Research studies are beginning to shed light on hormone disrupting chemicals and other toxins in our everyday skin, hair and personal care products – and the picture is disturbing! A recent report published in 2007 shows over 90% of water samples in the San Francisco Bay area were highly contaminated with several hormone disrupting chemicals. The link to acne, weight gain and other problems is just beginning to be forged.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)

”Acne is a disorder resulting from the action of hormones on the skin's oil glands (sebaceous glands), leading to plugged pores and outbreaks of lesions commonly called pimples or zits.” Hormonal imbalance is affecting teenagers and about 50% of adult women.

Ingredients contained in many skin care and acne products have been found to be hormone disruptors. It is important to be aware of ingredients that may be causing more problems than they are solving. Marketers have the opportunity to bring acne treatments and skin care products to market FREE from the very ingredients that may have caused the problem.

Below are references to help you decide which ingredients to avoid:

Parabens. A decade ago Brunell University in Great Britain, identified parabens as xeno-estrogens that penetrated the skin, contributing to sterility and hormone imbalances. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) called parabens the most widely used preservative. Avoid these preservatives if at all possible for several reasons – including their link to breast cancer in both men and women.

Sodium Laureth Sulfate. An ingredient tested by the FDA and found to contain dioxane. (see Dioxins below)

PEG’s. These ingredients are potentially hormone disrupting due to presence of dioxin and phthalates. (Congressional Subcommittee Testimony by Assistant Surgeon General)

-Dioxins. Family of chlorine-containing chemicals widely recognized as some of the most toxic chemicals ever made by humans. Dioxins are often contained in antibacterial ingredients such as triclosan; it was also in Agent Orange. Most Acne products contain antibacterial ingredients.

-Phthalates. Scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found that chemicals called phthalates, which are known hormone disruptors, cause birth defects in animals. These are powerful reproductive and developmental toxicants. They do not belong in acne products, shampoos or any other products marketed to teenagers or women of child-bearing age.

FD & C Color Pigments, Perfumes. “Humans are exposed to tens of thousands of potentially harmful synthetic organic and inorganic chemicals in their daily lives in the form of pesticides, dyes, pigments, perfumes, flavorings, and other products. At relatively low levels of exposure these chemicals may promote weight gain,” contends Dr. Baillie-Hamilton, “by altering metabolic functions in the body.” According a study reported in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, these chemicals may cause hormonal disruption and damage many of the body’s natural weight-control mechanisms, playing a significant role in the global obesity epidemic.

Fragrance. Some fragrance ingredients are hormone disruptors; containing highly toxic chemicals (Environmental Health Network; FDA Office of Cosmetics Fact Sheet)

Benzyl peroxide. This may not be a hormonal disruptor but it causes skin irritation, allergic reactions & inflammation as identified in the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS). No one with acne needs an ingredient that causes inflammation and redness.

In short, it is scientific evidence which stimulated formal legislation in California. The California Safe Cosmetics Act, which went into effect in January of 2007, is intended to restrict and outright ban the use of ingredients which are carcinogenic, hormone disruptors, neurotoxins and dangerous to humans or their companion animals. With a lack of oversight by the FDA, expect additional legislative and regulatory restriction from other states in the near future.

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