Understanding Why Skin Care Products Should Be Paraben Free
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010Paraben free products have been around forever, but have only gained attention in recent years. In 2004, researchers announced that parabens had been found in high concentrations in breast cancer tumors. Attempts to explain the significance of those findings are still ongoing.
The chemicals are used as preservatives. While there are a few naturally occurring parabens, they are not used commercially. All of the parabens found in personal care products, foods and other commercial goods are created synthetically.
A number of different companies produce the chemicals. The process is relatively simple. Para-hydroxybenzoic acid is combined with one or more types of alcohol to create them. Those compounds are synthesized from other chemicals. One is Triethylamine.
Some of the adverse health effects of these chemicals are well known. For example, Triethylamine I known to cause swelling of the cornea, the clear membrane that covers the eye. Irritation of the lungs and nasal passages occurs when the substance is inhaled on a frequent basis. In animal studies, the chemical has been shown to cause liver, kidney and heart damage.
Most people use shampoo, body wash, perfume, deodorant, lotion and similar products on a daily basis. Unless they are all paraben free, they are exposed to Triethylamine on a daily basis from many different products.
Parabens have been widely accepted as safe and non-toxic. Animal studies have provided the basis for this belief. But the metabolism of a rat is quite different from that of a human.
The rat’s metabolism quickly metabolizes toxins disposes of them as waste. Toxins are known to accumulate in human organs and tissues. So, it should really come as no surprise that “safe” parabens were found in breast cancer tumors.
We might not know everything there is to know about the need for paraben free products. But there are some things we do know.
Parabens are common allergens. The allergic reaction caused in people with sensitive skin is not as severe as that caused by other artificial preservatives, but there is a reaction.
People can become more sensitive to the chemicals as time goes by. If products containing them are used on broken or damaged skin, there is a greater risk of adverse reaction, which usually includes burning, itching and irritation. This is the reason for the product advisement; not to be used on broken or damaged skin.
People with a history of food allergies are advised to buy only paraben free foods. The allergic reactions caused by ingesting the chemicals are believed by some experts to be greater than those caused by applying them to the skin’s surface. Some researchers disagree with that.
Allergic reactions are acute. They happen quickly and suddenly. They often resolve on their own very quickly. There is more concern about chronic or long-term health effects, which are not immediately apparent and often cannot be traced to a single cause.
The parabens found in the tumors are known to be the ones commonly found in antiperspirants and other skincare products. That is something the scientists know. So they were absorbed through the skin and not ingested through eating.
The best suggestion is to always shop for paraben free products. There is no reason to buy products containing them. Safe and natural alternatives are available now, just as they have always been.
A Few Reasons a Homemade Wrinkle Cream Might be Preferable
Friday, July 23rd, 2010Why go to the trouble of making a homemade wrinkle cream when you can go to the store and buy something? There are many reasons that you might want to make your own at home. Here’s a look at some of them.
You might be concerned about the safety of the ingredients cosmetic manufacturers use. While questioning the safety of cosmetics is always a good idea. It is easy enough to avoid common allergens, irritants and toxins.
Most allergic reactions are caused by artificial preservatives and fragrance ingredients. Other irritants include petrochemicals, petrolatum, colors, excessive alcohols and mineral oil. You can tell whether or not a product contains toxins by looking for a poison control advisement.
You might be concerned about price. Some anti-aging creams cost hundreds of dollars per ounce, but there are less expensive alternatives. Independent studies have shown that price is not equivalent to effectiveness. Some of the less expensive creams are just as effective as the costly ones.
There are some effective compounds to look for if you do decide to buy a ready-made production instead of trying to make homemade wrinkle cream. Independent researchers have found that ubiquinone, keratin proteins, peptide complexes, plant extracts and some vegetable oils are effective. Those are all natural non-irritating ingredients.
You can make a mask using plants like wakame kelp or a cleanser using lemon juice. You can use soybean oil as a moisturizer. But, you can only buy ubiquinone as a dietary supplement.
