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Showing posts with label toxic ingredients. Show all posts
Showing posts with label toxic ingredients. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Why use Parabens?

Paraben free cosmetics. Find out the purpose of using parabens in cosmetics and beauty products in this great article at myphyorganics.com

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Organic hair dye & toxic ingredients in hair color

Natural organic hair colour, organic eco chemical free hair salon. Ammonia free hair dye, bleach and toxic ingredient glossary. As a dedicated organic entrepreneur and professional hairdresser I have begun a hunt that on some days just feel hopeless. The chemicals in use in most salons today are well known carcinogens and many hairdressers are risking their health at work. Well known effects are asthma, allergies and even birth defects in babies as well as an increased risk of developing cancer, in particular bladder cancer.

There are organic hair salons that uses herbs to mix up their own colors which is the most earth friendly way to go as it is almost completely chemical free. However, the shades and treatments are limited and this method does not always meet todays salon standards and the needs of the customers. Below I have listed some brands that produces ammonia free hair color, some more natural and ecological than others. No matter what you choose I strongly suggest that you start questioning the quality and ingredients of the hair care products you use on a daily basis and the content of color. Statistics show that hairdressers and people who frequently dye their hair are more likely to develop cancer and other diseases linked to excessive chemical exposure.

Some of the most harmful ingredients in hair dyes are
  • Para-phenylenediamine and tetrahydro-6-nitroquinoxaline, both have shown to damage genetic material and cause cancer in animals.
  • Coal tar, a known carcinogen is used in hair colors and dyes as it creates brighter and more lasting colors than other organic vegetable dyes.
  • Formaldehyde is a preservative linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity and more.
  • DMDM Hydantoin, another preservative is a known immune system toxin (and has been restricted for use in cosmetics in Japan).
  • Eugenol is a fragrance ingredient that’s associated with cancer, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and allergies
A great resource for more information on chemicals is ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry in Atlanta, GA, USA.

Hair colour and health
  • Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide can cause allergic reactions.
  • All the three chemicals, ammonia, p-Phenylenediamine and hydrogen peroxide are harmful for women with hair loss problems and scalp dermatitis.
  • Mercury or lead. Hair colors that use mercury, lead or other metals are very damaging.
  • Aniline dyes, which are often used in semi-permanent hair dyes, are said to be toxic and cause irritation to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes to hypersensitive people.
  • PPD. Allergic reactions from PPD are known to cause facial and neck swelling. Inhalation is likely to bring about coughing, sneezing and shortness of breath, and respiratory problems in extreme cases. Skin contact with PPD may cause rashes and eye contact irritation, redness and pain.
  • Coal-tar- The most recent studies on Coal tar-based hair colors state that “women using permanent hair dye at least once a month for a period more than one year more than double their risk of bladder cancer” (USC School of Medicine, Gago-Dominguez et al. 2001).
Statistics
  • Women who used permanent self-administered hair dye at least once a month for a year or longer were twice as likely as women who did not use permanent hair dye to develop bladder cancer. [2]
  • Those women who used permanent dye monthly for 15 years or more were more than three times as likely to develop bladder cancer as non-dye users.[2]
  • Hairstylists and barbers with just one year or more occupational exposure to permanent hair dyes were 50% more likely to have bladder cancer than those who did not. This increased to five times — 500% — more with 10 years of professional exposure.[2]
List of natural and ammonia free hair color

Some health stores and organic shops stock the brands Sante, Logona and Tints of nature.
Natural and ammonia free hair salon brands to look for when you want your color done are Organic color systems, Jevals Chi Ionic by Farouk Systems and Original & Mineral. Two Italian hair colour brands available worldwide are Greenlights Mossa and Yo. Hair Coloring by Kemon where the active ingredient is yoghurt.



 Resources:

International Health News

ATSDR – Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

10 synthetic ingredients to avoid in beauty products

Buying natural and organic personal care products can be difficult. Many products are falsely labeled as 'natural' and 'organic' and the ingredients are called 'naturally derived'. To be sure you are purchasing an organic product make sure it is certified organic by a known certification body. Some products may be organic but are not certified due to the costly process involved in becoming certified, these products will most likely be found in a health food store rather than the supermarket.

A natural and organic approach to health and beauty will not only benefit your skin but also your body. Many of the personal care products on the market today contains synthetic chemicals that are not only known carcinogens, sensitizers and allergens but can also contain heavy metals such as mercury and lead which is highly toxic.

Learn to read the labels and know what to avoid. Below is a list of ten toxic ingredients commonly used in personal care products claiming to be 'natural'

1. Methyl, Propyl, Butyl & Ethyl Paraben — Used as inhibitors of microbial growth and to extend shelf life of products. Widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Are known to cause allergic reactions and skin rashes. Methyl paraben combines benzoic acid with the methyl group of chemicals. Highly toxic.

2. Imidazolidinyl Urea & Diazolidinyl Urea — The most common preservatives after parabens. They are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis (American Academy of Dermatology). Two trade names for these chemicals are Germall II and Germall 115. Neither of the Germall chemicals have a good antifungal, and must be combined with other preservatives. Germall 115 releases formaldehyde at just over 10°. These chemicals are toxic.

3. Petrolatum —  A mineral oil jelly that can cause a lot of problems when used on the skin such as photosensitivity (promotes sun damage), and it tends to interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping. Manufacturers use petrolatum because it is unbelievably cheap.

4. Propylene Glycol — Ideally this is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, both of which are natural. Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Has been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions.

5. PVP/VA Copolymer — A petroleum-derived chemical used in hairsprays, wavesets and other cosmetics. It can be considered toxic since particles may contribute to foreign bodies in the lungs of sensitive persons.

6. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate — This synthetic substance is used in shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It causes eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similar to dandruff, and allergic reactions. It is frequently disguised in pseudo-natural cosmetics with the parenthetic explanation "comes from coconut."

7. Stearalkonium Chloride — A chemical used in hair conditioners and creams. Causes allergic reactions. Stearalkonium chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener, and is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than proteins or herbals, which do help hair health. Toxic.

8. Synthetic Colors — The synthetic colors used to make a cosmetic "pretty" should be avoided at all costs. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6. Synthetic colors are believed to be cancer-causing agents.

9. Synthetic Fragrances — The synthetic fragrances used in cosmetics can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say "Fragrance." Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyperpigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, and skin irritation.

10. Triethanolamine — Often used in cosmetics to adjust the pH and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

For a full toxic ingredient glossary click here.



Source: Organic Consumers Association

Image: Culture Mag