Are you putting toxic chemicals on your body every day and not even realizing it?
To be honest, I used to not think about what cleaned and moisturized my hair and skin, I just wanted the products I used to help my hair do what I wanted, smell pretty, my makeup to be on point, and I didn’t want to sweat too much. Sound familiar?
That was my concern until I went to the dermatologist to have a spot on my back checked out that had been bothering me. My dermatologist took one look at it and said “Ooh that doesn’t look good, it is angry. We are going to do a biopsy and I will call you with the results in a couple of weeks. “ While I was lying there waiting for her to finish stitching me up, I was thinking this doesn’t sound so good, maybe it could be a cancer spot but I’m sure it’s not that bad. Right ? How could I have cancer it doesn’t even run in my family. Nah not me. You know, all the things we tell ourselves in situations like these.
A couple of weeks later I was working late in the salon and the phone rang I normally do not answer it if I have a client but I felt like I should take a look to see who it was, and, as promised, my dermatologist was calling to give me the results of the biopsy. She said “Sharon the results came back and you have Melanoma skin cancer. We need you to come back into the office as soon as possible for surgery to make sure we remove it all.” Panic started coursing through my body and I felt like my head was spinning with all her words just swirling around inside. She was talking and all I could think was geez, am I going to die from this? How am I going to tell my sweet husband and children that I have cancer? With all these questions and her talking and scheduling my surgery, I honestly thought my head was going to explode.
Later that evening I remember sitting on the sofa, my family watching television, and the only thing going through my mind was, did I do something to cause this cancer or could I somehow have prevented it? Am I going to die from this? I felt like I should get up and do something about it immediately but there was nothing I could do at that point.
Fast forward a week and I am back in the dermatologist office ready for surgery. My first words to her were, “I do not care how much you have to cut on me, just please get all the cancer out of my body.” She told me not to worry, she is quite aggressive when it comes to making sure all the borders are clear of melanoma. Rest assured she did her job well. I now have a nice 3 1/2 inch scar to remind me that I should start paying closer attention to what I put on my body by checking for toxic ingredients in my products and how to find cleaner/safer products to use. I have learned the skin is the largest organ of our body and while its' main function is to act as a barrier of protection, 60% of what we use on our skin is absorbed into the bloodstream in as short of time as 26 seconds. Now I realize that just because a product is on the market and available to us does not mean it is always the safest choice.
I have listed 10 of the most toxic chemicals in beauty products that we should avoid.
Parabens are a type of preservative used to prolong shelf life by preventing the growth of bacteria and mold in products such as; shampoo, soaps, lotions, and makeup. Parabens are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they mimic estrogen in the body and can lead to hormonal imbalances. Parabens not only cause skin/scalp irritation but inflammation which can lead to hair thinning or hair loss.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS/SLES) are foaming agents used in personal care products such as shampoo, skin cleansers, bath products, toothpaste, and household cleaners to name a few. These surfactants can cause skin irritation and dryness with SLS being more of an irritant in long-term exposure. One way to avoid these chemicals is to look for a sulfate-free product.
Phthalates are plasticizers that are added to plastics and rubber to make them more flexible and added to hairspray, hair gel, nail polish, and lipsticks acting as a binding agent to help lubricate other substances in the formula and carry fragrances. phthalates are classified as endocrine disruptors. Widespread concern about exposure to these chemicals is that they are linked to a drop in male fertility and reproductive issues. When choosing a personal care product look for ones that are labeled phthalate-free and avoid ones with the abbreviations DBP, DNOP, DiNP, BBzP, DEHP.
PEGs-Polyethylene Glycol are petroleum-based compounds that are in many cosmetics and personal care products used as thickeners, solvents, emollients (soften and lubricate the skin), emulsifiers(helps mix water and oil-based ingredients)they are often used in cosmetic cream bases. PEGs are almost always followed by a number, such as PEG-6, PEG-8, PEG-100, and so on. PEGs with a smaller number are those usually found in cosmetics. The number represents the molecular weight of the compound and the smaller the number, the more it is able to penetrate the skin. It is very important to avoid products containing PEGs if you have any damaged skin because this allows them to penetrate deeper, causing more concern because some of the impurities found in PEGs are heavy metals such as lead, iron, nickel, cadmium, arsenic, and are linked to cancer.
Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring compound produced in living organisms including the human body where it is ultimately converted to carbon dioxide and exhaled out of the body. It is also found in fruits and veggies such as apples, pears, peas, carrots, and bananas. Even though it occurs naturally and is found in some of the foods we consume, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen when its fumes are inhaled. It is associated with nasopharyngeal and sinonasal cancers. This is why when used in beauty products it is so dangerous. Formaldehyde is found in products such as nail polish, remover, nail hardeners, some chemical hair straighteners, and some skin products. It is used as a preservative to prolong shelf life and prevent bacterial growth. It is important to know that there are formaldehyde-free products available, so take the time to do a little research first.
Octinoxate and Oxybenzone are two of the most common ingredients found in chemical sunscreens. Chemical sunscreens dominate the shelves at most stores and rely on a chemical reaction to protect the skin from the sun’s rays. While it is not the only reason, octinoxate and oxybenzone are chemicals thought to be harmful to the ocean’s coral reefs. In humans, it may have a negative impact on our endocrine system (glands that make hormones) which is good enough reason to avoid sunscreens with these chemicals. There are sunscreens that block the sun’s rays using minerals such as zinc oxide and or titanium dioxide and are not harmful to the human body or the ocean’s coral reefs.
Petroleum and Petrolatum are by-products of petroleum refining. They are generally safe if refined properly but if not refined properly they could contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are linked to cancer development. Petroleum and petrolatum form a water-resistant barrier to the area applied to. They are found in moisturizing creams, foundations, lipstick, lip balms, shampoos, and conditioners. Avoid products with the ingredients paraffin oil, mineral oil, yellow petrolatum, petrolatum unless the label clearly states petrolatum is fully refined or says so on the company website.
Cocamide DEA (diethanolamine) MEA (monoethanolamine) are used to thicken the water phase of cosmetics, keep the ingredients blended and boost foaming properties. They are found in hand soap, body wash, deodorants, and toothpaste. DEA/MEA are chemicals with antibacterial properties and when you use these products the chemicals can be absorbed through the skin or mouth and can alter hormone regulation and they may increase the risk of cancer with long-term use. Avoid Cocamide DEA, Cocamide MEA, DEA-Cetyl Phosphate, Lauramide DEA, Linoleamide MEA, Triethanolamine.
Ethanol or ethyl alcohol is a common ingredient used as an astringent to cleanse the skin, a preservative in lotions and it helps hairspray adhere to the hair. Ethyl alcohol is used in skincare products to help other ingredients penetrate the skin deeper. It can cause sensitivity and irritation as well as being very drying to the skin and hair. Check ingredient labels to see where it is listed on the list. If it is one of the top ingredients I would avoid this product.
Harsh Salt Systems or sodium chloride is used in shampoos to act as a thickening agent and to preserve shelf life. The problem with this ingredient is that it tends to attract the water from the surroundings causing dryness, your color fading faster, and irritating the scalp. Prolonged irritation and inflammation can lead to hair loss.
A really great resource I use often to check ingredients that you have questions about is The Environmental Working Group. www.ewg.org