Personal Care Poisons

If your Immune system works, you are in a vibrant state of health. Your body is continuously trying to reach homeostasis or balance and good health. The Immune system is a complex set of specialized cells and organs that work to defend the body against attack. When it functions properly, the immune system fights off diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and cancer cells. At the heart of the immune system is the ability to distinguish between self and non-self. A healthy immune system protects the self and attacks only the non-self. Virtually every cell in your body carries distinctive molecules that identify it as self. Cells lacking a self marker are quickly perceived as foreign, attacked, and eliminated by the immune system. Millions and millions of cells, organized into sets and subsets, pass information back and forth. Resulting in a sensitive system of checks and balances that produces a prompt, effective and appropriate response. “It is able to remember previous experiences and react accordingly: once you have had chicken pox, your immune system will prevent you from getting it again. The immune system displays both enormous diversity and extraordinary specificity: not only is it able to recognize many millions of distinctive non-self molecules, it can produce molecules and cells to match up with and counteract each one of them. And it has at its command a sophisticated array of weapons. " The skin plays an important role in the Immune system. It acts as a physical barrier to many germs and toxins, as it contains special immune cells called Langerhans cells. These act as warning bells to alert the immune system to any foreign agents. Langerhans cells also regulate the immune response to these agents, evident in the skin’s reaction to a cat scratch. The skin also secretes antibacterial substances which hinder the growth of bugs on our skin. As our body's biggest organ, your skin is your most important immune defense barrier as well as your largest organ for eliminating waste. In any situation where there is excessive demand upon the human body, the immune system will perform at its maximum, but when that demand is overwhelming, the immune system begins to falter. When the immune system malfunctions, it can unleash a torrent of diseases, from allergy to arthritis to cancer to AIDS. The immune system can fail in two ways: if it is damaged, it can fail to attack foreign invaders, and can thus allow infections or cancers to develop. On the other hand, if the immune system fails to distinguish self from non-self, it can overreact and attack the self, causing autoimmune diseases. There are over 80 autoimmune diseases such as arthritis, asthma, lupus, or Type I diabetes (insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus). Other autoimmune diseases include scleroderma, Graves' disease, Addison's disease, Hashimoto's disease, myasthenia gravis, lymphocytic adenohypophysitis (also called Sheehan's syndrome), mucocutaneous candidiasis, Schmidt's syndrome, and autoimmune thyroid disease. The complex relationship between the immune system and the tissues it is designed to protect goes badly awry in autoimmune diseases. In such diseases, the immune system mistakes friend for foe and begins to attack the very tissues it was designed to protect. The soldiers guarding the castle turn and attack it. Once the skin barrier is compromised, immune-system-stimulating chemicals known as allergens can enter the body and cause an inflammatory reaction that, in turn, stimulates skin cells to grow rapidly, further diminishing the protective function of the skin. The compromised barrier, in turn, becomes more porous to allergens that then stimulate more inflammation in a cycle that eventually produces common skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Some of the causes of a weak immune system are toxins, lack of nutrients, hormonal imbalance, stress, radiation and acidic pH. Autoimmune diseases have not always been this common. The prevalence of autoimmune diseases is on the rise. In some cases, autoimmune diseases are three times more common now than they were several decades ago. These changes are not due to increased recognition of these disorders or altered diagnostic criteria. Rather, more people are getting autoimmune disorders than ever before. Over the last 40 years, something has been pushing the Immune system over the edge. Something is causing the immune system to increasingly make mistakes in which the line becomes blurred, the immune system attacks the body itself, and autoimmune disease occurs. The numbers are staggering: one in twelve Americans, and one in nine women will develop an autoimmune disorder. And since not every patient with an autoimmune disease is correctly diagnosed, the prevalence is certainly higher than that. The American Heart Association estimates that by comparison, only one in twenty Americans will have coronary heart disease. Similarly, according to the National Center for Health Statistics, one in fourteen American adults will have cancer at some time in their life. This means that an American is more likely to get an autoimmune disease than either cancer or heart disease. In all likelihood, much of the reason for this mistake of the immune system comes from the countless environmental toxins to which we are currently exposed. Toxins that interfere with the way the immune system communicates with the rest of the body. A toxin is any substance that, when present in the body in a sufficient quantity, damages an organ, system, or function. A toxin can come from the outside or the inside, as in those that damage DNA. It’s hard to avoid toxins because they’re everywhere. Toxins are the big change that has occurred in our world over the last 60 years. Nearly 100 million man made toxins have been released into our environment since World War II. These toxins are found in the air, food, water, in homes and even on our skins. The use of these chemical toxins has had a disastrous effect on our health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concludes that even low doses of the chemical dioxin attacks the immune system. Dioxin directly reduces the