Commonly-Used Ingredients Pose Health Risks

There are a great many myths in circulation about the relative safety of ingredients commonly found in products for the home and personal care.  Many of these commonly-used ingredients pose significant health risks to you and your family — especially your children.

Take some time.  Read the ingredient myths here, then check your home to see if these things are endangering your family.  You'll be glad you did.

Myth #1: FRAGRANCES and PERFUMES — If it smells natural, it must be good for you.

There are more than 4,000 chemicals are used to make fragrances.  About 95 percent of those come from petroleum.

Many of these chemicals are neurotoxins.  From the lungs, chemicals move directly into the bloodstream, where they go into every cell of your body and silently destroy the myelin sheath around your nerves, damage your liver and immune system, cause lesions in your brain, and break down your spinal cord and your entire nervous system.

Many fragrance chemicals are also known to cause cancer, biological mutation, asthma and multiple chemical sensitivities.

This damage can worsen with time and increased exposures, and may be a possible cause of neurological disorders like Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Lupus and Alzheimer's (Strega; Environmental Protection Agency).

MYTH #2: GLYCERIN — A beneficial humectant.

Glycerin is a clear, syrupy liquid used in almost all soaps and lotions (even the "natural" ones), and has many other uses.  It's made by chemically combining water and fat.  The water splits the fat into smaller components: glycerol and fatty acids.  It improves the spreading qualities of creams and lotions, and prevents them from losing water through evaporation.

A solvent, humectant and emollient used in many cosmetics, glycerin absorbs moisture from the air, helping to keep moisture in creams and other products, even if the consumer leaves the cap off the container (Winter).

That sounds fine; however, glycerin also has a tendency to draw water out of the skin (see more at Myth #3).  Unless the humidity of the air is over 65%, glycerin will pull the moisture out of the skin, drying you from the inside out (Chase).

MYTH #3: HUMECTANTS — Beneficial for drawing moisture to, and aiding in the moisturizing of, the skin.

Most moisturizers contain humectants.  These are compounds that act as water attractors.  In either a natural or synthetic form, they are used to prevent water loss and drying of the skin, as well as to preserve the moisture content of materials, especially in hand creams and lotions (Winter), giving them a smooth texture.

However, while touted as great moisturizing agents because of their ability to draw moisture out of the air, often they're actually pulling moisture out of your skin (Valmy).

Here's why: Humectants are in search of moisture.  If that moisture can be absorbed from the environment, fine; but if the environment is too dry, and there is no environmental moisture to be had, a humectant will get it from the next best source — your skin.

This means that humectants, including propylene glycol and glycerin, while apparently effective when used in areas with high humidity will, if used in an extremely low humidity atmosphere (defined as below 65%) — such as in an airplane or even a dry room — can actually take moisture from your skin.  And so, the ingredient used to help your skin remain moist is actually doing the opposite (Brumberg).

MYTH #4: HYPO-ALLERGENIC — A product to which you're not allergic.

Many people believe that all hypo-allergenic products are safe for them to use; that they will not have an allergic reaction to them.  This is not true.

Hypo-allergenic is a compound word, combining the term "allergenic" (a substance causing allergies) with the Greek "hypo" (less than).

Therefore, the word "hypo-allergenic" merely tells you, the consumer, that the manufacturer believes that the product contains fewer allergens than other products.  There are no federal regulations defining allergens, nor are there any guidelines.  So, the term "hypo-allergenic" has little real meaning (Brumberg).

MYTH #5: KAOLIN — A safe cosmetic ingredient, because it's natural.

Kaolin is a very fine, natural clay, originally from Mt. Kaolin in China (hence the name).  It's commonly used in cosmetic foundations and masks.  But it comes with it's problems.

First, Kaolin is quite drying — and maybe even dehydrating — to the skin.  It also may be contaminated with impurities (Hampton).

Secondly, it forms a film over the skin which is gas-impermeable.  This creates two serious problems: 1) it effectively traps toxins and CO2 in the skin, instead of letting them vent and escape; and 2) it suffocates the skin by shutting out the vitally needed oxygen.

