Dangerous Cosmetics Causing Major Harm to Skin
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By Dr. Mercola Unfortunately, just because it’s sold over-the-counter does not make products safe for use. In fact, there are almost 13,000 chemicals used in cosmetics and only 10 percent have been tested for safety. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to regulate ingredients in cosmetics and personal care products, they often do not exercise it. Personal care products are allowed to reach store shelves without any prior approval by any agency. Only after a product has demonstrated harm, has been misbranded or adulterated, may the FDA take action. According to the FDA’s description of their authority over cosmetics:1
Compounding this situation, the FDA also has made manufacturers responsible for ensuring the safety of the products they produce and those manufacturers are not required to share the tests that reportedly demonstrate the safety of these products with any Federal agency or the public. What does this mean for a health-conscious person like yourself? When you use body lotion, deodorant, shampoo or nail polish, you may be applying harmful chemicals to your body, even if the product claims to be nontoxic and safe. Adverse Event Reports From Cosmetic Products RisingAccording to researchers who examined data from the FDA database of adverse effects, there were an average of nearly 400 adverse events reported yearly directly to the FDA between 2004 and 2016 for personal care products, such as shampoos, lotions, tattoos and perfume.2 The number of reports surged by the end of 2016 to nearly 1,600, triggered by the FDA’s public appeal to consumers and physicians to report adverse events related to products manufactured by Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioners under the brand name WEN.3 In their analysis of the data,4 researchers found the three personal care products that were reported most commonly were hair care, tattoos and skincare. The products that involved the more serious health conditions were baby products. Haircare products were reported at a rate of 35 percent and skincare products represented 22 percent of the complaints. Lead author Dr. Steve Xu, dermatologist from McGaw Medical Center at Northwestern University, commented on the number of adverse effects in the study,5 saying, "You can start making a cosmetic and start selling it the next day without any kind of permission from the FDA.” It was only in December 2016 that the FDA publicly released6 adverse event data on food and cosmetics from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition.7 Prior to this, an individual would have to file a Freedom of Information Act request to get access to safety reports. Although there were thousands of reports of adverse effects from the use of WEN haircare products, these products have not been pulled from the market.8 Although the FDA can recommend recalls, it has no authority at this time to enforce the recommendation. Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have introduced a bill requiring greater regulation of personal care products, including skincare and haircare products.9 This bill would also give the FDA the authority to issue recalls and require better labeling and warnings from manufacturers. While this type of regulation would help protect the consumer, Kim Harley, associate director at the University of California, Berkeley Center for Environmental Research and Children’s Health, noted it would also help the FDA learn more about the long-term effects of personal care products.10 Harley went on to say:
The researchers who analyzed the data of adverse events from the FDA noted there were several limitations to their study:11
Adverse Event Numbers Are Likely UnderreportedThe spike in complaints to the FDA in 2014 by WEN haircare products triggered an investigation that uncovered another 21,000 complaints made to the manufacturer.12 Both the complaints to the FDA and to Chaz Dean Cleansing Conditioners identified the same concerns with the WEN product, including hair breakage, hair loss and scalp problems.13 Xu commented on the discrepancy in adverse events reported to the FDA and the manufacturer, saying:14
While necessary, the challenge of monitoring and regulating the cosmetic industry under the current laws is a daunting task. In a corresponding editorial published alongside the data analysis, three experts, including former commissioner of the FDA, Dr. Robert Califf, wrote:15
As cosmetic manufacturers are not required to share health related complaints with the FDA, the agency was not aware of the extent of the problem with WEN until consumers began complaining directly to the FDA.16 As a result, the FDA opened the database of adverse event complaints for the first time in December 2016, used by Xu and his colleagues in this recent study. Xu commented on the information they gleaned from the repository of adverse event complaints:17 "That was really a great opportunity for us to see what the database would tell us. Unfortunately, it wasn't much." Heavy Metals, Plasticizers and More Found in Your CosmeticsYou may be surprised by the number of toxic chemicals that likely reside in your bathroom cabinets. The average woman in the U.S. uses 12 personal care products each day, containing nearly 168 different chemicals.18 While the European Union (EU) has been more proactive in regulating the number of chemicals their consumers are exposed to in cosmetics, the U.S. has not. Xu stated:19
This type of chemical exposure is not insignificant to your health, especially when these are products you use each and every day, over the course of your lifetime. In 2000 the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released a study evaluating the contents of 37 nail polishes produced by 22 companies — all of which contained dibutyl phthalate (DBP).20 This one chemical in one product is known to contribute to lifelong reproductive impairments in rats, including testicles, prostate gland, penis and seminal vesicles. In the Environmental Defense report, “Heavy Metal Hazard: The Health Risks of Hidden Heavy Metals in Face Makeup,”21 researchers shared results from testing 49 different makeup items, including powders, blushes, mascaras, lipsticks and foundations. The testing revealed serious heavy metal contamination in virtually all of the products:
Toxic Beauty Ingredients to AvoidDespite over 21,000 consumer complaints to the contrary, after the FDA requested consumers and physicians to report adverse effects from using the WEN product, Guthy-Renker, WEN’s marketing company, told NPR:22 "We welcome legislative and regulatory efforts to further enhance consumer safety across the cosmetic products industry. However, there is no credible evidence to support the false and misleading claim that WEN products cause hair loss." Until there is some control over the chemicals used in personal care products, safety testing and regulation that protects the consumer, it’s important you read the label on every personal care and cosmetic product you purchase. Here’s a list of some of the more hazardous chemicals found in many personal care products:23,24
Reduce Your Chemical Exposure in Personal Care Products Using Simple StepsIt is critical to track adverse events as they relate to any chemical or product you use. Report any adverse reaction you or your family experiences to the FDA28 on their phone line (1-800-FDA-1088), online or their paper reporting form. The cosmetic industry is not interested in moving toward tighter regulations, which leaves you in charge of regulating what you and your family put on your skin. Your skin is an excellent drug delivery system, so what goes on your body is as important as what goes in your mouth. Maintaining a healthy gut microbiome helps to protect you from some of the toxins you ingest by filtering them — a protection you don’t get when they are absorbed through your skin. Find recipes to make your own homemade bath and handwashing products that don’t contain additional by-products and preservatives. Coconut oil is a healthy skin moisturizer that has natural antibacterial properties. The EWG has an extensive database to help you find personal care products free of potentially dangerous chemicals.29 Products bearing the “USDA 100% Organic” seal are among your safest bets if you want to avoid potentially toxic ingredients. Be aware that products labeled “all-natural” may still contain harmful chemicals, so it’s wise to check the full list of ingredients.
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