Most of us don’t think of it like this, but our skin is our largest organ. It does a ton, serving as a protective barrier between us and the sometimes icky world around us. It provides insulation and regulates temperature, helps synthesize vitamin D, enables us to enjoy things that are soft and cozy, and the list goes on. Most of us are good about protecting our skin from the sun because who wants to get a burn, wrinkles, or skin cancer? No one. No one wants that.
On the other hand, its easy to forget that what we put on our very porous skin is absorbed into our bodies and has implications for our overall health. You don’t want to eat, drink, or breathe toxic stuff, and you shouldn’t want to rub it all over your body either. I’m talking about face wash, toner, moisturizer, mascara, foundation, deodorant, and sunscreen, just to name a few. Unfortunately, there is a real opportunity for bad stuff to make its way into the products we regularly slather on our skin.
Personal care products in the US are not regulated like food and drugs. Most personal care products are not required to obtain FDA approval before going to market. There is a relatively short list of substances that are banned or restricted from use in these products, compared to the long list of ingredients known to have potentially negative impacts on human health (and the environment…but that’s for another day). There are certain ingredients you really want to steer clear of.
Here are just a few:
Parabens (methyl, ethyl, benzyl, etc.) which are known to be endocrine disruptors (basically, they mess with your hormones). Some parabens can even mimic estrogen in the body and have been linked to increased breast cancer risk.
“fragrance” which is a term used to encompass any number of different chemical ingredients that contribute to a scent.
Oxybenzone- which is most often found in sunscreens and is also guilty of interfering with hormones.
Aluminum is often used in deodorant because its great at blocking sweat glands, but over time, if absorbed by the body, it can accumulate in the brain. With neurological conditions like Alzheimer’s on the rise, staying clear of this one is a really good idea.
I’m not implying you panic and run around the house, dumping all your products and spending hours researching new ones. Only a crazy person (me) would do that (did it). Having information and being empowered to make good choices going forward is always a good idea.
If you want to limit your family’s exposure to some of the bad stuff we absorb via our skin, think about starting with the products you use most frequently or use a lot of. Check out the ingredients and leverage free resources like the EWG Skin Deep® Cosmetics Database . Remember that you do have the ability to understand and influence the impact your products have on your overall health and well-being.
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