Avoid Anti-Aging Products That Contain These Ingredients

Some of the chemical ingredients found in anti-aging, cosmetic and skincare products can be dangerous to your health in the long run. There are concerns about the effect of Petrolatum and a category of chemicals known as ‘parabens’, both commonly used in anti-aging creams and moisturizers. Using anti-aging products that contain fragrances raises even more health concerns because the chemicals used to make any given fragrance are not disclosed. In the U.S., the manufacturers of anti-aging products are not obligated to list the chemicals used in fragrances on their labels. Continue reading to learn about the possible risks involved when you use products that contain fragrances, parabens or petrolatum.

Fragrances:
Chemical fragrances are allergens; allergic reactions reported after use of anti-aging (or other skincare products) that contain chemical fragrances include asthma. In fact, this is why many chemical fragrances are banned in Europe. The EU’s Scientific Committee on Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products has determined that hypersensitivity to chemical fragrances can lead to chronic allergic reactions, including immune system damage. Here in the U.S., certain fragrance ingredients were identified by the National Academy of Sciences as neurotoxins (meaning they could affect the brain). A 2009 study commissioned by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected synthetic fragrance chemicals (synthetic musk fragrance) in the umbilical cord blood of U.S. newborns, believed to result from the use by their mothers of products containing chemical fragrances.

Parabens:
Parabens are a group of chemicals used as preservatives in various products (skincare products, anti-aging creams and also some foods). While they have not been definitely proven as unsafe, there are many who believe that they do pose a health threat. Parabens mimic the effect of estrogen and studies carried out in Europe (England and Holland) have linked parabens to breast cancer. Being ‘linked to’ a problem is not proof that parabens are dangerous to good health, but it is something that should be taken into consideration. Parabens are used because they are inexpensive preservatives that effectively hinder the growth of bacteria and fungi. Including these chemicals in a product makes it easier to manufacture it abroad and sell it in the U.S. It also prolongs the product’s shelf-life.

Petrolatum:
Petrolatum (Vaseline) is an extremely common ingredient in anti-aging creams and moisturizers, which is also known as ‘petroleum jelly’, ‘paraffin wax’, ‘paraffin jelly’, ‘white petroleum’ etc. Regardless of whether or not petrolatum actually works as a moisturizing agent (it doesn’t really), the fact that it is a petroleum product means there is a risk of contamination with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the course of its manufacture. The Cosmetic Safety Database considers PAHs to be extremely hazardous to health since they have been linked to “cancer, immunotoxicity, reproductive and developmental toxicity, endocrine disruption”, among other things. Because of such concerns, only certain white petroleum products may legally be included in cosmetic and anti-aging products sold in the Europe Union. The fact is that petrolatum’s moisturizing effect is very limited. At best, it may reduce moisture loss. The main reason this ingredient is included in anti-aging products is that it is cheap.

Many of the synthetic chemicals used in anti-aging creams and other skincare products can compromise your health. The Environmental Working Group is a not-for-profit organization created to protect public health. Use their Cosmetic Data Base to ascertain how safe an anti-aging product is. You may search for a product, an ingredient or a manufacturing company.

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1 Comment

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    May 21, 2010 @ 7:57 am

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