Sunscreens, Cancer in a Bottle?

Most people use sunscreens to avoid the harmful effects of the sun on the skin.  Indeed prolonged sun exposure can actually induce the early appearance of freckles and wrinkles.  But a study published in the British Medical Journal reports that sunbathers who use sunscreens with higher SPF have a higher risk of developing skin cancers.  This is because a chemical called Oxybenzone which is a standard ingredient in high SPF sunscreens can cause more harm than good.

Oxybenzone’s job is to filter ultra violet light on the surface of the skin, converting it from light to heat.  Once heat is absorbed in the skin, it has the potential to damage cells.  Once light is converted into heat, it can cause basal damage to growing cells which causes malignancy in growth and cause cancer.  Scientists at the Memorial Sloan Cancer Center in New York say that sunscreens are very effective in preventing sunburns and cancers like Carcinoma but not against Melanoma.

PABA or para-benzoic amino acid which works in the same way as Oxybenzone also has similar effects.  For sunbathers and sun worshipers it would probably be better to use the old and tried tested method of applying tin oxide which reflects the sun’s rays rather than absorbing it.  It is also widely used in wound dressings and is safe.  Calamine lotion which has a Zinc oxide base is colored pink and washes off easily can also be used as a substitute for PABA or Oxybenzone based sunscreens.

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Collagen in Cosmetics, A Scam??

Collagen is one of this century’s cosmetic hits.  Most cosmetics with collagen as an ingredient tout their products for making the skin smoother, healthier and more supple.  But the sad fact is, collagen is an insoluble fibrous protein.  This means that no matter how it is applied, it is too big a molecule for the skin to absorb.  Which further means that the collagen in your lotion, toner, shampoo or conditioner is just for “advertising” purposes and has no effect on the body at all.

Collagen is a natural substance found in humans.  It is the “glue” which holds our muscles, tissues, organs and bones together.  Without collagen, our bodies would literally fall apart.  But another gross fact about collagen in cosmetics is that it is derived from animal skins our ground up chicken feet!!!  Collagen from these sources too cannot be “rebuilt” in order for our skin to absorb.

When applied to the skin, collagen forms a layer which may disrupt oxygen transport which can suffocate the skin.  It can also cause blocked pores which can result to bad acne breakouts and rashes.  When ingested collagen is poisonous and can cause serious health effects.

Collagen and another similar compound called Elastin is also a common ingredient in cosmetics.  It has a similar effect to collagen and is as damaging to the body.  The sad truth is that, cosmetic companies manufacture products with collagen and elastin and advertise these products as healthy, when in fact these ingredients only add on to the price with no positive physical effects on the skin and body whatsoever.

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Natural Organic Facial Care

Our skin is the body’s biggest organ and is sometimes the most neglected.  Whoever said that beauty is only skin deep must be very beautiful indeed because our skin is sometimes the best indicator of what is going on in our body.

Our skin is susceptible to infections like acne, rashes and other skin ailments.  Most skin care products contain chemicals which do not only do more harm than good to our skin but to our environment as well.  However, there are herbs which help alleviate pimples and rashes and can help our skin look young and fresh looking.

Aloe is a very good herbal medicine for acne and wrinkles.  Aloe contains alpha hydroxy acid which nourishes the skin and reduces wrinkles.  Aloe also soothes skin irritated by acne.  For best results wash the face with warm water and vinegar.  Apply aloe to skin and leave over night.

For a severe acne break out, use tea tree oil.  Mix the tea tree oil with a carrier like unscented white lotion or jojoba oil.  For best results clean the face an pat dry.  Apply the mixture twice daily.  Some people may be sensitive to tee tree so a skin test is recommended.  Apply on a small spot and wait for 24 hours.

For puffy eyes, you can use the old stand by of cucumber slices or chamomile tea.  Let the chamomile steep in a cup of hot water, let cool and then soak some cotton balls.  Apply on puffy eyes.

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Gluten Free Cosmetics

Living life with Celiac disease or gluten allergy could be quite challenging to people who suffer from either sensitivity.  First there are restrictions to diet which entail avoiding or limiting the intake of gluten rich foods such as wheat, rye, oats and barley.  Then there is the search for cosmetics which are gluten free.

Gluten is used in cosmetics and personal care products in order to bind the ingredients together and is used as an emollient in the form of gluten derived oils.  Most cosmetic manufacturers would say that the amount of gluten is so minuscule to become a health risk factor, to a person who suffers from the disease or allergy, a little can cause a lot of discomfort.

People who have celiac disease or gluten allergy live in a gluten free world.  They chose cosmetics which have not been derived from materials which contain gluten.

There are actually a lot of cosmetics which do not contain gluten.  There are gluten free lipsticks, moisturizers, lotions, hair spray, shampoo and a host of other personal care products.

People who have celiac disease or gluten allergy should choose products which are gluten free especially those applied close to their lips and above their chin.  Even though absorption of gluten through cosmetics and personal care products may be minimal, it would be better to avoid these altogether as our skin is our biggest organ.

There are also a lot of gluten free resources available on the internet.  The FDA has yet to approve mandatory labeling of cosmetic products as gluten free.  So before trying on or buying a product, consult the internet resource pages and websites on gluten free cosmetics.