MYTH #6: LANOLIN — A beneficial moisturizer.

Advertisers have found that the words "contains Lanolin" help to sell a product, and have promoted it as being able to "penetrate the skin better than other oils".  There is little scientific evidence to support this claim.

On the other hand, lanolin has been found to be a common skin sensitizor, causing allergic contact skin rashes (Winter).  It also usually contains pesticides used on sheep and wool.

MYTH #7: LAURAMIDE DEA — A safe lathering and grease-cutting agent.

Lauremide DEA is a partly natural, partly synthetic chemical used to build lather and thicken various cosmetic products.  It's also used in dishwashing detergents for its grease-cutting ability.

The problem is: it can be drying to the hair, cause skin and scalp itching and allergic reactions (Hampton).

MYTH #8: LIPOSOMES — Nanosphenes or Micellization — Ultimate Anti-Aging Agent.

Liposomes are one of the newest entries in the "Fountain of Youth" arena.  According to one recent theory, cellular aging involves the edification of skin cell membranes.  Liposomes, which are tiny bags of fat and thymus gland extract suspended in a gel, are supposed to merge with your aging skins cells, revive them and add moisture to them.

Current scientific understanding does not support the rigidification theory.  The cell membranes of young and old persons are alike.  As a result, it's likely that liposome-containing moisturizers represent nothing more than another expensive allure (Novick).

MYTH #9: MINERAL OIL — A beneficial moisturizer.

Mineral oil is an oil derived from (petroleum) crude oil.  It's a mixture of liquid hydrocarbons separated from petroleum.

Dr. T. G. Randolph, an allergist, has found that mineral oil, along with many other cosmetic chemicals, cause petrochemical hypersensitivity.  In time, the allergic reactions can become quite serious, leading to arthritis, migraine, hyperkinesis, epilepsy and diabetes.

Mineral oils are probably the single greatest cause of allergic skin eruptions in women who use a new product (Chase).  Mineral oil also commonly contains powerful carcinogens.

Taken internally, mineral oil binds with the fat-soluble vitamins A, D and E, and carries them — unabsorbed — out of the body.  And, although mineral oil is able to penetrate the skin only in small amounts, this tendency to bind with the fat-soluble vitamins is so dangerous that Adelle Davis, in her classic book Let's Eat Right to Keep Fit, says that she "personally would be afraid to use this oil even in baby oils, cold creams and other cosmetics" (New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1970, p. 46).

The fact that mineral oil doesn't penetrate the skin well makes it inappropriate for use in an absorption base in a skin cream of any kind.  Mineral oil also has a tendency to dissolve the skin's own natural oils, increasing dehydration.  In fact, mineral oil-containing cosmetics can produce symptoms similar to dry skin in this way, and by inhibiting the natural moisturizing factor of your skin.

Petrolatum, paraffin or paraffin oil and propylene glycol are other common cosmetic forms of mineral oil.  They are toxic.  Avoid them like the plague they are (Hampton).

MYTH #10: NATURAL COSMETICS — No artificial ingredients, Pure or From Nature.

A lot of people look for "natural" on the label, believing that it'll be healthier to use.  However, there is no legal definition for "natural", which is why you see it everywhere.

A chemist's definition of organic simply requires that the molecule contains carbon (Hampton).  In cosmetic terminology, the term "natural" usually means anything the manufacturer wishes, since there are no legal boundaries for how the term is used.

There are no guidelines for what can or cannot be inside a "natural" product.  Most cosmetics called "natural" still contain preservatives, coloring agents and all the other things you can think of that sound very unnatural (Begoin).

MYTH #11: PROPYLENE GLYCOL (PG) — A beneficial humectant.

Propylene glycol is a moisturizer, the most common moisture-carrying vehicle, other than water, in cosmetics.  It has better permeation through the skin than glycerin, and is less expensive.  However, it has been shown to provoke acne eruptions (Chase), and been linked to other sensitivity reactions.  Its use is being reduced, and is being replaced by safer glycols (Winter).