It is better known as the antioxidant coenzyme Q10. The form that is taken by mouth will not penetrate the skin. So, it’s not possible to include it as an ingredient in homemade wrinkle cream.
Soybean oil does contain some coenzyme Q10, although the concentration varies from 54mg/kg to 280mg/kg. Whether or not the form present in soybean oil could penetrate the skin is unknown. In order to get the best penetration, researchers have reduced the size of the molecules.
In the reduced form, COQ10 reverses wrinkles and sun damage by about 30% after three months of use. It’s hard to say what kind of results you would see using soybean oil.
Keratin proteins are hard in nature. If you boiled some animal skin or chicken feathers, you might be able to get some keratin out of them to use in a homemade wrinkle cream. But, the cooking process would destroy the nature of the protein.
The only stable bioavailable form of keratin was created by extracting it from sheep’s wool and processing it very carefully. The exact processes are patented. So even if you raise sheep, it’s not something you could learn how to do at home.
Peptide complexes are composed of natural amino acids. They have to be combined just right to provide the results which include stimulating collagen and increased skin cell production. You can’t make peptide complexes at home.
So, my suggestion is to use soybean oil as a moisturizer instead of trying to make a homemade wrinkle cream. But, if you really want something effective, you will have to buy something ready-made.
Natural Skin Care Lines and the Lack of Skin Care Regulations
Monday, June 28th, 2010While there are some excellent natural skin care lines, there are some companies that capitalize on our desire to protect our health. What they claim to provide and what they actually provide are two different things.
Things are different in some parts of the world. But, in the US, cosmetic manufacturers are largely unregulated. Even though creams, lotions and similar items are actually healthcare products, they are still classified as cosmetics.
The advertising terms used by cosmetic companies currently have no legal definitions. A company might use only naturally occurring ingredients. They might make the safest choices to help you protect your health. But, they might not.
Until things change, the only accurate source of information is the label of ingredients. When internet companies do not publish a full list of ingredients, you have to be suspicious about what the products contain. My personal recommendation is this.
Don’t buy anything unless you can read the label of ingredients and you fully understand the possible side effects of using them. Interestingly, the FDA makes a similar recommendation on their webpage for cosmetic users, because of the risk of allergic and adverse reactions.
One would think that natural skin care lines would not cause allergic or adverse reactions. But, many naturally occurring ingredients are allergens. Concentrated plant fragrances are among the worst.
They call them essential oils, hydrosols or herbal distillates. Sometimes they use the name of the individual fragrance. Examples include limonene and lavender. Regardless of what the companies call them, they are concentrated plant fragrances and there are several concerns accompanying their use.
First, they are toxic to the skin in their undiluted forms. The concentration should be less than 10%. Ideally, they would not be included at all. But, there are only a few natural skin care lines that do not contain plant fragrances.
The second concern has to do with the skin’s absorptive qualities. If used on a daily basis, creams or other skincare products containing essential oils can penetrate through the skin’s protective barrier and enter the bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, they will be diverted to the liver, where all toxins end up. The liver is resistant to many toxins and can dispose of them easily. Essential oils can damage the liver, especially if used on a regular basis.
They are included in aromatherapy because of the calming effect that some of the fragrances have. Some are good safe household cleansers. Orange oil is an example. But, they should not be included in natural skin care lines.
Some of the fragrances are known to increase the skin’s sensitivity to sunlight. None of them should be used during pregnancy, because they can have an effect on the body’s production of hormones, which could lead to birth defects.
There are some published cases or pre-pubescent boys developing breast tissue as a result of exposure to lavender or tea tree oil. This is due to the fragrances effect on hormone production.
The final concern has to do with pesticide residues. Unless you were buying a certified organic product, you could be exposing your body to pesticides.
While there are many things that should not be included in natural skin care lines, concentrated plant fragrances are among the most dangerous. The best products are free of added fragrances, because the company’s goal is to make them as safe as possible.
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