Let's figure out what kind of substances surround us in everyday life. We know that there are cosmetic and hygiene products that are designed for personal hygiene, to prevent certain types of diseases and improve our own appearance. Has anyone connected sudden health or appearance problems with the use of the very products that are designed to help avoid such problems: decorative cosmetics, household chemicals, personal hygiene products? MedicForum decided to find out how cosmetics can harm health.
How health can suffer from cosmetics?
Until recently, this did not even occur to doctors - simply because no one conducted research that could reveal the effect on the skin, hair, legs, the general health of all these funds. After all, not so long ago, the position was widespread, asserting that human skin is an impenetrable obstacle for poisons and toxins of any kind. In 1994, at the age of sixty-four, one of the legendary first ladies of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy, died of breast cancer. Material means, the help of the best doctors and everything that medicine of those years could help a woman turned out to be powerless. After her death, it was officially announced that the development of a fatal tumor was provoked by carcinogenic substances regularly entering the woman's skin. As it was found later, the substances were contained in hair dye - Jacqueline Kennedy was a big lover of hair dyeing, preferring the compositions of one of the most famous brands. Of course, using these colors, Mrs. Kennedy had no idea that she was putting her healthier in mortal danger and that the usual female desire for beauty and self-expression would end in such a deplorable way for her. In Europe, the memory of the scandal with the products of the world famous Nike company that flared up several years ago is still quite fresh. Then many types of products were hastily withdrawn from sale, as it turned out that paints of certain colors, which the concern used to process goods, contain mutagens. These powerful chemical compounds were capable of causing changes in cells, destroying them at the genetic level. That scandal is also remembered by many of our compatriots - but have you heard that the withdrawal of products from that batch of goods was made at least in one of the CIS countries? You could not hear this, because the goods from the "mutagenic" batch were safely sold out on the territory of our country.
What hazardous substances can be found in cosmetics?
In medicine and cosmetology, in the sports industry and in everyday life, the most common talc is widely used, well known to each of us from childhood. And how many people in your environment know that talc is the strongest carcinogen, the most dangerous when inhaled and multiplying the development of lung cancer? Once on the genital area, talcum powder can provoke testicular cancer - do you still remember that this substance is included in most baby powders, even primitive domestic ones, even very expensive imported ones? From the doorstep of the delivery room, these powders accompany the babies, put with caring hands in the "newborn kit" to save the baby from diaper rash.
And many adults use talcum powder as a deodorant and anti-chafing agent. In any apartment there are tools that the whole family uses on a daily basis. Toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant, cream, perfume, lotion, shaving foam, hairspray, you can stop reading this article right now, go to the bathroom and study the composition of any of these products indicated on the back of the bottle. Some manufacturers do not indicate the composition at all - this does not mean that the products are made of high-quality and safe materials. On the contrary, it is a sure sign that there is something hidden under the lid of the package that the modern chemical industry may not even have come up with a name for. In principle, the safety of such a means is out of the question. Another trick of manufacturers is to indicate not the entire composition, but only a certain part of it, listing the most innocuous ingredients. Such tricks are especially effective in cases when the composition of the product contains elements of plant origin: they provoke the consumer to make a choice in favor of a supposedly natural product, while “forgetting” to inform that, in addition to a small proportion of garden calendula, the substance contains a huge amount of harmful to health connections. For example, if we are talking about shampoo or other foaming composition, it will certainly contain surfactants (surfactants), which are responsible for the foaminess of the product and the quality of removing dirt. At the same time, they are often unsafe for health, easily penetrate into tissues through the skin and gradually accumulate in the brain, liver, heart muscle. Sooner or later, the maximum permissible toxicity threshold will be exceeded and the concentration of carcinogens in the body will cause the development of some serious disease. As for the composition of all kinds of lotions, creams and milk for the face and body, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol are frequent guests in their composition. These ingredients are supposedly designed to moisturize the skin - in fact, they create a film on the body that is impervious to toxins. As a result, the function of nourishing and cleansing the skin is disrupted, and the harmful substances entering it daily cannot be removed: the film interferes. Since the amount of toxins that can enter the skin during the day is small, instant evidence of the harmful effects of creams is impossible. However, with regular use, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol will clearly demonstrate their insidious essence, provoking cell necrosis, edema, degenerative processes in the tissues of the liver, blood vessels, kidneys, adversely affecting the nervous system.
Other potentially hazardous ingredients that are commonly used in cosmetics and hygiene products are: mineral oil, diethanolamine, trijtanolamine, petrolatum, lanolin and aluminum salts, which are used in most antiperspirants to block perspiration for a long time. Fluoride, kaolin, triclosan and paraphenylenediamine, which is found in most hair dyes, should also be avoided in every possible way - if you want to avoid the risk of developing dermatitis and allergies. The preservative in masks, creams, gels, shampoos and other cosmetics is usually methyldibromglutonitrite, which can cause various types of skin diseases, as well as severe allergies. Ten years ago, Pantene, Nivea and a number of other companies that use this substance in their products were officially notified by the experts of the European Commission about how dangerous this substance is. The companies were given recommendations to exclude it from the list of manufactured goods, but this has not happened to this day. Apparently, we can conclude that manufacturers are interested in a large turnover, but not in the good health of their consumers. Phthalates are substances that should be primarily avoided by nursing mothers, pregnant women and women who are planning a pregnancy. Experts from the Environmental Protection Group (EWG, one of the most influential social groups in the United States) claim that this substance can provoke congenital malformations in babies, especially boys. Falata can cause malformations of the genital area in the embryo, and when transmitted with breast milk, they can provoke the development of impotence and infertility in adulthood. Russian experts also speak about the danger of phthalates.
Hazardous substances can be contained in the composition of nail polishes from many well-known manufacturers (Kiki, Dior, Max Factor, Chanel and others), as well as in shampoos, hair lotions, conditioners, compositions for stimulating hair growth, antiperspirants, lipstick, cosmetics for sun protection and even some chewing gum. Most often, judging by open information, these substances are found in the products of Procter & Gamble, Revlon, L'oreal, Shiseido, Palmolive, Colgate, Elizabet Arden, Henkel - but the list, of course, is far from complete. Of course, many modern people would like to find natural products that can satisfy their needs and do not contain poison and genetically modified organisms. Are there such hygiene products and cosmetic lines and how to distinguish a truly natural product from one that only pretends to be such? Previously, 5 secrets were named that will help you keep your tan.
