What do we know about the human ?
Human , in anatomy, the covering, or, of the body's surface that both provides protection and receives sensory stimuli from the external. The consists of three layers of tissue: the, an outermost layer that contains the primary protective structure, the stratum corneum; the dermis, a fibrous layer that supports and strengthens the epidermis; and the subcutis, a subcutaneous layer of fat beneath the dermis that supplies nutrients to the other two layers and that cushions and insulates the body (1*).
The is the largest and one of the most important organs on our body. It performs many different functions to support the body including protecting other organs like bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves, and more. It only makes sense to be extremely careful of what we are putting on our .
The is a strong and flexible organ with barrier properties essential for maintaining homeostasis and thereby human life. Characterizing this barrier is the ability to prevent some chemicals from crossing the barrier while allowing others, including medicinal products, to pass at varying rates (2*,3*)
Now that we know more about human , let's find out how it can be protected.
Here's Why:
Up to 60% of what we put on our gets absorbed. That means that the products we put onto our bodies affect our health and overall well being, negative or positive. The FDA does not regulate , almost any can be incorporated into the formula. The FDA continues to find cosmetics contaminated with bacteria, including , face powders, shadows, and lotions, or containing banned colors chemicals, including shampoos, soaps, cleaners, and temporary tattoos.
Under the current law, the FDA has little authority to review chemicals in cosmetics and other personal care products. Personal care products companies do not have to register with the FDA, provide the FDA with statements, adopt Good Manufacturing Practices, or GMPs, report adverse events to the FDA, or provide the FDA with access to safety records.
The FDA does not have the power to suspend registration or order recalls when products pose a risk of serious adverse health consequences or death. By contrast, manufacturers of food, drugs, and medical devices must register with the FDA, maintain and give the FDA access to records and report adverse events. If food, drugs, or devices are unsafe, the FDA can suspend production and product licenses. If unsafe food or devices reach the market, the FDA can order a recall and take legal action against drugmakers that do not recall their products, some of them putting your health at risk (4*).
Ingredients found in products (face washes, lotions, sunscreen, etc) have now been linked to health issues such as allergies, eczema, cancer, hormonal disruption, and reproductive problems. So yes! your products can make you really sick!
Here re Some Of The Ingredients To Avoid In Your :
Since 2009, 595 cosmetics manufacturers have reported using 88 chemicals, in more than 73,000 products, that have been linked to cancer, birth defects, or reproductive harm.
1. Aluminum Chlorohydrate
Use:
- Aluminum-based compounds are the active ingredients in antiperspirants. They block the sweat glands to keep sweat from getting to the 's surface.
Potential Health Concern:
- Neurotoxicity, Carcinogen, Endocrine Disruption, and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Antiperspirant
2. BHA () and BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene)
Use:
- BHA () and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) are closely related synthetic antioxidants used as preservatives. lipsticks and moisturizers, among other cosmetics. They are also widely used as food preservatives.
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen, Endocrine Disruption, and Organ Toxicity/Irritation.
Where you can find it:
- Lipsticks and moisturizers, among other cosmetics. They are also widely used as food preservatives.
3. Butoxyethanol
Use:
- Is used primarily to dissolve other substances and to decrease the viscosity of liquid hair dyes and colors (16*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen, Reproductive Harm and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Is primarily used in paints and coatings, and also as an in some household cleaning products, cosmetics, hair products, and personal care products.
4. UV Blocks
Use:
- sunscreens tend to use a combination of ingredients to protect against the full spectrum of UV rays, as individually they all filter different ranges of the spectrum.
Potential Health Concern:
- DNA/Cell Damage and Endocrine Disruption.
Where you can find it:
- Face sunscreen, body Sunscreen, and products.
5.
Use:
- This medication is used on the to treat the itching, scaling, and flaking due to conditions such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. belongs to a class of drugs known as keratoplasty. It works by causing the to shed dead cells from its top layer and slow down the growth of cells (5*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen
Where you can find it:
- Hair products and cosmetics.
6. 1,4-dioxane
Use:
- Is a trace contaminant of some chemicals used in cosmetics, detergents, and shampoos (6*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen, Organ Toxicity/Irritation, and Reproductive Harm.
Where you can find it:
- Products that sud.
7. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA)
Use:
- Disodium EDTA and the related ingredients bind to metal ions which inactivates them. The binding of metal ions helps prevent the deterioration of cosmetics and personal care products. It also helps to maintain clarity, protect compounds, and prevent rancidity. (7*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Moisturizers, cleansers, hair color, soap, , foundation, eye makeup, and most beauty products.
8. Ethanolamines
Use:
- Like MEA work as cleansing agents, or surfactants, in personal care products and cosmetics. In these types of products, ethanolamines help remove dirt and oil on by dissolving grease and blending other important ingredients. (8*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Allergen, Organ Toxicity/Irritation, Endocrine Disruption, Carcinogen, and Reproductive Harm
Where you can find it:
- Moisturizers, cleansers, hair color, soap, , foundation, eye makeup.
9.
Use:
- These chemicals, is used to prevent microbes from growing in water-based products, can be absorbed through the , and have been linked to cancer and allergic reactions. (9*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen, Neurotoxicity, Reproductive Harm, Allergen and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Bath products like shampoo, , cleansers, , and synthetic eyelash glues.
10. Hydroquinone
Use:
- Is a topical -bleaching agent used in the treatment of hyperpigmented conditions. The effect of lightening caused by hydroquinone is reversible when exposed to sunlight and therefore requires regular use until desired results are achieved(10*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- whitening products (cleansers, moisturizers).