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Isopropyl Alcohol

First of all, isopropyl alcohol is highly flammable. While alcohol is used for disinfecting and costs relatively cheap, it is not wise to apply it on skin since it strips off the skin’s natural line of defense making it dry and cracked. In return, the skin is made more susceptible to bacteria and other pollutant.

We should be aware that isopropyl alcohol is a solvent that can alter other substance’s form. When inhaled, this potentially toxic substance can cause respiratory problem and central nervous depression. Its instant effects are headaches, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting. In severe cases, it can even induce coma and narcosis to user. These are the reasons why pediatricians strongly advise not to use isopropyl alcohol to newborn babies.

When accidentally ingested, the isopropyl alcohol will irritate the lining of the stomach and intestines which will result to vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue. It will also alter your blood composition due to its denaturing effect.

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FD&C Color Pigments

Colorful things are surely attractive especially for kids. For women, we choose colorful makeup and other cosmetic products to enhance our general appearance while kids prefer to use bubble baths and soaps with bright colors. With men, they find it necessary to cover up gray strands of hair thus the need to use hair dyes.

FD&C color pigments are usually made from tar and they can also cause irritation to the skin. They are most commonly found in eye makeup, lipsticks, hair dyes, nail polish and even with your colored medicinal tablets. These color pigments are for enhancing natural color to create a visual effect tempting enough for consumers to buy them.

Hair dyes contain coal tar and phenylenediamine, both are known carcinogenic that also causes inflammation of the scalp and in some instances, blindness. With regular use of hair dye products, the risk of developing bladder cancer is much higher than those who don’t use them. Bright nail polishes contain toluene, together with color pigments, they are more than toxic causing headaches, confusion and memory loss. Daily exposure to toluene may induce hearing loss.

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DEA, TEA & MEA

These toxic chemicals are used for regulating pH in cosmetics and personal care products. DEA provides luxurious consistency to lotions and creams and rich lather in shampoos since it is an emulsifier and foaming agent. While DEA was not found to be harmful to our health, its by-product NDEA or nitrosodiethanolamine is. NDEA is a proven to be a cancer-causing agent and can be easily absorbed by the skin. It has strong links to stomach, esophageal, liver and bladder cancers to humans.

Just a note, DEA is a generalized term for all diethanolamine and TEA and MEA are related substances. When applied topically, it may result to skin irritation or burning of skin. It can also cause impairment of vision with eye contact. If inhaled accidentally, it irritates the nose and throat. This chemical also disrupts hormone cycle thus affecting all hormonal balances of the body including testicular degeneration and low sperm count.

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Imidazolidinyl Urea & DMDM Hydatoin

For dead humans, they won’t probably mind getting a good dose of formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is used in embalming and it is also emitted by imidazolidinyl urea and DMDM hydatoin. These two formaldehyde-emitting chemicals are found in most of our personal care products in the market today. This substance can be in liquid or gas form, colorless and with a very distinctive smell.

Initially, formaldehyde is used for synthetic resins and textiles. Nowadays, it can also be found with your makeup, lipstick, baby shampoos, and moisturizers. For personal care products, they inhibit bacterial growth thus prolonging shelf life. Other uses of formaldehyde are for waterproofing fabrics, enhancing dyes, production of adhesives and binding construction materials.

This substance is known to cause cancer. Aside from that, it can also induce skin blisters, skin inflammation or dermatitis, dryness of skin and severe breathing problems. When absorbed in large doses, it can cause cancer while if inhaled, it can induce serious irritation to the eyes, nose and throat.

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Phthalates

Phthalates are practically everywhere we go since this substance can be utilized in many ways. It is commonly used as plasticizers. Plasticizers are substances added to plastics to make it more flexible and resilient. While there are many uses for this substance, it is also highly toxic for human consumption.

Phthalates can be found with your ordinary powders, deodorants and aftershave. Do take note that phthalates have many different names under its belt so it becomes doubly hard to determine if the product is subjected to phthalates or not.

Health wise, phthalates can harm your babies since it was found that it affects baby’s male reproductive system causing them produce lower and deformed sperm count later in life. The most significant health risk of using phthalates is that it can actually disrupt your endocrine system, causing birth defects among pregnant moms. It damages the liver and testes among humans exposed to it.

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Synthetic Fragrances

When shopping for a perfume, have you considered examining its label? Probably not, since you are only after its great smell and how will the fragrant product react to your body right? That also goes for your soaps, shampoos and other personal care products you use everyday.

The word fragrance in the ingredients section of your product label doesn’t necessarily mean natural fragrances were used especially if you bought it cheap. Synthetic fragrances are derived from petroleum sources and it is specifically engineered to cheat your sense of smell by disguising as natural and they are cheaper than natural oil, much to manufacturer’s delight.

Of course, synthetics are always bad for our body so this one is not an exemption to the rule. Synthetic fragrances cause headaches, skin and respiratory problems, and hyperpigmentation and that is counting only the short term effects of this chemical. Actually, this substance doesn’t break down and they linger up to 2 days prior to washing. Traces of synthetic fragrances can also be found in human fat, breast milk and blood, which only prove that this chemical substance can infiltrate your body system.

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