How can personal care products be harmful when they are commodities that keep you clean right? We are here to bust age-old myths.
There’s nothing like a nice, long shower to shoo your troubles away, what say? You scrub yourself thoroughly with your fancy personal care products such as soap, shampoo and feel good and clean. Fair enough. However, have you ever wondered what kind of ingredients comprise the products that you’re using? You’ve been made to believe that your personal care products are great, as they kill the germs on your body. On the contrary, they might be causing you more harm than good.
How your soap, shampoo, perfume etc., affect your mind and body
Affect on mental health
Amenclinics.com mentions that the toxins found in your soap, shampoo, powder and other personal care products can cause depression, ADD, brain fog, dementia, suicidal behaviour, autism, learning problems etc. These toxins could be affecting your mind, but most professional therapists and doctors ignore the fact. The article mentions a 2016 case in which Johnson & Johnson was asked to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer. Her condition was associated with the daily use of Johnson’s Baby Powder.
Affect on physical health
Here’s a list of harmful ingredients found in personal care products that are harming your physical health and that you should avoid.
Parabens: These are found in your body washes, deodorants, shampoos, etc. They are put in to prevent the growth of mould and yeast in personal care products. Parabens contain estrogen-mimicking properties that result in an increased risk of breast cancer. They get absorbed by your skin and can even be found in biopsy results for breast tumours.
Fragrance: As mentioned by Environmental Working Group (EWG) Skin Deep Database, fragrance put in your personal care products have been associated with dermatitis, allergies, and harm the reproductive system. These are found in perfumes, moisturizers, conditioner and shampoo, body wash etc.
Synthetic colours: The synthetic colours that are added to your personal care products are derived from petroleum and coal tar sources. These are suspected to be a human carcinogen, a substance capable of causing cancer. They are also linked to ADHD in children. As a result, the European Union has banned the use of synthetic colours in products.
Phthalates: These are found in your personal care products such as nail polish, perfumes, hair sprays, moisturizers, etc. They are added to increase the softness and flexibility of plastics. Phthalates are known to disrupt the endocrine and increase the risk of breast cancer. Aside from this, they can result in reproductive birth defects in both males and females.
Formaldehyde: These are used in many cosmetic products, to help prevent bacteria growth. The International Agency for Research on Carcinogens (IARC), deemed it as a human carcinogen. That’s because they can cause cancer and are even linked to allergies. These are found in eye shadows, nail polish etc.
Triclosan: This ingredient is found in personal care products such as soaps, toothpaste, deodorants, shampoos etc. These are known to disrupt the thyroid as well as reproductive organs.
Toluene: These can be found in your nail polish, hair products, etc. They are put in to dissolve paint and make it thinner. They are directly linked to respiratory problems, skin irritation and allergies.
Propylene glycol: This ingredient has been classified as a skin irritant. It can be found in personal care products such as moisturizers, sunscreen, conditioners, shampoo, makeup products, etc.
Sunscreen chemicals: These are put in sunscreen bottles, to absorb ultraviolet rays, emitted from the sun. They are absorbed quickly by your skin and can hence, cause cellular damage, as well as cancer.
If you’re looking to buy healthy and organic beauty products, here’s a list to help you out.
Aside from using the right products, there are other options you can go for to lead a physically and mentally healthy life. Try Neurofeedback! To learn more, watch this video.
Brain & Co. offers med-free treatment that could help you overcome some of the challenges that come with depression/anxiety/sleep issues/ADHD etc. Visit our website or give us a call to learn more.
