Download Toxic Beauty, the Ugly Truth Behind Beauty Products

Toxic Beauty, the Ugly Truth Behind Beauty Products
By Sara Rodgers, NMD
Most people recognize beauty in the signs of health: glowing skin, glossy full hair, a vibrant
gleam in the eye. The whole point of cosmetic products such as moisturizer, mascara, facial
cleanser, nail polish, lip stick, shampoo, styling gels, etc. is to enhance the beauty that is already
there. What if these products were robbing you of health? Could they still be considered ‘beauty
products’? What if you knew that these enhancements could injure your health or the health of
your unborn children?
Cosmetic products are applied to the skin. Skin is the largest organ of the body and, along with
the kidneys, liver, large colon, and lungs, the skin helps to detoxify our bodies of metabolic
waste products and chemicals. The skin is also capable of absorbing toxins. Therefore, choosing
what you put on your body is just as important as what you eat or how much you exercise.
A 2008 study of by the Environmental Working Group1 showed that carcinogens and hormone
disrupting chemicals (parabens, phthalates, tricolosan, musk) found in beauty products
commonly used by teenagers were found in blood and urine samples all 20 teenage girls tested.
(Teen Girls Body Burden of Hormone-Altering Cosmetic Chemicals2). This was the first
example of finding parabens in teenagers. Given that teenager’s bodies are undergoing major
hormone changes, this finding is very disturbing as small shifts in the hormone system can result
in very large changes. It is important to know that seemingly simple applications of antibacterial
soap, hair gel, or nail polish may have long lasting health effects such as hormone related
diseases or breast cancer.
Two generations ago, the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) was given to pregnant women to prevent
miscarriages. This hormone disruptor was later implicated in causing cervical cancer and the
reproductive ability of their female children and female grandchildren. Although this drug is no
longer in use, we don’t know how the multitude of other chemicals we now willingly expose
ourselves to today will affect us in two, five, or 25 years in the future, nor do we know how it
will affect our unborn children. Luckily, there are researchers looking into this and providing us
with some answers. Right now, however, you can protect yourself by being aware that beauty
products can be dangerous and knowing how to avoid known toxins. This article will highlight
some toxic ingredients and provide resources to help you navigate the complex list of ingredients
in many over the counter cosmetics.
Toxic Beauty. March 2010. By Sara Rodgers, NMD
Page 1 of 4
Top 5 ingredients to avoid
1. Parabens. Parabens such as ethyl-, methyl-, butyl-, or propylparaben, are used as
preservatives in many products such as shampoos, moisturizers, soaps, exfoliants, cleansers,
and deodorants. They are excellent preservatives, but this class of chemicals are endocrine
disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that mimic your own hormones. Parabens
mimic estrogen and have been found in breast cancer tumors.3 Although a direct link
between parabens and cancer has not been proven, it is probably a good idea to avoid these
chemicals until proven harmless.
2. Phthalates. Numerous news stories about the toxicity of Bisphenol A, a toxic plasticizer
contaminant in drinking water bottles and canned food liners, has increased consumer
awareness about phthalates. Unfortunately, the cosmetic industry uses phthalates in hair
spray, nail polish and numerous other products. Phthalates have been shown to negatively
affect genital development in baby boys and reduce testosterone levels in males in general.4,5
3. Triclosan. This antimicrobial product is found in antibacterial soap, detergent, toothpaste,
fabric, facial tissue and even toys. It affects endocrine systems6 and thyroid metabolism.
Unfortunately, many of us already carry a body burden of this chemical as revealed from
random urine samples.7
4. 1,4 Dioxane. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease registry (ATSDR
dioxane profile8) dioxane is a probable human carcinogen and can be found in shampoo,
cosmetics, and detergents. Dioxane is a manufacturing by-product of ethoxylation process to
make chemical less harsh. Although it will not be listed on the label, this readily absorbed
carcinogen has been detected in common personal care products containing PEG,
polyethylene, polyethylene glycol, polyoxyethylene, sodium laureth sulfate, and polysorbate.
