Wellness
Articles
Hidden
Dangers Lurking in Beauty Products
by Klaus Ferlow
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Were
you aware that the cosmetics industry in North America is big
business with over $30 billion in sales each year? Their products
are sold mostly with a "brainwashing" type of advertising
through multimedia, television, radio, magazines and newspapers.
Lots of claim are made as to how good the products are at rejuvenating
the skin by reducing wrinkles and lines. Do you really know what
the ingredients are that are in these products? Even if they are
listed on the product label... do you understand for example what
sodium lauryl sulfate, propylene glycol and mineral oil mean?
The
"flowery" and often misleading language of cosmetics
advertising tells you very little about the actual effectiveness.
In Canada there is no labeling law, so manufacturers can deceive
the consumer. In the U.S. the law provides for mandatory labeling
of ingredients, but only chemists understand their purpose and
dermatologists their problems. It seems that a large percentage
of the population is suffering adverse reactions and consequences
when using cosmetic products that contain many harmful chemicals
and synthetic ingredients.
The
purpose of this article is to offer alternative methods of caring
for your hair and skin. We are actively involved in the manufacture
of truly NATURAL herbal. creams, lotions, shampoo and sprays made
with premium quality botanical herbal extracts, which am certified
organic. organic. or wildcrafted without synthetics, artificial
color, scents or preservatives. Our products are available only
through professional Health & Wellness practitioners.
We
would like to inform you of the various chemicals; by name, where
they come from, and what they can do for your skin and hair. Be
aware that there are over 900 chemicals available for use in cosmetics
that have toxic substances and are dangerous to your health and
well-being. (Source: The National Institute of Occupational Safety
and Health)
Large
corporations in the personal-care industry are for the most part
interested in the promotion and profit potential of their products,
not your health. They are selling an image, not necessarily a
safe and effective product. You have to ask yourself what "New
& Improved!” means on the label. Aren't you overwhelmed
by all the claims made promoting their natural skin care products?
Many of the so-called new and unproved products are old formulas
in flashy new packaging designed to appeal to today’s consumer.
All this does is up the price, not the quality.
Companies
selling personal care products hide controversial or dangerous
ingredients under the label of “Trade secrets". Because
of intense competition in the industry, if a company believes
it uses an ingredient that, is relatively new to the industry,
or that it makes their product unique, it can petition the FDA
(m Canada the HPB - Health Protection Branch) to prevent disclosure
of that ingredient by granting trade secret status. This spell
delight for the company and disaster for you.
Many
people are very health and beauty conscious and are willing to
spend large amounts of money on cosmetics promising firming of
sagging skin, removal of wrinkles, nourishing the starving skin
and/or removal of blemishes. Brand name cosmetics companies have
developed a large profitable industry selling products that imply
these and other non-existing impossible virtues and cures! Every
cosmetic product on the market is formulated for a shelf life
of over three years, therefore it contains a large amount (usually
four synthetic parabens) of preservatives to prevent spoilage.
These preservatives are cellular toxins, otherwise they could
not kill microbes. They do penetrate the skin to a certain extent
and many of them have been shown to cause allergic reactions and
dermatitis. Over 90% of all ingredients in commercially available
cosmetic products are of synthetic origin, and induce all the
associated health risks. On the other hand there is a wealth of
disclosed information and practical knowledge available about
NATURAL products. because they have been used successfully for
thousands of years starting way back with aboriginal and native
peoples.
In North America literally thousands of people are suffering from
adverse effects and reactions from cosmetic products. Most people
don't associate burning, reddening of the skin or pimples and
rashes with a cosmetic product they are using. People simply discontinue
to use the product but seldom report it to the FDA or HPB. Many
chemicals used in cosmetics never cause visible signs of toxicity
on the skin, but contain potent systemic toxins that can remain
in the body for a very long time.
Finally
a list of cosmetic chemicals that have caused adverse effects
was first published for the general public in the book “Health
Risks in Today's Cosmetics". The book contains the surprising
results of a recently conducted sample survey of the estimated
20,000 different off-the-shelf cosmetic products that are for
sale in the U.S. Over 80% of the products surveyed contained one
or more ingredients that have caused documented adverse reactions
in humans and animals in the past! l Best advice: carefully read
the label of all products, comparing them against a list of reportedly
harmful ingredients or contammants. Only if enough consumers do
that, will products that contain harmful substances eventually
disappear from the marketplace.
How
often have you seen die words "Natural" or "Hypo-allergenic”at
the front of a skincare product? Cosmetic companies use slick
advertising to convince you that you we buying a safe product.
There are no industry-wide standards for what the word "Natural”
refers to. Every week companies introduce new products which are
supposed to be better, more effective and healthier - but are
they really? What happened to the 'old' ones? A quote from the
Boston Globe, September 6, 1997: “The General Accounting
Office, the investigative branch of Congress, has identified more
than 125 cosmetic ingredients suspected of causing cancer - and
others that may cause birth defects!”
What
can you do to protect yourself and your family? Read labels and
learn to decipher some of the chemcal jargon. An explanation of
many chemicals that are hazardous to your skin and health follows
in the upcoming issue of the “Intuitive Times”. Understanding
the long-term effects of these dangerous chemicals and which products
contain them is the first step in avoiding disastrous results
for you and you loved ones. If nothing else this information will
make you a better informed consumer, and hopefully more aware
of potential health risks. Most importantly it could save your
life
KEEP
OUT OF REACH OF CHII.DREN.
