We
recently posted an article about the harmful ingredients in shampoos. As an
active reader pointed out, we left out some important information — and just
didn’t give you much help in picking a safe one. So we did a little research,
and wrote this follow-up post to answer her questions.
Many
of the ingredients listed in popular shampoos, such as Garnier Fructis, Suave,
and Head & Shoulders are toxic. Read on for a list of specific
chemicals, and make sure your shampoo isn’t exposing you to unnecessary health
risks.
Sodium
Laureth Sulfate is found in almost every popular
brand of shampoo and body wash. This chemical, while not itself cancer-causing, is associated with probable
carcinogens in
some products. Coincidentally, it is also the major component of the actual
hair-cleansing part of shampoo (the detergent). It is known to cause skin
and eye irritation, though it varies widely, which can exacerbate exposure to
other chemicals.
Methylchloroisothiazolinone (say that five times
fast!) is a preservative – it keeps other stuff fresh. There’s good
evidence that it harms the skin, and may contribute to immune system problems.
The United States, Canada, and Japan have restricted its use in cosmetics, though it’s still present in
many “wash-off” chemicals. This ingredient is often found in lots of
shampoos. (See a list here!)
Ammonium
Chloride can
be harmful if swallowed and can cause serious eye
irritation. It may also be harmful if inhaled.
Propylene
Glycol, which
is used to moisturize, is a skin irritant, and has been linked to
increased risk of developing numerous respiratory and immune disorders in
children.
Strong
Fragrance or Parfum is
a label often used as a catch-all on ingredient labels for many different
chemicals. As a result, they can vary widely. Many are a risk for allergic
reaction; some may be more dangerous.
The
Bottom Line here
is that some chemicals are tested, and the ones that are definitely harmful
tend to be restricted — at least in countries with strong health regulations,
like Japan or the European Union. But lots more are not tested, or are not
tested in conjunction with each other. And always remember that different
people react differently to chemicals. Your best bet is generally to opt for
products with fewer, and better understood, chemicals. Or just find a brand you
trust!
Garnier
Fructis: What’s the Story?
Our
reader asked why we singled out Garnier as a particularly harmful brand of
shampoo. We used Garnier as an example of poor government testing, mostly
because the brand sells and markets shampoos in which only 9 out of 22 ingredients have been assessed for safe use. To make matters worse, in one
type of Garnier Fructis shampoo, six ingredients were labeled “health
concerns” and three were labeled “violations, restrictions, and warnings.” Read more about Garnier’s products here.
Finding
an Alternative Shampoo
Since
most popular shampoo brands tend to contain at least one of these chemicals, we
recommend buying a plant oil-based and petroleum-free organic shampoo. Although
these shampoos tend to produce minimal lather (since they are not synthetic)
they cause minimal harm to the environment and to you. However, it is
also important to remember that these shampoos sometimes cost more.
Source:
http://site.thegreenlifeonline.org/
This document is provided for reference purposes only and not necessarily reflect the opinion of bynaturael’s team . Train your mind to test every thought and keep on searching the final truth that satisfies the conscience inside you.
Please visit our blog: bynaturael.blogspot.com
No comments:
Post a Comment