number of B cells which are the immune cells that develop in the bone marrow, then circulate throughout the blood and lymph, fighting off invaders. And it reduces the number of T cells which are the immune cells that develop in the thymus, then circulate throughout the body, attacking invaders. Heavy metals such as lead, mercury and cadmium all depress the immune system even at low levels. Cadmium slows down the speed of the B-cells' producing antibodies in the immune system. Lead slows T- and B-cell response. Mercury reduces the number of T-cells and reduces activity in the immune system. All three of the metals reduces the activity and speed the macrophages, thus increasing susceptibility to infection. There is almost universal agreement among scientists and physicians that the environmental toxins and chemicals to which we are increasingly exposed are interfering with the immune system’s ability to distinguish self from non-self. Most of the risk of autoimmunity comes from environmental exposures rather than from genetic susceptibilities. All chemicals since conceived carry with them a data safety information sheet with detailed instructions on toxic levels and what to do in the event of poisoning. Many of these chemicals are strictly regulated and even banned in the use of food and drugs the FDA in the United States. Thousands of these chemicals have even been banned in personal care products by the European Alliance and other countries around the world. Yet in America where the FDA strictly enforces its policies on food and drugs, it fails to really even have a policy on the ingredients that are used to manufacture personal care products. The world of personal care products includes more than just cosmetics and makeup. It includes products that are used by men, women, adults and children; products such as deodorants, lotions, shampoos, shower gels, toothpastes, mouth wash and bubble baths are only a few. In June 2004, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics conducted a personal care product use survey of more than 2,300 people which showed the average adult uses 9 personal care products each day, with 126 unique chemical ingredients. More than a quarter of all women and one of every 100 men use at least 15 products daily. “Among the findings of this 2004 survey are the following: • Women and girls use an average of 12 personal care products daily • One out of every 100 personal care products on the market contains known or probable carcinogens • One of every 24 women, 4.3 million women altogether, are exposed daily to personal care product ingredients that are known or probable reproductive and developmental toxins, linked to impaired fertility or developmental harm for a baby in the womb or a child. These statistics do not account for exposures to phthalates that testing shows appear in an estimated three quarters of all personal care products but that, as components of fragrance, are not listed on product ingredient labels. • One of every five adults are potentially exposed every day to all of the top seven carcinogenic impurities common to personal care product ingredients — hydroquinone, ethylene dioxide, 1,4-dioxane, formaldehyde, nitrosamines, PAHs, and acrylamide. The top most common impurity ranked by number of people exposed is hydroquinone, which is a potential contaminant in products used daily by 94% of all women and 69% of all men.” Users of these products may assume there is some agency watching to ensure that the ingredients used in the products are safe. Unfortunately this assumption is wrong. The truth is that products are not always safe, and manufacturers do not have to tell the public that they are potentially dangerous. Most of the 25,000 ingredients used have not been tested for long term toxic effects. In a typical day a person may come into contact with more than 200 different chemicals, many of which have already been linked to disease. An Environmental Working Group's “analysis of product ingredients against definitive government, industry, and academic databases of hazardous chemicals finds that more than 1 in 5 of all products contain chemicals linked to cancer, 80% contain ingredients that commonly contain hazardous impurities, and 56% contain penetration enhancers that help deliver ingredients deeper into the skin.” According to the agency that is supposed to regulate cosmetics and personal care products, the FDA’s Office of Cosmetics and Colors, “a cosmetic manufacturer may use almost any raw material as a cosmetic ingredient and market the product without an approval from FDA.” Ever since 1938 when the FDA granted self-regulation to the cosmetics industry such products can be marketed without government approval of ingredients, regardless of what any tests show. Commercial products with harmful petroleum ingredients will clog pores, making germs more likely to get in and toxins less likely to get out. Standard personal care products are loaded with chemical toxins and we put them on our skin on a daily basis. When we ingest toxins through our food our liver detoxifies them to the best of its ability before they enter the bloodstream. However, when we put cosmetics on our skin chemicals can go directly into the blood stream and are dispersed throughout the body. Claims written on many cosmetics and personal care products are not backed up by any federal agency. The FDA tried to insist in the 1970’s that if a product had the word hypoallergenic or dermatologist-tested or fragrance-free on it that it mean something. The FDA has tried to write guidelines for the phrases that the marketers invented. But it’s an empty statement if the body lotion for sale says noncomedogenic (doesn’t cause pimples), it doesn’t mean anything in the real world. There’s no standard. Natural is an over used word to make the general public think that it is a pure product and that it doesn’t contain any chemicals. But unfortunately chemicals such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, DEA, Imidazolodinyl Urea, etc. are found in many natural products. The massage therapy community must become leaders in the demand for change in the United States. Although we may not have the ability