We focus so much on what we put in our bodies, but when was the last time you thought about what you put on your body?
In the mid 1990's it was estimated that there where nearly 100,000 different chemicals used in 7,500 cosmetic companies. Don't let those big numbers freak you out because we are going to go over it, in this post. I am not going to dump a list of 100,000 chemicals on you and explain what they do, so we are going to pick the worst 4. When I think of chemicals, there are 4 big ones that stick out in my mind that we really need to stay away from.
#1 Propylene Glycol
Have you ever got ready to go out for a night on the town and smeared motor coolant all over your body to get the "fresh" smell? If you needed to smell better would you rub latex or paint on your skin? I give you these examples because propylene glycol is industrial antifreeze and is the same active ingredient in most scented products. Anything from shampoo, deodorant, laundry detergent, or anything else you use to smell "fresh."
Don't worry, I'm just as big of a skeptic as you are. When I first found this out a few years ago I was a proud user of Jergens and rubbed it in with pride. I thought it was a bunch of fluff because after all, your skin only absorbs 0.05% of this chemical into the blood stream. I figured this was too small of a number to do anything. After much research, I found that wasn't true. You're DNA is made up of proteins and those proteins are made of amino acids. The amino acids cannot pull together to form DNA without hydrogen bonds. Even just 0.05% of propylene glycol destroys the hydrogen bonds so your bodies ability to made DNA slows down.
What does that mean for you? Dry skin, Roscoe, edema, and many other skin disorder. This is very ironic considering lotions and scented items are usually designed to improve your skin quality.
#2 Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Just like in #1, this chemical is used in products that scented. That goes for a lot more that just deodorant. This chemical is very potent in tooth paste however it's primarily used in hair care products such as shampoo and conditioner. I don't know about you, but I hate the taste of my shampoo. Also, just like in #1, sodium lauryl sulfate affects DNA and the affects it has on your body are flakey hair, weak hair, and a dry skalp. This is because hair is made of proteins and just like I said in #1, DNA is proteins.
#4 Linaloo
The two products that carry this chemical the most are nail polish remover and dish washing liquid as it is a narcotic. Linaloo has been proven to cause respiratory problems and affect the central nervous system which means your reaction times slow down and the ability to control your body slows down. As far as cosmetics, linaloo is most potent in bars of soap and lotion. It's literally like washing your body with nail polish remover. Since linaloo is classified as a narcotic it also creates an addiction. Not an emotional one but but the skin will crave it by getting dry or cracking and feeling like it needs more lotion.
#4 Oxybenzone
Out of these top 4, this is most likely the one that most have heard of. This chemical is in most sunscreens and it’s job is to absorb UV raise from the sun. However, recent studies show that oxybenzone can get absorbed through the skin and into the blood stream causing a hormone disruption in pineal gland of the brain. The pineal gland produces the hormone melatonin which makes you go to sleep and controls your circadian rhythm (AKA-your internal alarm clock). Oxybenzone has also been shown to decrease cell function which increases caner risk. This is really odd, considering that sun screen is supposed to prevent against cancer.
What are you putting on you body?
Mitchel Black, CPT, NC
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