11. Mercury and mercury compounds
Use:
- Is used in cosmetics as a lightening agent and preservative. Cosmetics with Mercury are often marketed as lightening creams and anti-aging treatments that remove age spots, freckles, blemishes, and wrinkles. Adolescents sometimes use these products as acne treatments (17*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Neurotoxicity, Reproductive Harm and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Eye makeup.
12. Methyl cellosolve
Use:
- Is used as a solvent for many different purposes such as varnishes, viscosity control, dyes, and resins. It is also used as an additive in airplane deicing solutions (12*).
Potential Health Concern:
- DNA/Cell Damage, Neurotoxicity, Reproductive Harm and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Anti-aging products.
13. Methylisothiazolinone and Methylchloroisothiazolinone
Use:
- Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and Methylchloroisothiazolinone (CMIT) are widely used preservatives found in liquid and personal care products. Both chemicals inhibit bacterial growth in products on their own, but they are most commonly used as a mixture of products (13*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Organ Toxicity/Irritation, Allergen, and Neurotoxicity
Where you can find it:
- All types of hair products, face products, body products, products.
14.
Use:
- Is a common in baby lotions, cold creams, ointments, and cosmetics. It is a lightweight inexpensive oil that is odorless and tasteless. It can be used on eyelashes to prevent brittleness and breaking and, in cold cream, is also used to remove creme make-up and temporary tattoos (14*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Organ Toxicity/Irritation, Allergen, and Carcinogen
Where you can find it:
- All types of face products, body products, products, and baby products.
15. Nanoparticles
Use:
- Insoluble nanoparticles in products are essentially used as UV-filters or preservatives. nanoparticles alter properties of products including color, transparency, solubility, and reactivity(15*).
Potential Health Concern:
- DNA/Cell Damage, Organ Toxicity/Irritation, and Reproductive Harm
Where you can find it:
- Anti-aging products and treatments, Sunscreens.
16. Parabens
Use:
- Parabens are preservatives used in a wide variety of personal care products and foods to prevent the growth of microbes.
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen, Endocrine Disruption, Reproductive Harm, Allergen and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- All types of hair products, face products, body products, products.
17. Phenoxyethanol
Use:
- Phenoxyethanol has been used safely since the 1950s as a preservative in cosmetics and personal care products. It is highly effective in preventing the growth of fungi, bacteria, and yeast that could cause products to spoil, just like food. The use of preservatives enhances products' shelf life and safety (18*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- All types of hair products, face products, body products, products.
18.
Use:
- Used as a plasticizer in products such as nail polishes to reduce cracking by making them less brittle; dimethyl phthalate (DMP), used in hair sprays to help avoid stiffness by allowing them to form a flexible film on the hair; and diethyl phthalate (DEP), used as a solvent and fixative in fragrances. DEP can also function as an alcohol denaturant, rendering alcoholic products unfit for oral consumption (19*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Endocrine Disruption and Reproductive Harm
Where you can find it:
- , hairspray.
19. Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)
Use:
- Attracts water functions as a humectant and is used in moisturizers to enhance the appearance of by reducing flaking and restoring suppleness. Other reported uses include -conditioning, agent viscosity-decreasing agent, solvent, and .
Potential Health Concern:
- Endocrine Disruption and Reproductive Harm
Where you can find it:
- All types of hair products, face products, body products, products.
20. Propanol
Use:
- Isopropyl Alcohol also called isopropanol or 2-propanol, is most commonly known as rubbing alcohol. Isopropyl Alcohol is widely used in cosmetics and personal care products, such as aftershave lotions, bath products, eye, and other makeup products, as well as nail, hair, and products. In products designed for consumers, Isopropyl Alcohol functions as an antifoaming agent, astringent, solvent, and viscosity decreasing agent (20*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen, Organ Toxicity/Irritation and Reproductive Harm
Where you can find it:
- All types of hair products, face products, body products, products.
21. Resorcinol
Use:
- Resorcinol and 2-Methylresorcinol help impart color to hair. The exact color obtained will depend on the other ingredients that are used in the preparation and the starting color of the hair. These ingredients may also function as antioxidants(21*).
Scientific Facts:
Potential Health Concern:
- Organ Toxicity/Irritation, Endocrine Disruption
Where you can find it:
- Haircare, , and styling products.
22. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Use:
- Both SLS and SLES are very effective ingredients used in cleansing products and as creams and lotions. In this function, surfactants wet body surfaces, emulsify or solubilize oils, and suspend soil. These ingredients contribute foaming and lathering properties to cleansing products and bubble baths (22*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Allergen and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Shampoo, cleanser, soap, exfoliators, , and bubble bath.
23.
Use:
- or Parfum
Potential Health Concern:
- Allergen, Carcinogen, Organ Toxicity/Irritation and Reproductive Harm
Where you can find it:
- All types of hair products, face products, body products, products.
24. Toluene
Use:
- Toluene is used as a solvent to dissolve other substances, such as resins and plasticizers, used in the formulation of nail products.
Potential Health Concern:
- Carcinogen, Neurotoxicity, Organ Toxicity/Irritation and Reproductive Harm
Where you can find it:
- and .
25.
Use:
- As an antibacterial , combats gram-negative bacteria, as well as the odor-causing gram-positive bacteria. As a preservative, is extremely effective in slowing or halting bacterial growth, thereby controlling the growth of odor-causing bacteria and preventing bacterial degradation; this property helps extend the shelf life of everyday products (23*).
Potential Health Concern:
- Environmental Harm, Endocrine Disruption and Organ Toxicity/Irritation
Where you can find it:
- Antibacterial hand and body soap/cleanser, Hand sanitizer and Antiperspirant
Taking all of these into consideration and analyzing what we just read the next time you are shopping for products, it is really important to read the lists thoroughly and not skip over words, especially the ones you can't pronounce or don't understand. Your products should be made with pure, organic ingredients and should not contain any chemicals that could affect your health.
