What Toxic Chemicals Is Your Body Absorbing?

As the world continues to develop, you should realize that almost everyone is using personal care, skin care, cleansing, and baby care and beauty products. Have you ever stopped to think what harm such products can cause to your body? Cosmetic ingredients do not remain on the surface of your skin. They are usually designed so that they can penetrate in your skin, and they do. After scientific studies, some cosmetic ingredients have been found in human tissues such as parabens in breast tumor tissue, phthalates in urine, and some persistent fragrance in human fat.

The big problem is that people do repeatedly use these products every day; sometimes even more than once a day. Many people are not aware of harm they can do to their bodies.

We usually absorb up to 60 percent of what we put on our skin with children absorbing 40-50 percent more than adults. This means our children are at higher risk of developing diseases or abnormalities later in life. Some of the health issues linked to toxic chemicals found in cosmetics and health and beauty products include cancer, infertility, skin allergies, learning disabilities, birth defects and reproductive problems.

 Ingredients You Should Avoid

After research by world top dermatologists and oncologists, here is a list of carcinogenic and toxic compounds found in health and beauty products and cosmetics:

1.       Monoethanolamine (MEA), Diethanolamine (DEA) and Triethanolamine(TEA)

This is a foam booster which is used in many cosmetics and skin care products. These are chemical that are absorbed through your skin easily to accumulate in many body organs such as the liver kidney and brain. Its major effects on the body include:

·         Skin irritation

·         Eye irritation

·         Causes contact dermatitis

2.       Benzoyl Peroxide

This chemical is mostly used in acne products. According to MSDS the chemical has the following toxic effects in the body:

·         It acts as a mutagen that causes damage to human and other mammals DNA

·         The chemical is a possible tumor promoter

·         Causes irritation to eyes and skin

·         When inhaled, it causes irritation to the respiratory system

3.       F, D and C Color and Pigments

F,D and C are color or pigments extracted from coal tar. The pigments contain salts of heavy metals that deposit toxins in your skin causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Skin absorbing of these pigments leads to oxygen depletion and cell death. According to studies done on animals, almost all of the pigments are toxic and carcinogenic.

4.       Dioxin

This chemical does not appear as an ingredient in many beauty products such as lotions. However, it appears as an ingredient in many antibacterial products such as emulsifiers, PEGs, triclosan and ethoxylated cleansers such as sodium laureth sulfate. It is considered a toxic chemical since it:

·         Reduces body immunity

·         Is a carcinogen that promotes cancer development

·         Causes birth deformity

·         Causes nervous system disorders such as migraines

5.       Parabens (Methyl, ethyl, propyl & butyl)

Parabens are used as preservatives in deodorants, lotions and other skin care products. They are not always labeled or named under ingredients list. Parabens have been found to promote:

·         Breast cancer tumor development

·         Sterility in males

·         Hormone imbalance in females and early puberty

6.       Phthalates

Phthalates are chemicals found in many beauty and skin care products. They are usually not labeled with other ingredients.  The chemical is absorbed in the skin after application causing health effects such as:

·         Damage to the liver causing liver diseases

·         Damage to the kidney leading to kidney diseases and kidney failure

·         Sterility in males due to decreased sperm count

·         Birth defects and deformities

·         Early development of breasts  in both girls and boys

7.       Urea (Imidazolidinyl) and DMDM Hydantoin

These are two preservatives used in cosmetic and health care products. They have been known to release formaldehyde that can cause the following health effects:

·         Joint and muscle pain

·         Skin irritation and reactions

·         Skin and respiratory allergies

·         Depression

·         Chronic fatigue

·         Headaches

·         Dizziness

·         Cancer

·         Chest pains

·         Sleeping disorders (insomnia)

·         Ear infections

8.       Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

PEG is usually prepared through ethoxylation of propylene glycol. PEGs are used in almost everything including baby care, sunscreens and personal care products. Dangerous levels of dioxin have been found to be byproducts of ethoxylation process which causes:

·         Decreased immunity

·         Cancer

·         Miscarriages and birth deformities

·         Nervous system disorders

9.       Butylene Glycol (BG) and Propylene Glycol (PG)

These are petroleum products that are considered so toxic. When handling such chemicals, you should have proper clothing, gloves, and glasses/goggles. The products also requires disposal through burying. According to EPA, the chemicals cause the following health effects when they come into contact with your skin:

·         Nervous system diseases

·         Kidney abnormalities

·         Liver abnormalities

10.   Sunscreen chemicals

Sunscreen chemicals include chemicals such as benzphenone, ethoxycinnamate, PABA and avobenzone which are commonly used as ingredients in skincare products to help protect your skin from direct sunlight. According to recent research, sunscreen chemicals are free radical generators which can damage to DNA leading to skin cancer and other cancers.

11.   Triclosan

Triclosan is a synthetic antibacterial which is used as an ingredient in many household cleansers. According to EPA, triclosan is registered as a pesticide which can cause harm to both human and the environment. Triclosan is classified as a chlorophenol, chemical which have been found to cause cancer in human. Triclosan can also cause skin irritation when it comes into contact with the skin and respiratory irritation when inhaled.

12.   Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

SLES and SLS are mainly used as foaming agents in engine degreasers, garage floor cleansers, car washes and 90% of personal and skin care products that foam. The SLES and SLS health problems include:

·         Skin irritation

·         Eye irritation and eye damage

·         Diarrhea

·         Depression

·         Breathing problems and

·         Death

The Bottom Line

According to statistics, more than 80,000 chemicals used in the United States have never been accessed for dangerous or toxic impacts on the environment and human body. Under the current law, it is hard for the EPA to ban such dangerous chemicals even those causing serious health effects such as cancer. Some of these dangerous products are not listed in the labels making it hard for you to know the best and healthy cosmetic products. It is therefore important to use natural baby care, natural cosmetics and natural skin care products to be sure that the ingredients are safe for you and your child.