The Material Safety Data Sheet, Propylene Glycol USP, shows: "over-exposure to this material (or its components) has apparently been found to cause the following effects in laboratory animals: liver abnormality and kidney damage." (ARCO Chemical Company).

MYTH #12: SODIUM CHLORIDE (Salt — NaCl)

Sodium chloride is used in some cosmetics to increase the viscosity.  It can cause eye and skin irritation, if used in too high a concentration (Hampton).

It's usually used to make a cheap, watery consistency product look thick and rich.

MYTH #13: SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE (SLES) — Chemical Name: Sodium Lauryl "Ether" Sulfate.

Sodium laureth sulfate is called a premium agent in cleansers and shampoos.  When included in a formula with salt, it thickens, giving the impression of being highly concentrated, and produces a high level of foam, which gives the shampoo or cleaner the appearance of being not only thick, but rich — and expensive.  But it can cause scalp irritation, and may cause hair loss (Wright).

In reality, it's very inexpensive, made by adding an ether chain to sodium lauryl sulfate.

It's also used as a wetting agent in the textile industry.

MYTH #14: SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE — None making any claims about this one — and for good reason.

Sodium lauryl sulfate is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities.  However, it can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf (similar to dandruff) and allergic reactions.  It frequently comes disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics, with the parenthetic explanation "comes from coconut."

Let's save the coconut from defamation of character and simply not use products with sodium lauryl sulfate, etc! (Hampton).

Here's why:

We examined an anionic detergent (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), commonly found in soaps and shampoos.  It was found that SLS 1) was absorbed into the tissues of the eyes, as well as systemic tissues (such as the brain, heart, liver, etc.); and 2) it was retained in these tissues over a long period of time.

This raises an immediate concern, since SLS and related substances are so widely used, on a daily basis, in soaps and shampoos.

This is especially important in infants.  Where rapid growth is occurring, a much greater uptake occurs in the tissues of the eyes.  Since SLS changes the amounts of some proteins in cells from eye tissues, tissues of young eyes may be more susceptible to alternation by SLS (Green).

Sodium lauryl sulfate also forms nitrates.  These nitrates can enter the bloodstream in large amounts from shampooing, bubble baths, shaving gels, bath and shower gels and facial cleansers.  And, they are possible carcinogens.

To put this into perspective, Dr. David H. Fine, the chemist who uncovered NDELA contamination in cosmetics, estimates that a person would be applying 50 to 100 micrograms of Nitrosamine to the skin each time he or she used a nitrosamine contaminated cosmetic.  By comparison, a person consuming sodium nitrite preserved bacon is exposed to less than 1 microgram of Nitrosamine (Hampton).

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Begoin, Paula, Blue Eyeshadow Should Still be Legal (Beginning Press, 1988).

Brumberg, Elaine, Take Care of Your Skin (Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1989).

Chase, Deborah, New Medically Based No-Nonsense Beauty Book (Henry Holt and Co., 1989).

Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Most Common Chemicals Found in 31 Fragrance Products, 1991.

Friend, Tim, USA Today, 4/10/90.

Green, Dr. Keith, Detergent Penetration Into Young and Adult Eyes (Dept. of Ophthalmology, Medical College of GA, Augusta, GA).

Hampton, Aubrey, Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients (Organics Press).  See also, What's in Your Cosmetics?: A Complete Consumer's Guide to Natural and Synthetic Ingredients.

Metarasso, Dr. Seth L., "Faking It" (Muscle & Fitness, November 1990).

Novick, Dr. Nelson Lee, Super Skin (Clarkston, N. Potter, Inc. Publishers,1988).

Strega, Linda, "Sweet Nerve Gas" ( Shared Vision Magazine, December 1993).

Valmy, Christine & Vons Ulrich, Elise, "Mid-Air Skin Care" (Entrepreneurial Woman, July/August 1990).

Winter, Ruth, A Consumer's Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients, (Crown Publishers, Inc. 1989).

Wright, Camille S., Shampoo Report (Images International, Inc. 1989).