The effects of makeup on your health are more than just skin-deep.
According to Mercola.com, the body can absorb as much as 5 pounds of cosmetic chemicals every year. In recent years, food and health product preservatives have been put under the microscope to find out if they’re really safe. The answer was a resounding “no” all around.
Let’s discuss about some ingredients found in our everyday cosmetics that may have dire health consequences:
Coal Tar
Coal tar is used in the preparation of makeup products and hair dyes. Using coal tar-based products is closely related to the cause of pigmented cosmetic dermatitis.1 Prolonged use of some types of tar also increases the risk of folliculitis. Coal tar is made of polycyclic hydrocarbons which may also cause phototoxicity. Exposure to some of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with liver, skin and lung cancers.
Diethanolamine (DEA)
This powerful chemical is used for preparing cosmetic products like shampoos and soaps. A study suggests that prenatal exposure to DEA may have detrimental effects on brain development.2 Research on mice also tells that the application of DEA is associated with increased incidence of liver neoplasms and renal tubule adenoma.
Formaldehyde
Hair smoothing products are found to contain formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is produced in small, harmless amounts in the human body, but excessive exposure to it may lead to allergic reactions in the eyes, nose, throat and skin, and may even lead to asthma. It may also cause menstrual disorders in women. Research studies suggest that exposure to formaldehyde may increase the risk of various forms of cancer as well.3
Lead
Some cosmetics may also contain lead, which has several harmful effects. Prolonged exposure can be carcinogenic, harmful during pregnancy and may cause nausea, headaches, and irritability. Lead can also affect the nervous system, as well as the mental and physical growth of children.
Most commercially produced kajals contain high levels of lead- galena, amorphous carbon, magnetite, and zincite.4 Prolonged application may cause excessive lead storage in the body, affecting the brain and bone marrow, causing convulsions and anemia.
Mercury
Some skin lightening creams may contain mercury, which can damage the kidneys, liver and brain.5 Prolonged exposure to inorganic mercury can also harm the central nervous system. It may also increase the risk of neurotoxicity and nephrotic syndromes.6
Parabens
Parabens, sulfates, and other preservatives are common ingredients in almost all mainstream cosmetic and personal care products (deodorants, moisturizers and shampoos, for instance). Parabens prevent the growth of bacteria, mold and yeast in cosmetic products, allowing skin care products to sustain for longer periods, however, they also permeate through our skin causing extreme effects. Parabens possess estrogen-mimicking properties that are associated with increased risk of breast cancer.7 These chemicals are absorbed through the skin and have been identified in biopsy samples from breast tumors.
Phthalates
The main phthalates in cosmetics and personal care products are dibutyl phthalate in nail polish, diethyl phthalate in perfumes and lotions, and dimethyl phthalate in hair spray. They are known to be endocrine disruptors and have been linked to increased risk of breast cancer, early breast development in girls, and reproductive birth defects in males and females. Often, their presence is not noted on labels.8
References
1. Final safety assessment of Coal Tar as used in cosmetics.2. Diethanolamine alters proliferation and choline metabolism in mouse neural precursor cells.
3. 14th Report on Carcinogens
4. A study of the chemical composition of traditional eye cosmetics ("kohls") used in Qatar and Yemen.
5. Histopathological effects of mercury in skin-lightening cream.
6. Inorganic mercury poisoning associated with skin-lightening cosmetic products.
7. Parabens in Cosmetics
8. Chemical Exposures: The Ugly Side of Beauty Products
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