Problem skin

Skin care is one element of an organic lifestyle but it is a big one because the skin is the body's largest organ. Chemicals applied to the skin can be absorbed by the skin and can enter the blood stream, particularly areas that are hairy like the scalp due to the larger hair follicles. Also areas of thinner skin, like the around the eyes.

Chemicals can also be inhaled if they contain gas or aerosols (small droplets) e.g. hair spray, deodorants, nail polish. Aerosols can also be liberated in the shower from the effects of heat on shampoos. Chemicals inhaled this way will enter the bloodstream quickly via the lungs.

None of the chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products are fully tested, therefore the magnitude of their adverse effects are unknown. Also, there is no obligation on the manufacturer's part to sell products which actually do what they claim. This is because regulation and labelling is overseen by the Trade Practises Act (TPA) and not the Therapeutic Goods Act (TGA). Furthermore there is no regulation or official definitions of the terms, fragrance free, hypo-allergenic, natural, organic, non-cosmedogenic, low-sensitivity or dermatologist tested.

The only guarantee you are getting what is claimed on a label is to buy certified organic, which is regulated by a third party and means: No heavy metal contamination, no use of pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, synthetic fertilisers, growth promoters or regulators like hormones and antibiotics, no irradiation, no GMOs. To be stamped as certified organic, at least 95% of the ingredients must be organic (excluding water and salt) and the remaining ingredients only from a restricted list of truly natural ingredients.

Even conventional products using plant based ingredients are of concern because the plants have had pesticides, herbicides and fungicides extensively used on them which can leave residues. Also, products with animal fats in them e.g. lanolin from sheep or animal based glycerine, are laced with pesticides due to the storage of them in the animal's fat tissue due ot their diet.

Many conventional personal care products contain petrochemical by-products such as mineral oil (baby oil), paraffin (wax) and petroleum jelly (Vaseline). These are mostly used as fillers, have no nutritional value and are carcinogenic.

One of the problems with toxic synthetic chemicals is weight gain, because the body stores toxins in the fat away from the vital organs as a protective mechanism. Therefore the more exposure to toxic chemicals, the more fat is laid down, especially around the hips.

Other problems with synthetic chemical use are obvious such as immediate irritant reactions. The more sinister reactions are those that take time to develop such as the formation of cancer (carcinogenic), mutations (mutagenic), birth defects (teratogenic) and degenerative and auto-immune diseases.

The toxic load carried by many people using synthetic personal care items is placing them at high risk of estrogen dominance.

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