It is interesting to note that many of these contaminated ingredients are also ingredients
found in nutritional supplements.
5. Nail polish. The big bad three ingredients in nail polish include formaldehyde, toluene, and
dibutyl phthalate. These three items have been removed from numerous brands thanks to the
Campaign for Safe cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org). These ingredients disrupt the
endocrine system, nervous system, and immune system.
Toxic Beauty. March 2010. By Sara Rodgers, NMD
Page 2 of 4
Some important points about personal care and cosmetic products:
• The cosmetic industry is self regulated; don’t rely on the FDA to protect you from this
$50 billion dollar industry or trust the industry will look out for your health. Although the
cosmetic industry is forced to provide less toxic ingredients in European markets, they
have not provided those cleaner products to Americans.
• Don’t just look at packaging: read labels and get to know a few toxic ingredients. Green
marketing is ‘in’. Companies know this and make products look ‘green’ by listing natural
ingredients on the label, creating beautiful package designs, and naming products after
natural substances. Don’t be deceived, read your labels.
• Even small amounts of toxic ingredients can have significant negative impacts on health.
Interestingly, smaller concentrations of toxic ingredients can sometimes have greater
toxic effects than larger concentrations of the same ingredient.
• Endocrine disruptors can affect any stage of life: developing fetuses, children, teenagers,
and adults. The longer we are exposed to these chemicals, the increased risk of hormone
disruption.
Resources available
• Skin Deep, the Cosmetic Safety Data Base9 provides an amazing resource to look up
specific personal care products and ingredients. This database was developed by the
Environmental Working Group (www.ewg.org), a non profit dedicated to informing the
public about a variety of topics. This resource will helps you navigate the complexity of
products and toxic ingredients.
• Safety Guide to Children’s Personal Care Products10 This easy to use guide helps you
avoid toxins in your children’s products. Another great gift from the Environmental
Working Group.
• Campaign for Safe Cosmetics11 can give you more information about individual types of
dangers in cosmetics.
• Nail Polish Wallet Card12 This great handout can guide you and your children in
purchasing less toxic nail polish.
• The Boise Co-op13 Health and Beauty department has many non toxic, organic personal
care products to choose from.
Toxic Beauty. March 2010. By Sara Rodgers, NMD
Page 3 of 4
References
1
Sutton R. Adolescent exposures to cosmetic chemicals of concern. Environmental Working Group
(http://www.ewg.org/reports/teens) September 2008.
2
http://www.ewg.org/reports/teens
3
Darbre PD, Harvey PW. Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and
human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks. J Appl Toxicol. 2008 Jul;28(5):561-78.
4
Swan, SH et. al. Decrease in anogenital distance among male infants with prenatal phthalate exposure.
Environmental Health Perspectives. 2005 Aug;113 (8): 1056-61.
5
Henley DV, Korach KS. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals use distinct mechanisms of action to modulate endocrine
system function. Endocrinology. 2006 Jun;147(6 Suppl):S25-32. Epub 2006 May 11.
6
Ahn, KC et al. In Vitro Biologic Activities of the Antimicrobials Triclocarban, its analogs, , and Triclosan in
Bioassay Screens: Bioassay Receptor Screens. Environmental Health Perspectives 2008 Sept;116(9):1203-10.
7
Calafat AM et al. Urinary Concentrations of Triclosan in the US population 2003-2004. Environmental Health
Perspectives 2008 Mar;116(3):303-7.
8
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/phs187.html#bookmark01),
9
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/
10
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide/EWG_parentsguide.pdf
11
http://www.safecosmetics.org/
12
http://www.womenandenvironment.org/Nail_Polish_walletcard.pdf
13
http://www.boisecoop.com/
Toxic Beauty. March 2010. By Sara Rodgers, NMD
Page 4 of 4