Did you know that skin care is one of the most overlooked aspects of health?
Take a look at your skin products to make sure they don’t have potentially harmful cancer forming or hormone disruption ingredients.
It almost seems silly to think that we concern ourselves with our diets and what we “put in our mouths,” but don’t pay too much attention to what we “put on our skin.”
Did you know that the fastest way to put something into your blood stream is through your skin? And did you know that most of the skin care and cosmetic products that people use have synthetic and toxic ingredients in them that can harm you over time?
When you have a minute, grab all of the bottles of skin care and cosmetic products that you and your family use, including the stuff you put on your children (if you have kids). You might find that the products your family uses contain one or more of many potentially dangerous ingredients.
Here’s a list of some common ingredients that you want to avoid…
Mineral Oil, Paraffin, and Petrolatum
Petroleum products that coat the skin like plastic, clogging pores and creating a build-up of toxins, which in turn accumulate and can lead to dermatologic issues. Petroleum products also slow cellular development, which can cause you to show earlier signs of aging. It’s also a suspected cause of cancer and disruptive of hormonal activity. By the way, when there’s an oil spill in the ocean, don’t they rush to clean it up – fast? Why put that stuff on your skin?
Parabens
Parabens are widely used as preservatives in the cosmetic industry (including moisturizers). An estimated 13,200 cosmetic and skin care products contain parabens. Studies implicate their connection with cancer. They have hormone -disrupting qualities – mimicking estrogen – and interfere with the body’s endocrine system.
Phenol carbolic acid
This ingredient is found in many lotions and skin creams. It can cause circulatory collapse, paralysis, convulsions, coma and even death from respiratory failure.
Propylene glycol
Propylene glycol is used as a moisturizer in cosmetics and as a carrier in fragrance oils. It has been shown to cause dermatitis, kidney or liver abnormalities, and may inhibit skin cell growth or cause skin irritation.
Acrylamide
This is found in many hand and face creams. It has been linked to mammary tumors in lab research.
Sodium laurel or lauryl sulfate (SLS), also known as sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)
This ingredient is found in car washes, engine degreasers, garage floor cleaners… and it’s in over 90% of personal care products! SLS breaks down the skin’s moisture barrier, easily penetrates the skin, and allows other chemicals to also easily penetrate the skin. Combined with other chemicals, SLS becomes a “nitrosamine”, which is a potent class of carcinogen (cancer causing). It can also cause hair loss. SLES is sometimes disguised with the labeling “comes from coconut” or “coconut-derived”.
Toluene – Poison! Danger! Harmful or fatal if swallowed! Harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin.
Toluene is made from petroleum or coal tar, and is found in most synthetic fragrances. Chronic exposure to toluene has been linked to anemia, lowered blood cell count, liver or kidney damage, and may affect a developing fetus. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) contains toluene. Other names may include benzoic and benzyl.
Dioxane
Dioxane is found in compounds known as PEG, Polysorbates, Laureth, ethoxylated alcohols. It is common in a wide range of personal care products. The compounds are usually contaminated with high concentrations of highly volatile 1,4-dioxane, which is easily absorbed through the skin.
Dioxane’s carcinogenicity was first reported in 1965 and later confirmed in studies including one from the National Cancer Institute in 1978. Nasal passages and the liver are the most vulnerable. Dioxane is easily removed during the manufacturing process by “vacuum stripping”. Warning: It is a synthetic derivative of coconut. Watch for hidden language on labels, such as “comes from coconut”.
My recommendation is to start using skin care and cosmetic products that do not contain harmful chemicals that are toxic to your body.
There are several good companies out there that have safer and more natural skin care products for the whole family (men, women, and children). If you have any questions, just email me or talk to me the next time you are in for an adjustment.
Please start taking your skin care seriously. It makes no sense to toxify your body with skin care products that contain harmful and toxic chemicals.
Have a great day!
Dr. Justin Trosclair chiropractor
Source: Mercola.com
