_W_PersonalCare=1

Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia
Information about environmental illness, multiple chemical sensitivity and less toxic living.The Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia is a volunteer, non-profit organization founded in 1985.
http://www.environmentalhealth.ca./

Care2.com
Tons of information on HEALTHY HOMES.
http://www.care2.com/channels/lifestyle/home/

Care2.com
TONS of info on Personal care from non toxic easy to make at home recipes to info about ingredients.
http://www.care2.com/channels/lifestyle/self

Care2.com
Guides and articles about SLS, deodorants, and ingredients in household and cleaning products, etc.
http://www.care2.com/channels/lifestyle/consumer_guides