Many
toothpaste and soap companies include this warning on their labels,
"Not for use by children under 6.” What you may not
realize is the dangers in your home are just as likely to harm
your children as anything outside. Products that your children
use every day may contain ingredients the studies have linked
to cancer, blindness, and even-death. One of the most widespread
of these chemicals is SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE (SLS). Manufacturers
primarily use it because it is inexpensive and readily available.
Some products that can contain SLS are shampoo, soap, toothpaste
and lotions. You are probably aware that your children’s
toothpaste contains fluoride because that’s what dentists
have recommended for years to prevent cavities. However, most
toothpaste contains enough fluoride in four ounces to kill a small
child! In 1990 a study stated that fluoride has been shown to
NOT reduce cavities and now scientists are linking fluoride to
dental deformity, arthritis, allergic reactions and about 10,000
unnecessary deaths each year from cancer. Fluoride can corrode
the tooth enamel and research indicates that it can lead to Crohn’s
disease when swallowing toothpaste.
In
the same category is mouthwash. Did you know that some mouthwash
contains even higher concentrations of alcohol than beer, wine
and liquor. Containing more than 25% alcohol can be dangerous
to young children - one ounce can cause seizures and brain damage
and five ounces can kill! According to the National Cancer Institute
mouthwash with over 25% alcohol concentration increases the risk
of oral and throat cancer by 60% for men and 90% for women compared
to those who do not use mouthwash.
Another
dangerous product is propylene glycol, an ingredient that is commonly
used as a humectant (additive to keep products moist). It is an
inexpensive glycerine substitute. Propylene glycol is bad enough
for your skin but has also been seen in commercially made baked
goods such as muffins to keep them moist for a long time. Consumers
bewarel
Some
women experience rashes, eczema, and/or acne from using cosmetics
loaded with synthetic ingrediients. Occasionally they use the
same irritating product to try to alleviate the problem but are
actually making it worse! When young women start using makeup
- (some really overdo it and the synthetics in the products are
absorbed into their skin), it dries the skin and changes the pH
level (pH refers to the acid or alkaline level of a product which
is detennined by the amount of hydrogen in vanous ingredients).
Normal hair and skin have a pH between 4.0 and 6.0 or slightly
acidic. Synthetic cosmetic products will change the pH allowing
secondary infections to occur. Acne is a widespread problem and
results from an increased production of sebum (oils of the skin)
which blocks pores. Those suffering from acne need to keep the
skin clean and use only natural products with certified organic,
organic or wild-crafted herbal extracts. Of course some of us
are more prone to acne because of previous genetics. Clean unclogged
pores and a balanced diet helps considerably. Certain preservatives,
artificial firagrances, colours and mineral oils can cause itchy
rashes, skin damage and asthma-like symptoms. The origin of a
significant portion of dermatological complaints can be traced
back to a chemical or non-natural substance that has been applied
to the skin.
SHAMPOO
CAN MAKE OR BREAK YOUR HAIR
Everyone
uses hair shampoo on a daily or weekly basis. Complaints about
irritations from shampoo are among the most frequent made to the
FDA/HPB, as well as to manufactures. People often complain about
different brands of shampoo that have caused various conditions
such as scalp irritation, hair loss, eye inritation and severe
hair damage. The vast majority of commercially available shampoos
are loaded with chemicals that are hazardous to your skin and
health! Have you ever wondered why we have a higher percentage
of brain tumors among the population in North America than elsewhere
in the world. Scientific studies have proven that Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate (SLS) found in most shampoos damages protein formation
in the eyes. After damage has been done, SLS even retards the
healing process. Kenneth Gree, PH.D., D.Sc. of the Medical College
of Georgia, warns that eyes affected by SLS take five times as
long to heal. SLS can lead to cataract formation and eventually
blindness. Not only from direct eye contact but through skin absorption
over the long term. Many varieties of shampoo we designed to treat
dandruff and flaky scalp conditions but these contain coal tar.
However you won’t find it on the label. It is listed as
FD&C or D&C colour. Our youngest son Harald, works in
a hair salon. Without the use of rubber gloves, he would suffer
serious skin problems from washing and dying his clients hair.
Shampoo
sales are over 2 billion dollar; in North America each year. There
are many manufacturers offering an incredible assortment of products.
Recently I checked some of the large chain and drug stores and
was amazed that approximately 70-80% of the shampoos and conditioners
had no ingredients listing. In the U.S. the law mandates an accurate
ingredient listing. It seems that most of the products that are
on Canadian store shelves without the proper labeling are from
the U.S. The remaining products which did have ingredients shown,
listed many synthetics and chemicals. The consumer really has
no alternative in these stores.
This
article is to inform you that NATURAL alternatives are definitely
available that do not contain any of the harmful ingredients that
have been mentioned. Read all labels!
Editor’s
Note: In the next issue of “ The Intuitive Times”
we will include Part 2 of this article which is “A Glossary
of Chemicals & Synthetics to Avoid in Personal Care Products.”
The author of the article, Klaus Ferlow is President of Ferlow
Brothers
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