Topical applications including shampoos, hair products, lotions, lip moisturizers, sunscreens, skin creams, makeup and nail polish can contain toxic substances such as pthalates and parabans that are heavily absorbed into the body adding to the toxic load.  According to the EWG.org (the Environmental Working Group) about 70% of commercial skin/hair/body products contain contaminants. 

Pthalates, often referred to as plasticizers, are chemicals that are used to make plastic products more durable.  They are used in hundreds of products including vinyl flooring, detergents, personal care products, adhesives and oils.   Plasticizers release diethyl pthalate (DEHP) and it’s been declared by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) “a probable known carcinogen”.  What does this mean? High exposure to DEHP OR low resources to detoxify DEHP OR both, may lead to cancer.   For these reasons young children that crawl on the floor, put their fingers in their mouth and have under-developed detofixification systems  are extremely vulnerable to DEHP exposure.  Adults with full “kettles” are also at risk of reach the “tipping point” by chronic exposures to DEHP (refer to my article here on “How full is your kettle?”)

Parabens are inexpensive chemicals used in hundreds of manufactured products as preservatives that kill viruses and fungus.  Parabens can be found in shampoos, moisturizers, shaving gel, topical pharmaceuticals, toothpaste, sunscreens, processed meats, for examples, but can be found in less thought of products as pancake syrup, pudding and muffins.   Parabens mimic estrogen and have been linked with premature development in young girls, damaged DNA sperm in men, diminished ovarian reserve and breast cancer. 

What to do?  The Environmental Working Group (www.EWG.org) has evaluated over 69,000 skin/hair/makeup products for harmful toxic substances.  All you need to do is enter your product in question and the EWG will produce a green, yellow, or red rating system.  You can find the specific link here. 

This may take a bit of time to research safe products so that you can reduce your toxic load,  but I believe you are worth it.

Be well,

Lynn