to diagnose disease or prescribe medicine to our patients, we have a different role to play. We are entrusted with the relief of pain and maintenance of good health. People come to massage therapists for help, in a way we are the medicine. Through us flows positive energy and touch therapy. And what we touch our clients with, what we recommend they use for self care should not down the line cause them disease. That would violate our oath to do no harm. Start checking all product labels and avoid these harmful, hazardous, touch me not ingredients: Alcohol: a very drying and irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips the skin's moisture and natural immune barrier, making it more vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum derivative and is found in many skin and hair products, fragrance, antibacterial hand washes as well as shellac and antifreeze. It can act as a carrier accelerating the penetration of other harmful chemicals into the skin. It may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. It may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia, and coma. Fatal ingested dose is one ounce or less. DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (triethanolamine): hormone-disrupting chemicals that can form cancer-causing nitrates and nitrosamines. These chemicals are already restricted in Europe due to known carcinogenic effects. In the United States however, they are still used despite the fact that Americans may be exposed to them 10-20 times per day with products such as shampoos, shaving creams and bubble baths. DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl): just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure may also irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, and aggravate coughs and colds. Other possible side effects include weakening the immune system and cancer. FD&C Color Pigments: synthetic colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death. Fragrances: mostly synthetic ingredients, can indicate the presence of up to four thousand separate ingredients. Symptoms reported to the FDA include headaches, dizziness, allergic rashes, skin discoloration, violent coughing and vomiting, and skin irritation. Clinical observation proves fragrances can affect the central nervous system, causing depression, hyperactivity, irritability, inability to cope, and other behavioral changes. Mineral Oil: petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the pores. Interferes with skin's ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. Used in many products, baby oil is 100% mineral oil. Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol: gaseous hydrocarbons which in a liquid state act as surfactants or wetting agents and solvents. They easily penetrate the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to make extracts from herbs. PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats. The EPA considers PG so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles and to dispose of any PG solutions by burying them in the ground. Because PG penetrates the skin so quickly, the EPA warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. But there isn't even a warning label on products such as stick deodorants, where the concentration is greater than in most industrial applications. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) & Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats. Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers, and in 90% of personal-care products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS experience eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death. Young eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS because proteins are dissolved. SLS may also damage the skin's immune system by causing layers to separate and inflame. The human body may retain the SLS for up to five days, during which time it may enter and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, the lungs, and the brain. Triclosan: a synthetic antibacterial ingredient with a chemical structure similar to Agent Orange. The EPA registers it as a pesticide, giving it high scores as a risk to both human health and the environment. Its manufacturing process may produce dioxin. Poses enormous long-term chronic health risks by interfering with the way hormones perform, such as changing genetic material, decreasing fertility and sexual function, and fostering birth defects. It can temporarily deactivate sensory nerve endings, so contact with it often causes little or no pain. Internally, it can lead to cold sweats, circulatory collapse, and convulsions. Stored in body fat, it can accumulate to toxic levels, damaging the liver, kidneys and lungs, and can cause paralysis, suppression of immune function, brain hemorrhages, and heart problems. It is widely used in popular antibacterial cleansers, tooth pastes and household products. Products we use every day including shampoo, deodorant, lotions and make-up contain chemicals linked to autoimmune disorders, cancer, birth defects, reproductive problems and learning disabilities. Hazardous chemicals do not belong in products we use on our bodies. The FDA is failing to protect our health. Cosmetics are among the least regulated products on the market. Major loopholes in federal law allow companies to put unlimited amounts of nearly any chemical into cosmetics even chemicals that are known to harm human health, such as lead and formaldehyde. Americans are less protected than consumers in other countries. The European Union has banned more than 1,100 harmful chemicals from cosmetic products. In the U.S., only ten ingredients are restricted. Due to the lack of federal safety standards and unclear labels, there is no simple way to identify safe products. Until we pass laws that require companies to make safe products, consumers must take it upon ourselves to research the products we use and the companies we support. WORKS CITED Lydia Woods Schindler, UNDERSTANDING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM [NIH Publication No. 88-529] (Bethesda, Md.: National Institutes of Health, July, 1988). http://www.ewg.org. http://www.SafeCosmetics.org.