Did
you know that your skin is the largest organ in your body? It’s also
the first thing most people will notice about you, which is why both men and women spend
millions of dollars every year to enhance, protect and beautify their skins.
The health of your skin says a lot about the general health of your
body. When your body has an overload of toxins, it will try to eliminate them through the
skin. The result may be clogged pores and blemishes, or dry and flaky skin. Cleaning the
skin surface helps to get rid of some of these toxins, but when we use soaps and cleansers
full of chemicals, we’re actually adding more toxins to an overloaded system, simply
because the skin doesn’t just eliminate, it also absorbs.
Think of your skin as a doorway between your inner body and the outer
world. Doorways allow passage both ways…inwards and outwards. That is why it is so
important to pay attention to what comes in contact with your skin. Whenever you put
something on your skin, you are actually inviting it right inside your body!
Have you ever heard the word formaldehyde? It’s also known as
embalming fluid! Formaldehyde is a an ingredient in many laundry detergents, mouthwashes,
toothpastes, shampoos (including baby shampoos), antiperspirants and many other commonly
used household products. When the skin absorbs formaldehyde it can cause allergies,
cancer, immune system failure and asthma.
Phenols are another major pollutant present in commonly used products
like acne medications, household cleaning products and body care products. Symptoms of
phenol toxicity can include kidney and liver damage as well as hyperactivity.
Another dangerous chemical, which most of us have never even heard of,
is dibutyl phthalate, or DBP. This chemical is used in nail polish to help it form an even
film as it dries, for blending cosmetics, and helping them penetrate the skin. It may also
be in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, hair growth formulations, antiperspirants,
sunscreen and even gum and candy. DBP is implicated in birth defects and problems with the
reproductive system.
The FDA does not require full disclosure labeling on household products
and body care products, which is why manufacturers can include harmful chemicals without a
general public outcry. It is up to us to become aware of what these chemicals are doing to
our bodies and to our environment and up to us to find non-toxic substitutes if we are to
have healthy bodies and radiantly beautiful skin.
